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Shortlist Announced for the 2025 FCBG Children’s Book Award

March 3, 2025/in news /by Andrea Reece

The Federation of Children’s Book Groups (FCBG) has announced the shortlist for the 2025 Children’s Book Award. As the only national award voted for entirely by children, this popular prize celebrates the best in children’s literature, showcasing stories that have captured young readers’ imaginations across the UK. The award, now in its 45th year, has a rich history of recognising outstanding children’s books, with past winners including J.K. Rowling, Patrick Ness, Louie Stowell, Malorie Blackman, Anthony Horowitz and Michael Morpurgo, who has won a record four times.

This year’s shortlist features a diverse range of books that reflect the creativity and brilliance of contemporary children’s publishing. The shortlisted titles, spanning Books for Younger Children, Books for Younger Readers, and Books for Older Readers, are:

Books for Younger Children

A Wild Walk to School, written and illustrated by Rebecca Cobb, Macmillan

Grotti, written and illustrated by Leonie Lord, Walker

My Friend Andy, written and illustrated by Emma Chinnery, Little Tiger

The Bridges, written and illustrated by Tom Percival, Simon and Schuster

Books for Younger Readers

I am Rebel, written by Ross Montgomery, Walker

Spooksmiths Investigate: The Cinderman, Alex Atkinson, Ubsorne

Turtle Moon, Hannah Gold, illustrated by Levi Pinfold, HarperCollins

Books for Older Readers

The Clockwork Conspiracy, Sam Sedgman, illustrated by Stephanie Shafer, Bloomsbury Children’s Books

Ditching Saskia, John Moore and illustrated by Neetols, Flying Eye

Seven Million Sunflowers, Malcolm Duffy, Zephyr

Children are now invited to vote for their favourite book on the list and have until 12 noon on Friday 9th May to make their choice. The category winners and the author of the best children’s book published in 2024 will be announced at a special awards ceremony on Saturday 7th June, and will be live streamed via the FCBG YouTube channel.

The overall winner will be awarded the Children’s Book Award Silver Tree, of which they are the custodian for a year, and an engraved silver acorn which is theirs to keep. Each of the category winners receive an engraved glass book page and each shortlisted author and illustrator will also receive a portfolio of writing and artwork created by children inspired by their book.

Online voting will open on Monday 31st March.

Sarah Stuffins, Children’s Book Award Coordinator, says, ‘The Children’s Book Award is unique in giving children a direct voice in celebrating the books they love most. This year’s shortlist represents an exciting mix of adventure, humour, and heartwarming stories that will inspire young readers everywhere. It is particularly heartening to see debut authors represented alongside more established names.’

https://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Stacked-transparent.png 500 500 Andrea Reece http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bfklogo.png Andrea Reece2025-03-03 13:09:232025-03-03 13:09:23Shortlist Announced for the 2025 FCBG Children’s Book Award

Thomas Flintham, Matt Goodfellow and Rob Biddulph Children’s Book Award winners 2024

June 8, 2024/in news /by Andrea Reece

The winners of the Children’s Book Award 2024 have been announced at a special celebration award ceremony.

Congratulations to Thomas Flintham, who is the overall winner. His graphic novel, Press Start! Game On Super Rabbit Boy! won the Books for Younger Readers category before going on to win the overall prize.

The Final Year written by Matt Goodfellow, and illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton, won the Books for Older Readers category, and Gigantic, written and illustrated by Rob Biddulph was the Books for Younger Children category winner.

Owned and coordinated by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups, the Children’s Book Award is the only national award for children’s books that is voted for entirely by children. Past winners include J.K. Rowling, Patrick Ness, Andy Stanton, Malorie Blackman, Anthony Horowitz and Michael Morpurgo, who has won a record four times.

Sarah Stuffins, Coordinator of the Children’s Book Award, says ‘As ever, the children have spoken! And this year they have chosen a brilliantly accessible book that bursts with fun and practically fizzes off the page. Inspiring the love of reading for pleasure – and highlighting its importance to child development – remains a key aim of the award. We at the FCBG are always proud and delighted to help put these fantastic books directly into the hands of children up and down the country. The engagement displayed by the children is always a delighted to see and many, many congratulations to all our worthy winners. And many thanks, too, to every child who voted.’

A dedicated page on the FCBG website showcases all the shortlisted titles. A livestream of the ceremony is also available to view.

The full shortlist for the Children’s Book Award 2024 is as follows:

Books for Younger Children

Gigantic written and illustrated by Rob Biddulph, published by HarperCollins

The Fastest Tortoise in Town written by Howard Calvert and illustrated by Karen Obuhanych, published by Walker Books

The Princess and The (Greedy) Pea written and illustrated by Leigh Hodgkinson, published by Walker Books

The Big Dreaming written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Daniel Egneus, published by Bloomsbury

Books for Younger Readers

Marv and The Killer Plants written by Alex Falase-Koya and illustrated by Paula Bowles, published by OUP

Press Start! Game On, Super Rabbit Boy! written and illustrated by Thomas Flintham#, published by Nosy Crow

Adventure Mice: Otter Chaos – written by Philip Reeve and illustrated by Sarah McIntyre, published by David Fickling Books

Books for Older Readers

Deadlock written by Simon Fox, published by Nosy Crow

The Final Year written by Matt Goodfellow and illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton, published by Otter-Barry Books

Code Name Kingfisher written by Liz Kessler, published by Simon and Schuster

 

 

 

The Federation of Children’s Book Groups was set up as a charity in 1968 by Anne Wood, the Founder and Creator of Ragdoll Productions and the originator of The Telebubbies. It acts as an umbrella organisation for local Children’s Book Groups all over the UK. The groups organise a variety of activities including author events and other activities that promote the enjoyment of children’s books. Find out more and get involved.

https://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/cba.jpg 600 800 Andrea Reece http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bfklogo.png Andrea Reece2024-06-08 15:05:032024-06-08 11:44:39Thomas Flintham, Matt Goodfellow and Rob Biddulph Children’s Book Award winners 2024

Past winners and new voices on the shortlist for the 2024 Children’s Book Award

March 4, 2024/in news /by Andrea Reece

The shortlist for the Children’s Book Award 2024 has been announced. The Children’s Book Award is the only national award for children’s books that is voted for entirely by children and authors in the running this year include Rob Biddulph, Michael Rosen, Sarah McIntyre and Philip Reeve and Alex Falase-Koya.

