There have been some brilliant book award announcements recently. If you're feeling out the loop then let our round-up of children's book prizes refresh your memory - and your TBR!
Branford Boase Award: Margaret McDonald and her editors Alice Swan and Ama Badu won the 2025 Branford Boase Award for outstanding debut novel for young people with Glasgow Boys, a moving, beautifully written coming-of-age novel that explores the power of identity, community and masculinity. Glasgow Boys also won the Carnegie Medal for Writing and the UKLA Award (see below!), but the Branford Boase Award is unique in honouring its winners' editor(s) as well as author. Accepting the prize, Margaret McDonald said: "Glasgow Boys is a piece of my soul and to have it recognised in this way is unbelievably special, but also to have my incredible editors Alice and Ama recognised for the magnificent work they did, taking such care of Banjo and Finlay, is more than half of the joy."
Branford Boase Award winning author and editors with their trophies
Emma Farrarons has been named as the winner of the tenth Klaus Flugge Prize, awarded to the most exciting and promising newcomer to children’s picture book illustration. Emma was recognised for her illustrations in My Hair is as Long as a River, written by Charlie Castle (Macmillan Children’s Books). The boy in this story has long hair, and through a series of wonderful metaphors, gloriously illustrated by Farrarons, he explains why his long hair is so important, how it is part of him, even his ‘happy ever after’. The judges commend Emma’s use of colour and composition and the way she captures the story’s sense of playfulness.
The UKLA Book Awards announced their 2025 winners in late June with Glasgow Boys, Kaminski Saves the Wolf, Safiyyah’s War and Brilliant Black British History taking the judges' awards in the 11-14+, 3-6+, 7-10+ and Information Book Categories. The awards have now announced their longlists for 2026, featuring books in translation, past winners, exciting debuts and a huge range of genres, topics and themes. The lists showcase high-quality children’s books that can reflect all identities and promote diversity. Explore the full longlist.
The 2025 Wainwright Prize for Children’s Book of the Year and for Picture Books has been won by author Lanisha Butterfield, based in Oxford, and Hoang Giang who lives in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Their book, Flower Block, is a joyous story which celebrates the power nature holds to bring communities together, all told through the eyes of a curious young boy who lives in a city tower block. Judging chair for The Children’s Wainright Prize for Picture Books, Mwaka Mudenda, said Flower Block is “a beautifully told story brought to life by stunning artwork that kept me engaged from start to finish. I loved the rich diversity of characters throughout the book – a reminder of the beauty in our differences and the strength of community. Jeremiah’s wish at the beginning also speaks to the power of faith and hope, showing that with these two, much can happen, often more than we anticipate. And as nature brings everyone together, the story gently shows that caring for the planet is something we can all be part of, no matter who we are or where we come from.”
The Diverse Book Awards announced their 2025 shortlists earlier this month, with 10 titles shortlisted each in the Picture Books, Children's Books, YA and Adult categories. Established to highlight the best of the diverse voices published in the UK & Ireland, the Awards showcase the talent of marginalised voices and this year's shortlists include some exceptional titles - both bestsellers and less well-known. Find out more.
Jamie Smart, Louie Stowell and AF Steadman are among the authors shortlisted for Best AudioBook in The British Audio Awards, newly launched by The Bookseller and The Stage. As we think and talk more about using audio in the school library, particularly to reach disengaged readers, it's exciting to see a new large scale book award celebrating audiobooks. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in November, but you can explore all the shortlists here.
Look out for the winners of the Little Rebels Award and The Week Junior Book Awards which will both be announced within the next 10 days, and remember to vote in the SLA Information Book Award too! We want to know which books your pupils have chosen as their Children's Choice titles. Voting closes on 18th October 2025.