Established in 1995, these Awards are presented by the English Association to the best children's picture books of the year, with awards given to Fiction and Non-Fiction in age ranges of 4-7 years and 7-11 years.

The winning books are chosen by the editorial board of English 4-11, the journal for primary teachers published by the English Association, the National Association for the Teaching of English, and the United Kingdom Literacy Association, from a shortlist selected by a panel of teachers and primary education specialists.

Each year, one of the books submitted to the English 4-11 Picture Book Awards will be selected as the recipient of the Margaret Mallett Prize for Children’s Non-Fiction.

The 2025 winners in each category, and the winner of the Margaret Mallett Award for Children's Non-Fiction, will be announced on Monday 28th April 2025.

The entire shortlist will be displayed and celebrated throughout this year's Conference on Saturday 14th June 2025. Book your ticket for the conference now.

Fiction 4-7 Years Shortlist

Oh! Look, A Boat! by Andrew J. Ross 

A small, red boat appears: where will it take you? A curious mouse discovers a boat and sets off on adventure. From the river to the sea, the mouse leaves behind familiar friends and finds the ocean. Travelling day and night, he encounters new islands, pirates and eventually longs for home. Through simple storytelling, Ross guides the reader through the narrative as we see the mouse journey through the everyday to the unknown which makes it the perfect choice for a read aloud. The phrase ‘Oh! Look, a boat’ is repeated throughout which encourages readers to join in and builds anticipation. The story rounds off with this phrase as another creature encounters the boat and the journey begins again. Storytelling is weaved through the illustrations which bring a sense of mischief and joy. This would be a popular text with younger readers and would spark discussions about exploration and bringing your imagination to the everyday. Would be a lovely read aloud and stimulus text for writing or play! 

Who Ate Steve? by Susannah Lloyd and Kate Hindley

The narrator of this engaging and charming picture book appears to be an educator, introducing the reader to the text by letting us know we are going to learn about size. Seizing upon a shocked looking Marcel the bird and Steve the worm, the narrator uses these characters to try and create comparisons for sizes. However, Marcel’s attempts to eat Steve frustrate their attempt at teaching this. The expressions of the characters throughout are a joy to see, especially viewing Marcel’s face as he responds to the narration and admonishments throughout the text. You can imagine children joining in with the ‘teacher voice’ in re-readings of this interactive story with a perfect surprise ending. The book could be used after comparing sizes with children in their mathematics lessons, to develop use of comparative adjectives when discussing sizes of the animals and to model and encourage expression in reading. However, the book could mainly be used for the sheer pleasure of reading aloud and thoroughly enjoying a fun story together.

Colin's Castle by Holly Swain 

Colin’s Castle tells the story of an ostensibly vegetarian vampire called Colin who is finally about to fulfil his life-long dream of living alone in his very own castle. However, having arrived at his new abode, Colin soon finds that there is already a sitting tenant with whom he definitely does not want to share. This latest offering from the creative and talented Holly Swain seamlessly blends imaginative illustration, nifty narration, dramatic dialogue and playful onomatopoeia to tell the tale of Colin’s frustrations and wily cunning as he dreams up ways to remove Duck and reclaim his castle for himself. However, Duck is sitting on quite a large secret of her own – one that Colin may possibly throw one or two new obstacles in Colin’s path. Readers both young and old will enjoy poring over the detailed illustrations again and again, discovering new and humorous details each time. Teachers will enjoy exploring the expertly crafted character of Colin with their classes as he doggedly tries to banish the determined duck.

Troll by Frances Stickley and Stefano Martinuz 

Troll is a rhyming book that you will relish reading aloud in your LOUDEST voice. As you would expect, the troll terrorises all that travel onto his bridge until, one day, a little rabbit passes by and is not frightened at all. It transpires that they are deaf and the troll’s inability to frighten the rabbit affects him profoundly: not only has he terrified everyone else, he has trolled himself. It isn’t an easy journey for the troll to learn to like himself, but with practice, ‘his gnarly heart unfurls’ and this change in character is reflected in the vibrant colours in the final pages (but don’t worry, you’ll still have the opportunity to use your huge voice!). This book combines disabilities and difficult concepts of self-worth into a story that children will enjoy hearing again and again - LOUDLY!

