In a groundbreaking move for children’s literature, the Booker Prize Foundation has announced the creation of The Children’s Booker Prize, a new £50,000 annual award celebrating the very best in contemporary fiction for young readers.
The award—set to debut in February 2027—will recognize exceptional books written for children aged eight to twelve, whether originally written in English or translated into English, and published in the U.K. or Ireland. This marks the Foundation’s first major expansion since the establishment of the International Booker Prize.
Encouraging the Next Generation of Readers
According to Gaby Wood, CEO of the Booker Prize Foundation, the new award represents one of the most ambitious projects in the organization’s history.
“The Children’s Booker Prize aims to be several things at once,” Wood explained. “It’s not just an award to celebrate outstanding children’s fiction—it’s also a social intervention designed to inspire more young people to read, and to nurture the next generation of lifelong readers.”
The inaugural judging panel will be led by Frank Cottrell-Boyce, the current Waterstones Children’s Laureate (2024–2026), and will include both children and adult judges—a unique approach that ensures the voices of young readers themselves are part of the decision-making process.
Filling a Void in the Awards Landscape
The launch of this prize comes at a crucial time. The landscape of children’s book awards in the U.K. has grown noticeably sparse in recent years. The Costa Book Awards, which included a children’s category, were discontinued in 2022, shortly followed by the Blue Peter Awards and the earlier Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, which ended in 2016.
Many in the publishing industry see the Children’s Booker as a welcome revival of recognition for young readers’ literature. Author Cressida Cowell, the 2019–2022 Children’s Laureate, shared her excitement, noting that children are “the toughest critics” and that writers for young audiences face increasing competition for attention in today’s digital world.
A Prize With Real Impact
The Booker name carries tremendous weight in the publishing world. Past adult Booker winners have seen their sales and international reach soar. For instance, Samantha Harvey’s Orbital experienced a 3,867% jump in sales in the U.K. following its win, with translation rights now sold in 44 territories.
With such a strong precedent, many expect the Children’s Booker Prize to not only elevate the visibility of children’s authors but also to inspire publishers to invest more in quality storytelling for young readers.
Inspiring Reading for Pleasure
The initiative also aligns with growing national efforts to promote literacy and reading for pleasure. The percentage of children in the U.K. who regularly read in their free time is currently at its lowest point in two decades. The announcement of the Children’s Booker Prize comes just ahead of the National Year of Reading 2026, a campaign led by the U.K. government and the National Literacy Trust.
As Wood summed it up:
“The Children’s Booker Prize is more than an award—it’s part of a movement. It’s a cause that children, parents, teachers, and everyone in the storytelling community can rally behind.”
The Foundation hopes that this new prize will do more than crown a winner—it will spark a renewed passion for reading, creativity, and imagination among the youngest generation of storytellers and readers.