Children nationwide are now invited to vote for their favourite of the ten shortlisted books. Online voting will open on 25th March and the deadline is 12 noon on 18th May.  The category winners and the overall winner will be announced at an awards ceremony in central London on Saturday 8th June. The proceedings will be live-streamed.

The Children’s Book Award is owned and coordinated by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups. Past winners include J.K. Rowling, Patrick Ness, Andy Stanton, Malorie Blackman, Anthony Horowitz and Michael Morpurgo, who has won a record four times. The award has often been the first to recognise the future stars of children’s fiction and can turn popular authors into bestsellers.

The full shortlist for the Children’s Book Award 2024 is as follows:

Books for Younger Children

Gigantic, written and illustrated by Rob Biddulph (HarperCollins Children’s Books)

The Big Dreaming, written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Daniel Egneus (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)

The Fastest Tortoise in Town, written by Howard Calvert and illustrated by Karen Obuhanych (Walker Books)

The Princess and The (Greedy) Pea, written and illustrated by Leigh Hodgkinson (Walker Books)

Books for Younger Readers

Adventure Mice: Otter Chaos, written by Philip Reeve and illustrated by Sarah McIntyre (David Fickling Books)

Marv and The Killer Plants, written by Alex Falase-Koya and illustrated by Paula Bowles (Oxford Children’s Books)

Press Start! Game On, Super Rabbit Boy!, written and illustrated by Thomas Flintham ( Nosy Crow)

Books for Older Readers

Code Name Kingfisher, written by Liz Kesser (Simon and Schuster)

Deadlock, written by Simon Fox (Nosy Crow)

The Final Year, written by Matt Goodfellow and illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton ( Otter-Barry Books)

Sarah Stuffins, Children’s Book Award Coordinator says ‘The Children’s Book Award is back and it’s always a pleasure to see what brilliant stories have been chosen. Children are a very demanding and exacting audience – books need to hook them into a story rightaway, and keep them turning the pages, right to the end! And it’s a testament to these wonderful books that they’ve all not just delighted their readers, but inspired them to vote.’

Children can vote from 25th March.

https://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Childrens-Book-Award-logo.jpg 1555 2126 Andrea Reece http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bfklogo.png Andrea Reece2024-03-04 09:01:542024-03-04 09:07:08Past winners and new voices on the shortlist for the 2024 Children’s Book Award

The Children’s Book Award 2023 – Shortlist Announced

February 27, 2023/in news /by Andrea Reece

The shortlist for the Children’s Book Award 2023 has been announced.

The Children’s Book Award is the only national award for children’s books that is voted for entirely by children. It is owned and coordinated by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups and is highly respected by teachers, parents and librarians. Past winners include J.K. Rowling, Patrick Ness, Andy Stanton, Malorie Blackman, Anthony Horowitz and Michael Morpurgo, who has won a record four times.

Who will win the 2023 award? Children nationwide are now invited to vote for their favourite of the ten shortlisted books. The deadline for online voting is 12 noon on Friday 12th May.  The category winners and the author of the best children’s book published in the 2022 nomination period will be announced at an awards ceremony in central London on Saturday 10th June, and will be live-streamed.

The full shortlist for the Children’s Book Award 2023 is as follows:

Books for Younger Children

Blobfish, written and illustrated by Olaf Falafel, published by Walker Books

My Rhinoceros, written and illustrated by Jon Agee, published by Scallywag Press

The Blue-Footed Booby, written and illustrated by Rob Biddulph, published by HarperCollins

Where Has all the Cake Gone?, written by Andrew Sanders and illustrated by Aysha Awwad, published by Macmillan Children’s Books

Books for Younger Readers

Leonora Bolt Secret Inventor, written by Lucy Brandt and illustrated by Gladys Jose, published by Puffin

Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Being Good, written and illustrated by Louie Stowell, published by Walker Books

Ollie Spark and the Accidental Adventure, written by Gillian Cross and illustrated by Alan Snow, published by David Fickling Books

Books for Older Readers

Dread Wood, written by Jennifer Killick, published by Farshore

The Light In Everything, written by Katya Balen, published by Bloomsbury

While The Storm Rages, written by Phil Earle, published by Andersen Press

Sarah Stuffins, Children’s Book Award Coordinator says, ‘The Children’s Book Award is back and the children have a superb year’s worth of wonderful stories to choose from. It’s children who curate the children’s book industry – they choose the bestsellers and they’re a very particular audience who know exactly what they like. We’re thrilled to be showcasing their choices in this exciting shortlist that demonstrates both the high standards children demand in their books, as well as the superb talent and creativity in children’s books today.’

You can cast your vote online.

 

https://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Childrens-Book-Award-logo.jpg 1555 2126 Andrea Reece http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bfklogo.png Andrea Reece2023-02-27 09:09:362023-02-27 09:11:49The Children’s Book Award 2023 – Shortlist Announced

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