Little Rebel Awards gets 'shake-up'

A “shake-up” of the Little Rebels Award for Radical Children’s Fiction will see author Patrice Lawrence, BookTrust’s Emily Drabble and The Good Immigrant contributor Darren Chetty joining the judging panel.

This year, the award which celebrates social justice, will be administered by radical bookseller Housmans Bookshop for a second year, as well as inclusive children’s book supplier, Letterbox Library, on behalf of the Alliance of Radical Booksellers (ARB). 

The new judges will be joining author and scriptwriter Catherine Johnson, now in her 3rd year of judging, and B J Epstein, senior lecturer at the University of East Anglia and author.

Publishers are now being invited to submit children’s fiction for readers aged 12 and under, which promote social justice and which were first published in 2017.

The prize is a sister award to the Bread & Roses Award for adult non-fiction. Both are the inspiration of the ARB. Prizes will be presented at the 6th London Radical Bookfair on Saturday June 2nd 2018.

YA writer, Lawrence (pictured), said: “I am looking forward to being a Little Rebels judge because a story can tilt my world. A picture can open a trove of new ideas for me. I can’t wait to be challenged and provoked by the books coming my way.”

Drabble, head of children’s book promotions and prizes at BookTrust said, “I’m totally passionate about children getting their hands on the best books, books that make them think, and books that will make a difference to the world - and that’s exactly what this award is all about.”

Chetty, Teaching Fellow at UCL and contributor to The Good Immigrant (Unbound) and A Change is Gonna Come (Little Stripes) said: “I know as a reader and a teacher how stories can open up all manner of possibilities, and how they provide solace, escapism and new connections with the world.” 

Ada Twist, Scientist (Abrams & Chronicle Books), written by Andrea Beatty and illustrated by David Roberts, won this year's award in June.

Letterbox Library helped develop the award with ARB and took a year off from running it last year when Housman's stepped in.

The closing date for nominations is January 15th 2018.  Full submission guidelines can be found at littlerebelsaward.wordpress.com.