The Waterstones Children's Book Prize is an annual award given to a work of children's literature published during the previous year. First awarded in 2005, the purpose of the prize is "to uncover hidden talent in children's writing" and is therefore open only to authors who have published no more than two or three books, depending on which category they are in. The prize is awarded by British book retailer Waterstones.
It was originally called the Ottakar's Children's Book Prize, after the bookshop chain. When all Ottakar's stores were rebranded as Waterstone's following the HMV Group takeover in 2006, the prize also changed its name to become the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize.
Beginning in 2012, the prize was divided into three categories: Picture Books, Fiction 5–12, and Teen. Each category winner receives £2,000 with an overall winner chosen from the three getting an additional £3,000 (thus the overall winner receives £5,000 in total).
In 2016 the categories were renamed: Picture Books became Illustrated Books, Fiction 5–12 became Younger Fiction and the Teen category became Older Fiction.
Nominations and winners
2005 CategoryAuthorTitleResultRef.Best BookThe Cry of the IcemarkWinnerUrchin of the Riding StarsFinalistThe Whole Business with Kiffo and the PitbullThe Whispering RoadThe Time WreccasThe MerrybegotThe Goose GirlSiberiaOlivia KidneyNelly the Monster SitterJammy Dodgers on the RunAirborn
2006 CategoryAuthorTitleResultRef.Best BookThe Diamond of Drury LaneWinnerThe Quantum ProphecyFinalistThe LotteryThe Boy in the Striped PyjamasSpymiceShakespeare's SecretRalph the Magic RabbitNorth ChildJack Slater, Monster InvestigatorGregor and the Rats of Underland
2007 CategoryAuthorTitleResultRef.Best BookDarksideWinnerThe Thing with FinnFinalistThe Case of the Missing CatsThe Black Book of SecretsSmugglersSebastian DarkeNathan Fox: Dangerous TimesJake Cake: The Werewolf TeacherBunker 10A Swift Pure Cry
2008 CategoryAuthorTitleResultRef.Best BookWays to Live ForeverWinnerTumtum and NutmegFinalistTIM Defender of the EarthStone GoblinsShadow ForestBroken SoupBlue Sky FreedomBetween Two SeasAncient Appetites
2009 CategoryAuthorTitleResultRef.Best Book13 TreasuresWinnerHow Kirsty Jenkins Stole the ElephantFinalistZelah Green Queen of CleanChangelingGnomes Are ForeverThe Lady in the TowerMapmaker's MonstersNumbers
2010 CategoryAuthorTitleResultRef.Best BookThe Great Hamster MassacreWinnerThe ToymakerFinalistThe Seven SorcerersThe Girl Who Could FlyThe Crowfield CurseMeteorite StrikeLove, AubreyFlyawayDesperate Measures
2011 CategoryAuthorTitleResultRef.Best BookArtichoke HeartsWinnerThe Memory CageFinalistTall StoryThe Pain MerchantsWereworld: The Rise of the WolfFantastic Frankie and the Brain-Drain MachineA Beautiful LieMortlockWhen You Reach Me
2012 CategoryAuthorTitleResultRef.OVERALLThe Pirates Next DoorWinnerFiction 5-12The Brilliant World of Tom GatesCategory winnerThe Windvale SpritesFinalistMuncle TroggSky HawkMilo and the Restart ButtonClaude in the CityPicture BookThe Pirates Next DoorCategory winnerNo!FinalistI Want My Hat Back and Simon RickertyI Don't Want to be a Pea!Good Little WolfA Bit LostTeenYou Against MeCategory winnerMy Sister Lives on the MantelpieceFinalistDivergentBetween Shades of GrayBeing BillyAmy and Roger's Epic Detour
2013 CategoryAuthorTitleResultRef.OVERALLKetchup CloudsWinnerFiction 5-12WonderCategory winnerThe Wolf PrincessFinalistAtticus Claw Breaks the LawThe Secret Hen House TheatreChronicles of Egg: Deadweather and SunriseJim SmithBarry Loser: I Am Not a LoserPicture BookLunchtimeCategory winnerRabbitynessFinalistOh No, George!The Worst PrincessThe Journey HomeCan You See Sassoon?TeenKetchup CloudsCategory winnerSeraphinaFinalistSkin DeepInsigniaThrone of GlassGeekhood: Close Encounters of the Girl Kind
