The Wainwright Prize has announced the books on the shortlist for its 2024 award for Children’s Writing on Nature and Conservation. The prize showcases writing that reflects its namesake Alfred Wainwright’s values of celebrating nature and our environment, nurturing respect for the planet, and informing readers of the threats that the earth currently faces. The shortlists for the Prize for Nature Writing and the Prize for Writing on Conservation have also been announced.

The eight books on the children’s shortlist are:

Foxlight, Katya Balen (Bloomsbury Children’s)

The Observologist, Giselle Clarkson (Gecko Press)

Global, Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin, illustrated by Giovanni Rigano (Hodder Children’s Books)

Skrimsli, Nicola Davies, illustrated by Jackie Morris (Firefly Press)

Fly: A Child’s Guide to Birds and Where to Spot Them, David Lindo, illustrated by Sara Boccaccini Meadows (Magic Cat Publishing)

Geomancer: In The Shadow of the Wolf Queen, Kiran Millwood Hargrave (Orion Children’s Books)

Impossible Creatures, Katherine Rundell (Bloomsbury Children’s)

Wilding: How to Bring Wildlife Back, Isabella Tree, illustrated by Angela Harding (Macmillan Children’s Books)

On the shortlist, Uju Asika, Judge for Children’s Writing on Nature and Conservation Prize, says:

‘Each one of these shortlisted books stood out for its literary excellence, offering something unique in terms of writing voice, art style, unforgettable characters, danger, and humour. Each one evokes nature at its wildest and most wondrous and made me feel like (or want to be) a better human being for having read it.’

Her fellow judges are Joanna Adeyinka-Burford, CBeebies presenter; Dan Green, editor of The Week Junior; Konnie Huq, Blue Peter presenter and children’s author; Frann Preston Gannon, illustrator and author; Roisin Taylor – Co-Director at UK Youth for Nature.

The winners will be announced on Wednesday 11th September at a ceremony at Camley Street Natural Park, near Kings Cross in London, where a £7,500 prize fund will be shared.