Shortlist for 2020 Waterstones Children’s Book Prize

The shortlist for the 2020 Waterstones Children’s Book Prize was announced this morning.  There are three categories for these book awards each consisting of 6 books. And who better to introduce the shortlist then the children themselves.

 

 

Illustrated Books

A picture of the covers of the shortlisted books for the Illustrated Books category

 

The natural world features strongly in this category with a story of a family obsessed with bird spotting and a reference guide filled with information about our planet’s wildlife. Me and My Sister gives an insight into life with an autistic sibling, while Look Up! introduces us to a girl called Rocket who wants to be an astronaut, just like Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman in space. One Fox is a counting book and farmyard adventure and Once Upon a Unicorn Horn tells the magical story of how the unicorn got its horn.

 

Books for Younger Readers

Picture of the cover of books from the Younger Readers category

 

This category contains a great selection of books. Kirsty Applebaum’s debut novel The Middler has been receiving rave reviews and is certainly an author to keep an eye on. Asha & the Spirit Bird recently won the Costa Children’s Book Award and Charlie Changes into a Chicken has been included on this year’s “Read for Empathy” Book Collection. Our Castle by the Sea is also shortlisted for the East Sussex Children’s Book Award. The Deepest Breath is the first LGBTQ+ story to be featured in this category since the awards began. High Rise Mystery is a fast-paced mystery novel published by the recently established publishing company Knights Of.

 

Books for Older Readers

Pictures of the cover of shortlisted books for the Older Readers category

 

A murder mystery and a dystopian novel feature in this category alongside stories covering themes of body image(Jemima Small Versus the Universe), inclusion and diversity (I Will Not Be Erased), freedom and Islamophobia(Internment) and mental illness(The Million Pieces of Neena Gill).

The winners will be announced on the 26th of March at a reception in London. Best of luck to all involved.

 

 

 

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