Little Rebels Award 2024 opens with two new judges
Submissions for the Little Rebels Award for Radical Children’s Fiction are now open, and the organisers have announced two new judges for 2024: teacher and author, Alom Shaha and lecturer, designer and illustrator, Soofiya.
Alom Shaha is a Physics teacher and the author of several books, including Mr Shaha’s Recipes for Wonder and Mr Shaha’s Marvellous Machines (Scribe) as well as The Young Atheist’s Handbook (Biteback Publishing) and How to Find a Rainbow (Feb. 2024).
Soofiya describes their creative practise as one which aims to ‘articulate a commentary on gender, race, politics and bodies through a DIY and therapeutically informed approach’. Their recent work includes the resource, ‘Free Palestine Zine’ and illustrations for Otter Barry Books’ young reader series, Nikhil and Jay, written by Chitra Soundar.
Alom Shaha, said, ‘I’m looking forward to being a Little Rebels Award Judge because I can’t think of a time during my lifetime when radical children’s fiction has been more important.’ Soofiya described the Little Rebels prize as ‘one of the most radical book awards I know.’
Alom and Soofiya join current judges, author-illustrator Emily Haworth-Booth, reading development and children’s book consultant, Jake Hope and Regional Learning Programmes Leader at the CLPE (Centre for Literature in Primary Education), Farrah Serroukh.
The Little Rebels Award celebrates UK children’s books for readers age 0-12 which promote social justice. Last year’s prize went to Patrice Lawrence’s novella, Needle (Barrington Stoke). Previous winners include Sarah Hagger-Holt, Zanib Mian, A. M. Dassu and Catherine Johnson.
For the first time, the award is opening its doors to self-published creators which meet the full submissions criteria, including availability through standard trade distribution channels.
The prize is administered by booksellers Letterbox Library and Housmans Bookshop on behalf of the Alliance of Radical Booksellers. The winner’s prize includes £2,000 funded by The Barry Amiel and Norman Melburn Trust.
Publishers are invited to submit relevant books first published in 2023. Full submission guidelines can be found at littlerebels.org. The closing date for nominations is March 1st 2024. The shortlist will be announced in July with the winning announcement in October.
