Congratulations to all the authors and illustrators shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2024!

Now in its 20th year, the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize highlights the best new and emerging talent in children’s publishing and has helped launch the careers of authors and illustrators such as Katherine Rundell, Kiran Millwood Hargrave and Rob Biddulph.

There are three prize categories – Illustrated Books, Younger Readers and Older Readers. Each shortlist consists of six titles voted for by Waterstones booksellers.

Commenting on this year’s shortlists, Bea Carvalho, Waterstones head of books, said: ‘This year, as ever, our booksellers have chosen a stunning shortlist that is truly reflective of the vibrancy, creativity and genius to be found in children’s storytelling today: if this is the future of children’s writing, the next generation is in safe hands. Whether holding up a mirror to the real world or conjuring fantastical realms, delving into history or mining our own times, these books are united by enormous heart and imagination, and show children’s publishing to be as inspiring as ever.’

Illustrated Books

The Queen Next Door by Marcela Ferreira, illustrated by Sally Agar (Orchard Books)

Incredible Jobs You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of  by Natalie Labarre (Nosy Crow)

The Secret Elephant by Ellan Rankin (Wren & Rook )

The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish by Chloe Savage (Walker Books)

Wolf and Bear by Kate Rolfe (Two Hoots)

Whose Dog is This? by Andrew Sanders, illustrated by Aysha Awwad (Macmillan Children’s Books)

 

Younger Readers

Crook Haven – The School for Thieves by J. J. Arcanjo  (Hodder Children’s Books)

The Beasts of Knobbly Bottom: Attack of the Vampire Sheep by Emily-Jane Clark, illustrated by Jeff Crowther (Scholastic)

Vivi Conway and the Sword of Legend by Lizzie Huxley-Jones (Knights Of)

The Swifts by Beth Lincoln, illustrated by Claire Powell (Puffin)

My Name is Sunshine Simpson by G. M. Linton (Usborne Publishing)

Greenwild: The World Behind the Door by Pari Thomson, illustrated by Elisa Paganelli (Macmillan Children’s Books)

 

Older Readers

Promise Boys by Nick Brooks (Macmillan)

What the World Doesn’t See by Mel Darbon (Usborne Publishing)

Girl, Goddess, Queen by Bea Fitzgerald (Penguin)

Thieves’ Gambit by Kayvion Lewis (Simon & Schuster Children’s UK)

You Think You Know Me by Ayaan Mohamud (Usborne Publishing)

Friendship Never Ends by Alexandra Sheppard (Knights Of)

The winner of each category will be announced on 21st March 2024. From these three category winners, one book will go on to be crowned the Waterstones Children’s Book of the Year.  Look out for our winner announcement.