Congratulations to all the authors and illustrators shortlisted for this year’s UKLA Book Awards!

The only national children’s book awards that are judged entirely by teachers, the UKLA Book Awards celebrate exceptional children’s books that have a powerful impact both in the classroom and on individual readers.

An important aspect of the awards is the opportunity they provide for teachers to read, share and discuss recently-published, high quality children’s books that recognise a broad range of perspectives, experiences and voices. Deborah Maclaren, Managing Director of co-sponsor LoveReading4Kids commented: ‘We are delighted to be involved with this celebration of reading for pleasure. The only national awards to be judged entirely by teachers, the UKLA Awards are a remarkable thing, with the added bonus that practitioners can experience and appreciate first-hand the impact these beautiful books have on the children themselves in their classrooms. Huge congratulations to all of the shortlisted authors and illustrators, and a hearty well done to the publishers who make these books happen.’

There are four award categories:

• Fiction and Poetry for 3-6+ year-olds
• Fiction and Poetry for 7-10 year-olds
• Fiction and Poetry for 11-14+ year-olds
• Information Books for 3-14+ year-olds

Each category shortlist consists of six titles which, this year, were chosen by 84 teacher judges drawn from East Sussex and surrounding areas. Teachers who are interested in being part of next year’s judging panel, and who are within travelling distance of Liverpool, can resister their interest here.

Commenting on this year’s shortlists, Awards Chair Chris Lockwood said, ‘This is always a difficult task, especially when we had such rich and varied books in the longlists.  It is always a delight to listen to talented and creative teachers talk about how they have used the longlisted books in their classrooms. The 2024 team of teacher judges brought their passion, expertise and enthusiasm to the task and, as a result, we have four marvellous shortlists.’

 

Fiction and Poetry for 3-6+ year-olds

Fox & Son Tailers by Paddy Donnelly (O’Brien Press)

The Hare-Shaped Hole by John Dougherty, illustrated by Thomas Docherty (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books)

10 Dogs by Emily Gravett (Two Hoots)

Martha Maps It Out by Leigh Hodgkinson (Oxford University Press)

The Wilderness by Steve McCarthy (Walker Books)

Dick the Delightful Duck by Kaye Umansky, illustrated by Ben Mantle (Alison Green Books)

 

Fiction and Poetry for 7-10 year-olds                                            

The Song Walker by Zilla Bethell (Usborne Publishing)

Call Me Lion by Camilla Chester (Firefly Press)

How to be More Hedgehog by Anne-Marie Conway (UCLan Publishing)

Wildsmith: Into the Dark Forest by Liz Flanagan, illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton (UCLan Publishing)

Finn Jones Was Here by Simon James Green, illustrated by Jennifer Jamieson (Scholastic)

Where the River Takes Us by Lesley Parr (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)

 

Fiction and Poetry for 11-14+ year-olds                                          

Away with Words by Sophie Cameron (Little Tiger)

Crossing the Line by Tia Fisher (Hot Key Books)

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh (Bloomsbury YA)

Steady For This by Nathanael Lessore (Hot Key Books)

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir (Atom)

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys (Hodder Children’s Books)

 

Information Books for 3-14+ year-olds                                              

Unspoken by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Dare Coulter (Andersen Press)

Lands of Belonging: A History of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Britain by Vikesh Amey Bhatt and Donna Amey Bhatt, illustrated by Salini Perera (Nosy Crow)

The Boy Who Didn’t Want to Die by Peter Lantos (Scholastic)

Whose Tracks in the Snow? by Alexandra Milton (Boxer Books)

Saving H’non: Chang and the Elephant by Trang Nguyen, illustrated by Jeet Zdung (Macmillan Children’s Books)

Darwin & Hooker by Alexandra Stewart, illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)

The four category winners will be chosen by a panel of 12 teacher judges nominated from the 84 involved in the shortlisting and will be announced at the UKLA International Conference at the University of Sussex on 5th July.