Five books have been shortlisted for The Alligator’s Mouth Award 2021, which champions authors and illustrators of highly illustrated children’s fiction. 

Now in its third year, the children’s book prize created by The Alligator’s Mouth children’s bookshop and The Bright Agency, celebrates the best books for 6-8-year-olds. The full shortlist for this year's award features themes of wildlife, fantasy, family relationships, as well as humour:

• Agents of the Wild: Operation Honeyhunt written by Jennifer Bell, illustrated by Alice Lickens, published by Walker Books
• Claude at the Palace written and illustrated by Alex T. Smith, published by Hodder Children's Books?
• Pizazz written and illustrated by Sophy Henn, published by Simon & Schuster Children's UK
• The Hat Full of Secrets written by Karl Newson, illustrated by Wazza Pink, published by Stripes Publishing
• Zombierella: Fairy Tales Gone Bad written by Joseph Coelho, illustrated by Freya Hartas, published by Walker Books?

The shortlist was selected by a judging panel of children’s book experts and books wholesaler Gardners returns as an official partner of the award, offering independent bookshops across the UK a 50% discount on all the longlisted titles until the end of July 2021.

The winner will be announced in July 2021.?

For more information and to keep up to date with the award, visit www.thealligatorsmouth.co.uk/award