Egmont, Andersen and S&S lead Branford Boase longlist

Egmont, Andersen Press and Simon & Schuster each have three books on the longlist for this year’s Branford Boase award.

The prize, set up in memory of Henrietta Branford and Wendy Boase, former editorial director and founder of Walker Books respectively, is given annually to the author and editor of an outstanding debut novel for children. Last year the award went to Rosie Rowell (author) and Emily Thomas (editor) for Leopold Blue (Hot Key Books).

The 2016 longlist comprises 23 books, including from Egmont: Seed by Lisa Heathfield, edited by Ali Dougal (Egmont); Me and Mr J by Rachel McIntyre, edited by Stella Paskins; and The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow by Katherine Woodfine, edited by Alison Dougal and Hannah Sandford.

Andersen Press also has three: Othergirl by Nicole Burstein, edited by Charlie Sheppard; The Bolds by Julian Clary, edited by Charlie Sheppard (with illustrations by David Robers); and Girl on a Plane by Miriam Moss, edited by Charlie Sheppard. Simon & Schuster’s three are: The Dreamsnatcher by Abi Elphinstone, edited by Jane Griffiths; Captive by A J Grainger, edited by Elv Moody and Christian Trimmer; and Hamish and the Worldstoppers by Danny Wallace, edited by Jane Griffiths (illustrations by Jamie Littler).

Other publishers on the shortlist are Chicken House, Penguin Random House Children’s, Firefly Press and Nosy Crow.

Julie Eccleshare, who set up the prize with Anne Marley, said: “It’s been an extraordinary year for debuts, and our longlist includes an enormously varied collection of interesting, well-written books. The boundaries of what is possible in books for children seems to be ever expanding. We read fantasy adventures, mysteries, time travel stories, political satires and more – all of which are designed to entertain children, for sure, but also to help them navigate the complexities of growing up in this hectic decade.”

The judges for this year are Russell Allen from West Sussex Library Service, bookseller Simon Key from the Big Green Bookshop, former children’s editor Marion Lloyd and Rowell. Eccleshare will chair the panel.

The shortlist will be announced on 4th May and the winner will be revealed in early July.

This year’s longlist in full:

Othergirl by Nicole Burstein, edited by Charlie Sheppard (Andersen Press)

Aubrey and the Terrible Yoot by Horatio Clare, edited by Penny Thomas (Firefly)

The Bolds by Julian Clary, edited by Charlie Sheppard (Andersen Press). Illustrations by David Roberts

The Baby by Lisa Drakeford, edited by Rachel Leyshon (Chicken House)

The Dreamsnatcher by Abi Elphinstone, edited by Jane Griffiths (Simon & Schuster)

Captive by A J Grainger, edited by Elv Moody and Christian Trimmer (Simon & Schuster)

Seed by Lisa Heathfield, edited by Ali Dougal (Egmont)

Deep Water by Lu Hersey, edited by Sarah Stewart (Usborne)

Stone Rider by David Hofmeyr, edited by Ben Horslen and Tig Wallace (Penguin Random House)

13 Days of Midnight by Leo Hunt, edited by Jessica Tarrant (Hachette)

The Next Together by Lauren James, edited by Annalie Grainger (Walker)

The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones by Will Mabbitt, edited by Ben Horslen (Penguin Random House). Illustrated by Ross Collins.

Me and Mr J by Rachel McIntyre, edited by Stella Paskins (Egmont)

The Accidental Prime Minister by Tom McLaughlin, edited by Clare Whitson (Oxford). Illustrated by the author.

Girl on a Plane by Miriam Moss, edited by Charlie Sheppard (Andersen Press)

The Sin Eater’s Daughter by Melinda Salisbury, edited by Genevieve Herr (Scholastic)

My Brother is a Superhero by David Solomons, edited Kirsty Stansfield (Nosy Crow)

Birdy by Jess Vallance, edited by Emma Matthewson (Hot Key Books)

Hamish and the Worldstoppers by Danny Wallace, edited by Jane Griffiths (Simon & Schuster). Illustrated by Jamie Littler

One of Us by Jeannie Waudby, edited by Rachel Leyshon (Chicken House)

Time Travelling with a Hamster by Ross Welford edited by Nicholas Lake (HarperCollins)

The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson, edited by Bella Pearson (David Fickling Books)

The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow by Katherine Woodfine, edited by Alison Dougal and Hannah Sandford (Egmont)