Congratulations to Pari Thomson, author of Greenwild: The World Behind the Door, which was crowned the Overall Winner of the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2024 in a ceremony in London on 21st March.

Now in its 20th year, the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize celebrates the best in new writing for children and teenagers, as voted for by Waterstones booksellers.

Greenwild: The World Behind the Door (illustrated by Elisa Paganelli and published by Macmillan Children’s Books) is Thomson’s debut novel. It tells the story of Daisy, who runs away from boarding school to solve the mystery of her missing mother. Her search takes her through a hidden doorway in Kew Gardens that leads into another world – a world filled with plants and bursting with magic but under threat from sinister forces.

‘Pari Thomson’s debut enchanted our booksellers with its sweeping escapism and standard-setting lyrical world-building,’ commented Bea Carvalho, Waterstone’s head of books.

‘At once a fast-paced adventure story and a heartfelt entreaty to care for the natural world, Greenwild is a timeless fantasy tale of friendship, mystery, and the magic and beauty to be found in nature. We are extremely proud to present this wonderful debut as the 20th winner of the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize: we cannot wait to see what Pari Thomson does next.’

To be declared this year’s Overall Winner, Greenwild: The World Behind the Door had first to be chosen as the winner of the Best Books for Younger Readers category from a shortlist of six titles, before going on to beat the winners of the Best Illustrated Book and Best Book for Older Readers categories.

The winner of the Best Illustrated Book was The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish by Chloe Savage (Walker Books), described by Waterstones children’s buyer Nick Campbell as a ‘unique story about insatiable curiosity… full of fascinating illustrations that children will pore over and return to, from cutaways to evocative landscapes, and of course the elusive jellyfish.’

Meanwhile, Thieves’ Gambit (Simon & Schuster) a ‘riotously fun action adventure’ by Kayvion Lewis took the prize in the Best Book for Older Readers category.

To see all 18 shortlisted titles for this year’s Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, click here.