Children’s Book Awards

It is with dismay we have seen the recent closing of the Costa Book Awards with their important Children’s category, quickly followed by the announcement the Blue Peter Awards were closing. This is understandable as organisation’s priorities change but it creates a huge hit to the important field of children’s books. The Lollies have announced an extension of their award and the long-established Carnegie and Greenaway Awards and the UKLA Teacher Awards, plus the Little Rebels Award continue – as do our very own Children’s Book Awards (CBA). Each award has its own criteria and judging panel but the FCBG’s CBA is the only national award entirely judged by children, for children – a fantastic USP.

FCBG know how much hard work is involved in maintaining a book award for the past 42 years! We will strive to continue to maintain the award for at least another 42 years! To exist for so long we have had many partners over the years – who help us enormously when it comes to getting books into the hands of children. Not least all the publishers with their generous support, and the two organisations who offer us generous grants to keep going and to keep expanding our reach and our accessibility – The Ragdoll Foundation and the Marsh Charitable Trust. Huge thanks to you all. Without this support we would have to give up – but there is always more we can do, and our volunteers are evangelical in their passion to get books into the hands of children. Anyone wanting to support children’s book publishing and awards would make welcome additions – so that we can reach even more than the 80,000 votes the award can generate! Talk to us about the future of the CBA!

The 2022 award celebration was postponed due to the rail industrial action but a celebration event will take place later in October.

Tricia Adams

Chair FCBG

chair@fcbg.org.uk