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Louie Stowell has been named overall winner of The Children’s Book Award 2023 for her book Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Being Good (Walker Books), which also won the Books for Younger Readers category before sweeping up the top prize.
Dread Wood (Farshore) by Jennifer Killick won the Books for Older Readers Category, and Blobfish (Walker Books), written and illustrated by Olaf Falafel, was the Books for Younger Children category winner.
Stowell said: “Well, I hope you all know what you’ve done! Giving Loki this trophy... he is going to be unbearable! However, I’m really grateful. I cannot wait to get my acorn, and my – I think it’s a whole tree, actually! Maybe made of silver. Unfortunately, I think although I’m supposed to give that back at the end of the year, Loki may bury it somewhere, so look out for that. But thank you all so much!”
The Children’s Book Award is the only national award for children’s books that is voted for entirely by children. It is owned and co-ordinated by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups (FCBG). The overall winner is awarded the Children’s Book Award Silver Tree, of which they are the custodian for a year, and an engraved silver acorn which is theirs to keep. Each of the category winners receives an engraved glass trophy, and each shortlisted author and illustrator will also receive an incredible portfolio of writing and artwork created by children inspired by their book.
Sarah Stuffins, co-ordinator of The Children’s Book Award, said: “Access to books is vital if children are going to read for pleasure – and reading for pleasure is proven time and again to be so important to child development. We at the FCBG are delighted to be helping truly fantastic books reach children up and down the country, and then more delighted still to see those children engaging with – and thoroughly enjoying – the stories. Many congratulations to all our worthy winners, and many thanks to every child that voted.”