The Week Junior Book Awards has now launched for it's inaugural year, and is open for entries! Bravo to Future for creating a much-needed celebration of children's literature to fill the gap left by other awards.

Created to showcase the brilliant world of children’s books and the talented people who create them, it honours the authors, illustrators and publishers who inspire children to read for pleasure. The emphasis is on original ideas, outstanding illustration and smart storytelling, as well as new and diverse talent.

This is right up our street here at LoveReading4Kids, we are delighted to be partners of the Awards and our very own Deborah Maclaren is on the Shortlist Committee alongside a fantastic panel of children's booklovers.

For publishers, entries are open now until 5th April across nine categories covering the period from 1 January 2022 to 28 February 2023. We can't wait to see the submissions. 

The Judges have just been announced and include Cerrie Burnell, broadcaster and writer Radzi Chinyanganya, presenter and author Liam Charles, presenter and YouTuber Maddie Moate, and bestselling and award-winning authors Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Elle McNicoll who are joining a host of experts in children’s literature to judge the awards

The exceptional panels of judges, which also include presenter of Fun Kids Radio Bex Lindsay, teacher Scott Evans, author A.M. Dassu, CEO and founder of Little Box of Books Lynsey Pollard will join together to decide the winners of this new award across nine categories including fiction, non-fiction, illustrated books and emerging authors.

Thousands of The Week Junior readers will also have a seat at the voting table, as they are invited to choose their Cover Of The Year. All shortlisted authors, illustrators and publishers will be invited to a glittering drinks reception and award ceremony taking place after The Bookseller Children’s Conference in London on 2nd October, 2023.

There are nine categories overall. Along with fiction and non-fiction—which are split into younger and older reader categories, there are awards for audiobooks, illustrated books, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and a breakthrough award for début authors. There is also an award for Children’s Book Cover of the Year which will be decided by readers of The Week Junior. How exciting! 

We love The Week Junior here at LoveReading4Kids. The fantastic weekly magazine is designed and written by experts to carefully explain current affairs, science, sport, the arts, nature and technology to 8 to 14 year olds, encouraging them to explore their world and develop their own opinions. What's not to love!?

It explains our wonderful world in a safe, unbiased, age-appropriate way, inspiring kids to talk about what’s happening in the news, and get involved in their planet. 

Look out for news on progress of the Awards, including the announcement of the shortlist on 26th May and all winners will be announced at The Week Junior Book Awards ceremony on the evening of 2nd October.

To find out more, visit: https://www.theweekjuniorbookawards.co.uk/

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