The Week Junior Book Awards were launched in 2023 by children’s news and current affairs magazine The Week Junior in partnership with The Bookseller. The aim of the awards is to celebrate the creativity and innovation in children’s publishing, with an emphasis on original ideas, outstanding illustration and smart storytelling. 

There are fourteen award categories. Twelve are judged by panels made up of authors and illustrators, booksellers, children’s book experts and representatives from The Week Junior and The Bookseller. The remaining two categories are voted for by readers of The Week Junior. 

Award categories:

• Children’s Picture Book of the Year (0-5 year-olds)
• Children’s Book of the Year: Younger Fiction (5-9 year-olds)
• Children’s Book of the Year: Older Fiction (9-12 year-olds)
• Children’s Book of the Year: Factual 
• Children’s Book of the Year: Graphic Novel
• Children’s Book of the Year: Poetry 
• Children’s Book of the Year: Breakthrough 
• Children’s Book of the Year: Hobbies and Interests 
• Children’s Book of the Year: Animals and Nature 
•  Children’s Book of the Year: STEM
•  Children’s Book of the Year: Wellbeing 
• Children’s Audiobook of the Year 
• Children’s Choice
• Children’s Book Cover of the Year

Read our shortlist announcement for the The Week Junior Book Awards 2026.

Timetable:

• The shortlists for the 2025 awards will be announced on 3rd June. 
• The winners will be announced on 29th September.

Cost: Free

About The Week Junior: The Week Junior and sister publication The Week Junior Science+Nature are part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher with a portfolio of brands that span a range of specialist interests.

About The Bookseller: The Bookseller has been the trade magazine of the book industry since 1858 and is one of the UK’s longest-standing magazines. As well as being a trusted and independent source of news and analysis, The Bookseller also organises trade conferences and adminsters various awards.