The Week Junior magazine, in collaboration with The Bookseller, is thrilled to unveil the expert panel of judges for The Week Junior Book Awards 2024.
Building on the success of its inaugural year, this year's awards promise to be even more exciting, with new categories and WHSmith on board as a partner.
The judging line-up includes CBBC Newsround presenter, Ricky Boleto; Children’s Laureate, Joseph Coelho; author and Place2Be ambassador, Sophie Dahl; children’s TV presenter and author, Jess French; Comics Laureate Bobby Joseph and award-winning author SF Said.
Each of the judges brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm ensuring informed and critical evaluation of the submissions.
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This year’s award categories include Fiction, Non-Fiction, Audiobooks and STEM along with new awards for Graphic Novel, Poetry, Picture Book, Wellbeing, Animals and Nature, and Hobbies and Interests. There is also an award for the Children’s Breakthrough Book of the Year – which will be given to the best book for children by a new author.
Also on the panels for this year’s awards are author and illustrator Nadia Shireen, author and educator Jeffrey Boakye, award-winning illustrator Dave McKean and teacher and TV presenter Bobby Seagull.
They will be joined by children’s literature experts including The Times children's books reviewer, Lucy Bannerman; SLA Primary School Librarian of the Year, Sally Hamerton and autistic author and editor Lizzie Huxley-Jones. Booksellers, educators and charities working to get children reading are also represented, along with director of the Barnes Children’s Book Festival, Amanda J. Brettargh.
Editorial director of The Week Junior, Anna Bassi said: “I am honoured to have the support of such a brilliant and inspiring ensemble. Their combined knowledge and passion for words, pictures and reading for pleasure will guarantee this year’s awards are fuelled by our shared commitment to recognising and celebrating the very best children’s books.”
This year, The Week Junior readers will have the opportunity to be judges too with their votes determining the winner of the Children’s Book Cover of the Year, and another exciting addition to the lineup – the Children’s Choice Award. This special new accolade will honour the book that receives the highest number of children’s votes among all titles featured on the shortlists.
In an exciting retail collaboration, The Week Junior Book Awards has partnered with WHSmith to amplify the visibility of shortlisted titles and award winners. Leveraging WHSmith's extensive network of high street stores and online platform, the awards aim to provide increased opportunities for shortlisted and winning books to reach a wider audience of young readers.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:
Entry Closing Date: 27 March 2024
Shortlist announced: 11 June 2024
The Bookseller Children’s Conference: 30 September 2024
Award Ceremony: 30 September 2024
The Week Junior Book Festival: 29 October 2024
For more information, please visit thebookawards.co.uk.
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