The shortlists for The Week Junior Book Awards 2026 have been unveiled. Now in their fourth year, the awards were set up to champion the best books for children, inspire young people to discover their next great read and promote the benefits of reading for pleasure. The awards celebrate the full breadth of children’s publishing, with 12 different award categories ranging from Audio Books to Hobbies and Interests.

The shortlist committee has selected 73 books for consideration across the 12 award categories. The winners will now be chosen by panels of judges recruited from across the world of children’s books, education and the media. Children can also have their say by voting online in the Children’s Choice and Cover of the Year awards. Voting is open until 4th September 2026.

Commenting on this year’s awards, Anna Bassi, chair of judges and editorial director of The Week Junior, said: ‘In a year when we are all being encouraged to ‘go all in’ with reading, our shortlist offers children an outstanding array of opportunities to do just that. Whether they’re after answers to crazy questions, want to know more about birds, brains or bodies, brush up on football skills or discover how AI actually works they’ll find all they need to know (and more!) among the factual books that our expert shortlist committee have selected. For those who prefer fiction there are mysteries, monkeys, reluctant heroes, aliens and even a gothic horror for older readers to enjoy. Starting with this week’s issue and throughout the summer we’ll be making sure The Week Junior’s readers hear all about them and have their chance to vote for their favourites to win the Children’s Choice and Cover of the Year Awards.’

Congratulations to all the winning authors and illustrators!

Children’s Animals & Nature Book of the Year

Our Islands by Yuval Zommer (Thames & Hudson)

A Tree is a Time Machine by Rob Sears, illustrated by Tom Sears (Laurence King Publishing Children’s)

The Great Pollination Investigation by Deborah Hocking (Templar Books)

What if… Every Volcano Erupted at Once? by Emma Young, illustrated by Super Freak (DK Children)

MEGA: The Most Enormous Animals Ever by Jules Howard, illustrated by Gavin Scott (Nosy Crow)

 

Children’s Factual Book of the Year

Hide-and-Seek History: The Vikings by Harriet Evans, illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat (Little Tiger)

TEN Children Who Changed The World by Paterson Joseph, illustrated by Rumbidzai Savanhu (Wren & Rook)

Owning It: Our disabled childhoods in our own words edited by James Catchpole, Lucy Catchpole and Jen Campbell; illustrated by Sophie Kamlish (Faber & Faber)

Henri Matisse A Pop-Up Book by Susie Hodge, illustrated by Teresa Bellon (NQ Publishers)

 

Children’s STEM Book of the Year

Bridges by Magda Garguláková, illustrated by Jakub Bachorík (Post Wave Children’s Books)

See Inside AI by Alex Frith & Victoria Williams, illustrated by Beatrix Hatcher (Usborne Publishing)

The Wizard’s Guide to Magical Experiments by A.J. Wood, illustrated by Jo Rioux (Magic Cat Publishing)

What If… You Didn’t Make Snot? by Emma Young, illustrated by Super Freak (DK Children)

The History of We by Nikkolas Smith (Rock the Boat)

 

Children’s Hobbies and Interests Book of the Year

World Kitchen – Celebrations by Abigail Wheatley, illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat (Usborne Publishing)

The Football GOAT: Kane v. Bellingham by Matt Oldfield and Seth Burkett, illustrated by Dan Leydon (Walker Books)

Shoot for the Stars by Danielle Brown, illustrated by Jayde Perkin and Filigrana de Ideas (Little Tiger)

Making It Up As You Go Along: A children’s guide to writing stories by Patricia Forde et al, illustrated by Mary Murphy (Little Island)

Football Skills illustrated by Fran Bueno (Usborn Publishing)

Find it! British Birds by Marianne Taylor, illustrated by Sally Payne (Richardson Publishing)

 

Children’s Wellbeing Book of the Year

You and Your Body by Dr Punam Krishan (DK Children)

Keep Smashing It by Jodie Ounsley written with Becky Grey and illustrated by Dane Thibeault (Macmillan Children’s Books)

How to be Disabled and Proud by Cathy Reay (Puffin)

Beyond the Setting Sun by Sarah J. Dodd, illustrated by Cee Biscoe (Lion Cub Books)

All Brains Are Wonderful by Scott Evans, illustrated by The Boy Fitz Hammond (b small)

 

Children’s Older Fiction Book of the Year

The Lone Husky by Hannah Gold, illustrated by Levi Pinfold (HarperCollins Children’s Books)

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

The Boy With Big Decisions by Helen Rutter (Scholastic)

My Soul, A Shining Tree by Jamila Gavin (Farshore)

Jed Greenleaf by Kieran Larwood, illustrated by David Wyatt (Faber & Faber)