Non-Fiction 4-7 Years Shortlist

My First Ocean Atlas by Catherine Ard and Paul Daviz

The cover encourages the reader to dive into this accessible book that will appeal to children across the age range. Two short paragraphs on each double page spread read well aloud. These mostly focus on a specific ocean habitat, however penguins and ocean giants do get a special look in. Clear, colourful drawings of plants and animals who call each habitat home are labelled and some have further nuggets of information. At the base of each page, questions encourage engagement by either a solo reader, or through interaction with a mediating adult. Unfamiliar habitats such as mangrove forests, seagrass and hot vents on the deep seabed extend children’s understanding. The plants and animals populating the scenes also encompass a wider range of species than are often included for this age range. This book would inform and engage children studying habitats in school and those individuals with an interest the wonderful undersea world.

Mushrooms Know: Wisdom from our friends the fungi by Kallie George and Sarah Gillingham

Since the ancients we’ve learned wisdom from the animal kingdom, but now it is the turn of the humble fungi. This brightly coloured, engaging book brings what is often unseen and overlooked into brilliant focus. For example, did you know most of a fungus is hidden underground, or that some can live nearly 2,500 years? Each page shares a snippet of relatable wisdom, such as ‘small can be mighty…’ accompanied by fascinating factual information about fungi and their many incredible attributes. The illustrations bring these to life in a fun and playful way with each fungus wearing a cute smiley face that children will be instantly drawn to. In the classroom, this book can sit alongside your more typical nature books to expand young children’s knowledge and understanding of the natural world beyond the obvious. It invites children to be curious and observe the richness of diversity both within our own species and without. Finally, the book ends back with the child showing how we’re all connected in the great ecosystem of our planet.

Family by Patricia Hegarty and Britta Teckentrup

The first thing you notice about this book is the sunrise at the heart of it, which radiates throughout this non-fiction text as it shines a light on different families in the animal kingdom. From elephants to penguins, this book explores the different ways animals depend on each other in nature. This book is perfect for exposing children to the habitats across our world and the animals that reside there. The peek-a-boo sun at the centre of the book slowly sets and fades, showing us nocturnal worlds, before rising again and returning the reader to the habitat where we started. This clever design makes the circle of life and nature clear to the reader in a beautiful way. Family would be perfect for use in the classroom when exploring nature, habitats, animals and the world around us. Younger readers will enjoy the storytelling with its rich vocabulary and lush illustrations.

Time Runs Like A River by Emma Carlisle

Time runs past like a river. Each day brings something brand new.

So take time to see, how different each second can be, And cherish what matters to you.

In this beautiful and contemplative book, two children walk along a river’s course across fields, bridges, stepping stones and the seasons. As they go, the author gently explores the parallels between a river’s flow and the passage of time whilst encouraging young readers to mindfully explore and engage with the world around them and their place within it. Profound indeed, but its tone is encouraging, never didactic.

The river’s delicate ecosystem is examined in verse form alongside soft, evocative illustrations depicting some of its inhabitants such as jays, shrews, oaks and willows. Threaded through the book are the concepts of continuity, change and growth but also of hope: ‘like water, you’ll find your own way.’ A traditional-style non-fiction section at the end of the book provides further information about river communities and there are linked activities to try such as leaf art.

This book would provide an appealing classroom or leisure-time read-aloud as well as providing useful support for environmental and PSHE topics for Early Years and KS1 pupils.

Fiction 7-11 Years Shortlist

Beanie the Bansheenie by Eoin Colfer and Steve McCarthy 

Colfer takes the banshee from Irish folklore and introduces a twist to the usual tale. Instead of bonding with a human who they stay with until they deliver the fatal news of their impending demise, his bansheenie spends her formative life underwater with the atom fish. Not only do they name her ‘Beanie’, the love they show changes her life’s purpose away from being Rose’s “harbinger of doom”. Instead, she wants to protect her. So when a flood threatens to engulf Rose and her family, Beanie becomes the family’s saviour. Steve McCarthy’s illustrations echo the flow of the story and bring the characters of the atom fish and the bansheenie to life. The colour palette unsurprisingly includes a range of green hues and complement and extend Colfer’s text. This tale will appeal to readers across the age range and could lead into them creating many more stories of their own.

Blitz: One Family's War by Martin Impey 

Set out like a scrapbook, this beautifully illustrated book tells the story of one family’s experience of the Blitz through the eyes and voice of a child. Heartfelt watercolour illustrations are interspersed with minimal typewriter style text and letters from The Front. This structure has an immersive effect: allowing readers young and old to become fully submersed in the experience of war-time London. Told in chronological order, Martin Impey cleverly combines fact with fiction in details such as propaganda posters in the images and quotes from the wireless. It is a large book, but the graphic novel style layout and minimal text make it accessible with much of the experience told through the detailed illustrations. The book takes us from the start of the war – through the worst of the Blitz and ends with the children leaving their homes to be evacuated to safety. There is an enticing ‘To be continued…’ at the end which suggests Blitz will become one in an engaging series. The level of detail in this book, alongside the human experience, makes it the perfect accompaniment to any KS2 study of World War II.