2014 (10th anniversary) CategoryAuthorTitleResultRef.OVERALLRooftoppersWinnerFiction 5–12RooftoppersCategory winnerThe School for Good and EvilFinalistThe Last WildSkull in the WoodShiverton HallDarcy DurdockPicture BookOpen Very CarefullyCategory winnerWeaselsFinalistTime for Bed, FredThe Crocodile Who Didn't Like WaterPenguin in PerilHarold Finds a VoiceTeen Geek GirlCategory winnerThe Bone DragonFinalistPaper AeroplanesOut of the EasyIf You Find MeButter
2015 CategoryAuthorTitleResultRef.OVERALLBlown AwayWinnerFiction 5-12 Murder Most UnladylikeCategory winner with Beck Moor (illustrator)Violet and the Pearl of the OrientFinalistGirl with a White DogCowgirlBoy in the TowerA Boy Called HopePicture Book Blown AwayCategory winnerWhere Bear?FinalistThe Sea TigerThe Queen's HatThe Dawn Chorus Atlas of AdventuresTeen Half BadCategory winnerThe Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava LavenderFinalistThe Apple Tart of HopeSmartOnly Ever YoursDead Ends
2016 CategoryAuthorTitleResultRef.OVERALLMy Brother Is a SuperheroWinnerIllustrated Book The Bear and the PianoCategory winnerThe Crow's TaleFinalistSuper Happy Magic ForestHector and HummingbirdHave You Seen Elephant? and Migy BlancoCinderella's Sister and the Big Bad WolfOlder Fiction Lisa WilliamsonThe Art of Being NormalCategory winnerThe Sin Eater's DaughterFinalistThe Accident SeasonSeedI'll Give You the Sun13 Days of MidnightYounger FictionMy Brother Is a SuperheroCategory winnerWitch WarsFinalistThe Mystery of the Clockwork SparrowThe Blackthorn KeyDarkmouthBird
2017 CategoryAuthorTitleResultRef.OVERALLThe Girl of Ink and StarsWinnerIllustrated Book There's a Tiger in the GardenCategory winnerTiger in a TutuFinalistThe JourneyThe Bear Who StaredSuper StanLife Is MagicOlder Fiction OrangeboyCategory winnerThe WildingsFinalistThe Sun Is Also a StarPaper ButterfliesHour of the BeesAnna and the Swallow ManYounger Fiction The Girl of Ink and StarsCategory winnerWolf HollowFinalistTime Travelling with a HamsterCogheartCaptain PugBeetle Boy
2018 CategoryAuthorTitleResultRef.OVERALLThe Hate U GiveWinnerIllustrated Book The Secret of Black RockCategory winner The Night BoxFinalistSuperbatLeafI Really Want the CakeFergal Is Fuming!Older Fiction The Hate U GiveCategory winnerTroublemakersFinalistThornhillThis Mortal CoilThe DisappearancesInkYounger Fiction Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan CrowCategory winnerWho Let the Gods Out?FinalistThe Legend of Podkin One-EarThe Goldfish Boy and Chris SmithKid NormalA Place Called Perfect
2019 CategoryAuthorTitleResultRef.OVERALLThe Boy at the Back of the ClassWinnerIllustrated Book and Jenny LøvlieThe GirlCategory winnerThe King Who Banned the DarkFinalistMini Rabbit Not LostLittle Leaders: Bold Women in Black HistoryJulián Is a Mermaid100 DogsOlder Fiction Children of Blood and BoneCategory winnerThe Truth About LiesFinalistThe Poet XMe Mam. Me Dad. Me.Boy 87A Winter's PromiseYounger Fiction The Boy at the Back of the ClassCategory winnerThe Train to Impossible PlacesFinalistThe Mystery of the Colour ThiefThe House with Chicken LegsThe Boy Who Grew DragonsBrightstorm: A Sky-Ship Adventure
2020 CategoryAuthorTitleResultRef.OVERALLLook Up!WinnerIllustrated Book Look Up!Category winnerOtto Blotter, Bird SpotterFinalistOne FoxOnce Upon a Unicorn HornMe and My SisterHidden PlanetOlder Fiction BearmouthCategory winnerThe Million Pieces of Neena GillFinalistJemima Small Versus the UniverseInternmentI Will Not Be Erased: Our Stories About Growing Up as People of ColourA Good Girl's Guide to MurderYounger Fiction High-Rise MysteryCategory winnerThe MiddlerFinalistThe Deepest BreathOur Castle, the SeaCharlie Changes into a ChickenAsha and the Spirit Bird
2021 CategoryAuthorTitleResultRef.OVERALLA Kind of SparkWinnerIllustrated Book The Grumpy FairiesCategory winnerWhere Happiness BeginsFinalistThe Blue GiantFreedom, We SingFound YouBear ShapedOlder Fiction WranglestoneCategory winnerThe Black FlamingoFinalistRaybearerOnly Mostly DevastatedBoy, EverywhereAnd the Stars Were Burning BrightlyYounger FictionA Kind of SparkCategory winnerWhen Life Gives You MangoesFinalistThe Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie YatesOrion LostLlama Out Loud!A Clock of Stars: The Shadow Moth
