Keep them reading all summer long
Download The Week Junior book awards shortlist
The school summer holidays are almost here; six long weeks to relax, play, explore and have fun. What better way to fuel children's imagination than getting stuck into some brilliant books? The Week Junior book awards 2024 shortlist is packed with inspiration - from STEM and poetry to graphic novels and hobbies and interests titles, there is truly something for everyone.
Get the full shortlist now
Please complete these few short details and our shortlist will make its way to your inbox in a few moments;
Anna Bassi, editorial director of The Week Junior, says, "The 74 books on our shortlist represent an incredible range of authors, illustrators, designers, stories and subjects – testament to the endless creativity and innovation in children’s publishing. Our judges are in for some excellent reading over the next couple of months. I’m really excited to find out which of the books readers of The Week Junior elect to win our Children’s Choice trophy – this is their chance to vote and I hope they’ll use it. With reading for pleasure seemingly in decline I’d like to think our shortlists will inspire more kids to give books a go, discover something new, and hopefully spark a love of reading that lasts for life."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
74 brilliant books in 14 categories
- Children's book cover of the year
- Children's audiobook of the year
- Children's picture book of the year
- Children's book of the year: STEM
- Children's book of the year: non-fiction
- Children's book of the year: older fiction
- Children's book of the year: hobbies & interests
- Children's book of the year: poetry
- Children's book of the year: graphic novel
- Children's choice
- Children's book of the year: younger fiction
- Children's book of the year: breakthrough
- Children's book of the year: wellbeing
- Children's book of the year: animals & nature
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week's sister publication, The Week Junior, is an award-winning current affairs magazine for eight to 14-year-olds. Inside every issue, children will discover amazing facts, explore world events, and be inspired by ideas and stories that spark family conversations and nurture curiosity.
It's the perfect way to give children a safe and inspiring window to the world - showing them all the amazing and inspiring things that are happening around them every day. To learn more, please visit TheWeekJunior.co.uk.
-
Roofman: a ‘stranger than fiction’ taleThe Week Recommends Channing Tatum walks ‘effortlessly’ between comedy and tragedy
-
Political cartoons for October 23Cartoons Thursday’s political cartoons include Mike Johnson's pumpkin patch, great news for crypto scammers, and a suspicious white sheet
-
The UK-made Storm Shadow missiles Ukraine is using in RussiaThe Explainer Ukraine reportedly deployed the long-range British missiles this week, following a tense meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump
-
The Week Junior Book Awards 2025 Shortlist AnnouncedThe Week Junior Book Awards have unveiled the 2025 shortlist, celebrating the best in children’s literature across 14 categories.
-
The Week Junior celebrates its 10th anniversaryFeature The Week Junior launches a range of initiatives including dinner conversation chat starters as part of 10th anniversary celebrations
-
The Week Junior to partner with Barnes Children's Literature FestivalFeature The Week Junior will return with their thought-provoking workshop for young journalists
-
Festival of Sport announces exciting media partnership with The Week JuniorFeatures Festival of Sport, the UK’s premier family-friendly sports festival, has officially teamed up with The Week Junior as its exclusive media partner
-
Safer Internet Day - Keeping Your Children Safe OnlineRead this expert-backed advice from The Week Junior
-
Fundraising For A Better WorldThe Week Junior has partnered with SuperKind to launch the Fundraising for a Better World campaign.
-
Three fun, festive activities to make the magic happen this Christmas DayInspire your children to help set the table, stage a pantomime and write thank-you letters this Christmas!
-
Make it Christmas, with The Week JuniorGet into the festive spirit with these fun, family-friendly makes