Flember: The Golden Heart by Jamie Smart (David Fickling Books)

 

Children’s Younger Fiction Book of the Year

The Other Father Christmas by Serena Holly, illustrated by Shahab Shamshirsaz (Storymix Books)

Ivy and Bearlock Holmes by Kristyna Litten (Magic Cat Publishing)

Grumpfort by Jamie Hammond (Usborne Publishing)

Pia’s Pet Club: Puppy Problem by Serena Patel, illustrated by Emma McCann (Usborne Publishing) 

Squirrel and Duck: Mission Improbable by Tom Percival (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)

The Misadventures of Mina Mahmood: School Trip! by Farhana Islam, illustrated by Simran Diamond Singh  (Farshore)

 

Children’s Graphic Novel of the Year

Super Nova by Chanté Timothy (Nosy Crow)

Donut Squad: Take Over the World by Neill Cameron (DFB Phoenix)

Dadbot by Jack Noel (Piccadilly Press)

Bunny vs Monkey: Intergalactic Monkey Business by Jamie Smart (DFB Phoenix)

Boss of the Underworld: Shirley vs the Green Menace by Tor Freeman (Hodder Children’s Books)

When the Sky Falls: Graphic Novel by Phil Earle and Fred Fordham (Andersen Press)

 

Children’s Picture Book of the Year

Tiger, Don’t Worry! by Daishu Ma (Post Wave Children’s Books)

There’s A Shark In My Pants! by Michelle Harrison, illustrated by David Tazzyman (Simon & Schuster Children’s UK)

The Forever Bear by Lu Fraser, illustrated by Pippa Curnick (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)

The Best Jollof Rice Ever! by Onyinye Iwu (Otter-Barry Books)

Don’t Trust Fish! by Neil Sharpson, illustrated by Dan Santat (Andersen Press)

Baxter’s View by Kerri Cunningham (Fox & Ink Books)

 

Children’s Poetry Book of the Year

This is Not a Small Voice: Poems by Black Poets selected by Traci N. Todd, illustrated by Jade Orlando (Nosy Crow)

The Brightest Star by Meg Grehan, illustrated by Nene Lonergan (Little Island)

The Poetry World of John Agard by John Agard, illustrated by Shirley Hottier (Otter-Barry Books)

The Waters and the Wild by Eilish Fisher, illustrated by David Rooney (Puffin)

BOING! A Bouncy Book of Bugs by James Carter, illustrated by Neal Layton (Otter-Barry Books)

 

Children’s Audiobook of the Year

Choose Your Own Evolution by Jules Howard, narrated by Glen McCready (Nosy Crow)

The Amazing Ann Jelly by Daniel Fuller, narrated by Jonell Elliot (That Guy Creative)

Errol’s Garden Audio Musical by Gillian Hibbs, Caroline Wigmore and Jen Green; narrated by Nicholas McLean and Grace Mouat (Child’s Play)

Champions of the Galaxy by Tọlá Okogwu, narrated by David Ijiti (Simon & Schuster Audio UK)

Gloam by Jack Mackay, narrated by Indira Varma (W.F. Howes)

Teachers vs Aliens vs the Kids! by Steve Williams (Farrago) 

 

Children’s Breakthrough Book of the Year

Wolf Siren by Beth O’Brien (HarperCollins Children’s Books)

Kamari Brown and his First Million by Steven Gosling (Secta Publishing)

How to Roller-Skate with One Leg by Ella Dove, illustrated by Jennifer Jamieson (Orchard Books)

Gloam by Jack Mackay, illustrated by Ben Joel Price (Rock the Boat)

A Box Full of Murders by Janice Hallett (Puffin)

Evie and Maryam’s Family Tree by Janeen Hayat (Guppy Books)

 

Children’s Book Cover of the Year

Cruise Ship Kid: Thief at Sea! by Emma Swan. Cover illustration by Katie Saunders (Usborne Publishing)

Deep Dark: A Cassia Thorne Mystery by Zohra Nabi. Cover illustration by Paolo Escobar (Simon & Schuster Children’s UK)

Midnight Treasure by Piers Torday. Cover illustration by Alla Khatkevich (Quercus Children’s Books)

Pirate Penguin by Hunter McNeil-Ali. Cover illustration by Nicci Martin (Sequoia Publishing UK)

Hidden Heroes of Science by Peter Gallivan. Cover illustration by Robbie Cathro (DK Children)

Oscar Wilde’s Stories for Children by Oscar Wilde. Cover illustration by Lauren O’Hara (Little Island)

Badger Books written and illustrated by Paddy Donnelly (O’Brien Press)

The winners will be announced at an award ceremony in central London in the autumn. For more children’s book awards, click here.