2022 CategoryAuthorTitlePublisherResultRef.OVERALL, illustrated by Levi Pinfold (HarperCollins Children's Books)The Last BearHarperCollins Children's BooksWinnerIllustrated BookGrandad's CamperAndersen PressCategory winnerWolfboyBloomsbury Children'sFinalist, illustrated by Mark McKinleyThe Viking Who Liked IcingBloomsbury Children'sThe Duck Who Didn't Like WaterSimon & SchusterOut to SeaThames & HudsonAlone!FarshoreOlder Fiction (Andersen Press)Not My ProblemAndersen PressCategory winnerThe Upper WorldPRH Children'sFinalistThe Gilded OnesUsborneThe CrossingPRH Children'sNot Here to Be LikedUsborneFirekeeper's DaughterOneWorldYounger Fiction, illustrated by Levi PinfoldThe Last BearHarperCollins Children's BooksCategory winner Benjamin Dean, illustrated by Sandhya PrabhatMe, My Dad and the End of the RainbowSimon & SchusterFinalist, illustrated by Maike PlenzkeFront DeskKnights OfChildren of the QuicksandsThe Chicken HouseBumble and Snug and the Angry PiratesHodder Children's Books, illustrated by Godwin AkpanAmari and the Night BrothersFarshore
2023 CategoryAuthorTitlePublisherResultRef.OVERALLGuppy PublishingWinnerIllustrated BookGretel the Wonder MammothPRH Children'sCategory winner, illustrated by Isabella MazzantiIvy KidsFinalistWhat Do You See When You Look at a Tree?Big Picture Press, illustrated by Beatrix HatcherI Am NOT a PrinceHachette Children's GroupDK, illustrated by Beth SuzannaBloomsbury Children's BooksOlder FictionGuppy PublishingCategory winnerAll That's Left in the WorldHachette Children's GroupFinalistWelcome to St Hell ScholasticEllie Pillai Is BrownFaber and FaberIf You Still Recognise MeStripes PublishingOnce Upon a Fever The Chicken HouseYounger FictionNura and the Immortal PalaceWalker BooksCategory winnerUsborne PublishingFinalistSmall!Everything with WordsPRH Children'sAjay and the Mumbai SunThe Chicken House, illustrated by Simone Douglas Farshore
2024 (20th anniversary) CategoryAuthorTitlePublisherResultRef.OVERALLGreenwild: The World Behind the DoorMacmillanWinnerIllustrated BookWalker BooksCategory winner, illustrated by Sally AgarOrchard BooksFinalistIncredible Jobs You've (Probably) Never Heard OfNosy CrowWren & RookWolf and BearTwo Hoots, illustrated by Aysha AwwadWhose Dog Is This?MacmillanOlder FictionThieves' GambitS&SCategory winnerPromise BoysMacmillanFinalistWhat the World Doesn't SeeUsborneGirl, Goddess, QueenPenguinYou Think You Know MeUsborneFriendship Never Ends Knights OfYounger FictionGreenwild: The World Behind the DoorMacmillanCategory winnerCrookhaven: The School for ThievesHodderFinalistScholasticVivi Conway and the Sword of Legend Knights OfPuffinMy Name Is Sunshine Simpson Usborne
2025 CategoryAuthorTitle PublisherResultRef.OVERALLHarper CollinsWinner Illustrated Book Harper Collins Category winner , illustrated by Francis Martin Gina Kaminski Saves the WolfLittle Tiger Mountain and CloudPenguin Random House Dim Sum PalacePushkin Press Older Readers King of NothingHot Key Books Category winner Lover BirdsHarperCollins Glasgow BoysFaber & Faber For She is WrathPan Macmillan Younger Readers RuneFlying Eye BooksCategory winner Secrets of the SnakestoneNosy Crow Scholastic Tidemagic: The Many Faces of Ista FlitPenguin Random House
2026 CategoryAuthorTitle PublisherResultRef.OVERALLSleep Tight, Disgusting BlobPenguin Random HouseWinnerIllustrated Book Sleep Tight, Disgusting BlobPenguin Random House Category winner , illustrated by Maxwell A. Oginni My Rice Is Best Penguin Random House Milo and the MountainO'Brien Press Pan MacmillanOlder Readers HarperCollins Category winner Simon & Schuster SoloLittle Island And the River Drags Her DownOneworldYounger Readers Evie and Maryam's Family TreeGuppy Publishing Category winner UnfairiesPenguin Random House WildlandsPenguin Random House Spirit WarriorsUsborne
See also Waterstones Book of the Year Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize