The shortlist for the Children’s Book Award 2025 has been announced. Administered by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups, the Children’s Book Award is the only national award voted for entirely by children.

Now in its 45th year, the Children’s Book Award showcases the stories that have captured young readers’ imaginations and the award has a rich history of recognising outstanding children’s books. Past winners include Malory Blackman, Anthony Horowitz,  Patrick Ness, J. K. Rowling, Louie Stowell, Jacqueline Wilson and Michael Morpurgo, who has won a record four times.

Over the last twelve months, children in FCBG groups around the country have been reading and reviewing over 600 books to come up with a shortlist of ten titles across the three award categories: Books for Younger Children; Books for Younger Readers; and Books for Older Readers.

Children and young people nationwide are now invited to vote for the category winners and the Overall Winner of this year’s Children’s Book Award. Explore the resources provided to stimulate discussion about the shortlisted titles, including links to author interviews, creative activities and further reading suggestions. Online voting will open on the FCBG website on March 31st and will close at 12 noon on Friday 9th May.

Commenting on this year’s shortlist, Children’s Book Award Co-ordinator Sarah Stuffins said, ‘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.’

Congratulations to all the shortlisted authors and illustrators!

Books for Younger Children

A Wild Walk to School by Rebecca Cobb (Macmillan Children’s Books)

Grotti by Leonie Lord (Walker Books)

My Friend Andy by Emma Chinnery (Little Tiger)

The Bridges by Tom Percival (Simon & Schuster Children’s UK)

Books for Younger Readers

I Am Rebel by Ross Montgomery (Walker Books)

Spooksmiths Investigate: The Cinderman by Alex Atkinson (Usborne Publishing)

Turtle Moon by Hannah Gold (HarperCollins Children’s Books)

Books for Older Readers

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

Ditching Saskia by John Moore, illustrated by Neetols (Flying Eye Books)

Seven Million Sunflowers by Malcolm Duffy (Zephyr)

The winners will be announced on Saturday 7th June 2025 at an award ceremony that will be live-streamed via the FCBG YouTube channel.