The Magic Callaloo by Trish Cooke and Sophie Bass 

A kaleidoscope of colour blended with an enticing and entrancing story sets the scene for this richly presented multi-cultural picture book which will appeal to Key Stage 2 children of all ages.

Based on the traditional tale of Rapunzel, this enchanting book takes us on an adventure with Mister and Missus, who so desperately want a child, a magical callaloo plant treasured by the villagers, and the antagonist, a greedy and sinister man who wants everything for himself. This is not just an ordinary story filled with twists and turns, ups and downs, dragons and wise women, but a beautiful tribute to the history of slavery. Of all that they lived for and all that they died for. Of their plans and escape routes that were so deftly and skilfully woven into their plaited hair bringing a deeper more poignant and emotive thread to the whole folktale.

Non-Fiction 7-11 Years Shortlist

Beasts from the Deep by Matt Ralphs and Kaley McKean 

A captivating large hardback book that invites us to dive into the five zones of the ocean and encounter some of the strange creatures that live there. The design and format of the pages work well. Dramatic glowing images command attention. The Halitrephes jellyfish looks like exploding fireworks. Age-appropriate paragraphs of information surround the text. The Atlantic Wolffish is the size of a bath tub and produces “a natural antifreeze that keeps their blood flowing in the frosty waters of their North Atlantic home". Hairy Anglerfish are so rare that only 17 have ever been caught.

Each page surprises, informs and inspires. I found it utterly compelling. There is a clear contents page, glossary and an index. Ideal for a class or school library the book could inspire research, and creative writing. Children could create pages on creatures of their own. Don’t miss it - be enthralled and awe-inspired.

Ayo's Adventure: Across the African Diaspora from Afro to Zulu by Ain Heath Drew and Erin K. Robinson 

In this wonderfully illustrated book we join Ayo on his adventures across the African diaspora. Using the alphabet as stimulus, Ayo journeys around the globe and finds himself dropped into different countries on each page. During his many adventures, Ayo plays Calypso rhythms in Trinidad and Tobago and tries on kente cloth in Ghana. He arrives in Brazil to learn about the town of Palenque de San Basilio in Brazil known as “Africa outside of Africa” and in USA to learn about William Still, the ‘Father of the Underground Railroad’. This book would be a fascinating read in the classroom, as the reader travels across the globe expanding their knowledge and experiences alongside Ayo. The narrative is very entertaining and the vibrant illustrations make the words even more powerful. Digestible sections of the story explain different celebrations, traditions and history, inspiring the reader to explore and expand their knowledge of the many places Ayo visits. At the back of the book, the map and A-Z glossary of the cultures visited provide further interaction and information to stimulate curiosity and learning in Geography and History in the classroom. A beautiful and inspiring book to share with children.

Into The Volcano by Cath Ard and Wenjia Tang 

If you want an in-depth and all-encompassing knowledge and understanding of volcanoes, then this is the book for you. With its detailed images and rich vocabulary, this text takes you on a journey that encourages readers to explore both the geological and the historical impact of volcanoes. The tour starts by explaining where volcanoes are around the world alongside how they’re formed. As you delve deeper into the text, you read about the impact that they have had on numerous generations through the myths and legends that they’ve inspired. In conjunction with the creativity dimension that volcanoes have had on humans, Into the Volcano also explains how these fiery beasts have destroyed societies such as Pompeii whilst also enabling others to thrive due to the energy that can be harnessed through them. A fascinating read that spans so many curriculum areas.

Me And My Hair by Kimberley Kinlock, Jessica Gibson, and Sandra Becker Boree 

Me and My Hair is a captivating and thought-provoking book that explores themes of identity and acceptance through the lens of hair. Written from the perspective of a girl called Kyra, and interweaving interesting facts and insights from her many friends, readers are encouraged to embrace their uniqueness while promoting understanding of others. Kyra also touches on the history of the slave trade as she learns how hair has been a marker of oppression and resilience. This dual focus on personal identity and historical context offers a powerful message about acceptance and the importance of recognizing and celebrating diversity in all its forms. Me and My Hair is an insightful and beautifully illustrated exploration of self and society, making it accessible and engaging for readers of all ages.

@EnglishAssoc