The Week Junior Book Awards returns for second year with new WHSmith partnership

The Week Junior Book Awards is returning for a second year with a new partnership with WHSmith and the addition of several categories.

This year’s awards feature new categories, including Graphic Novel, Poetry, Wellbeing and Hobbies and Interests to "reflect the interests of today’s young readers, providing fresh opportunities for publishers to showcase their most innovative and engaging titles”, organisers said.

The awards were first launched in 2023, backed by The Bookseller. Last year’s winners included Aoife Dooley’s Frankie’s World and J.T. Williams’ The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries: Drama and Danger, and SF Said’s Tyger.

The awards also feature a Children’s Choice Award, which The Week Junior’s readers will vote on. In response to feedback from publishers seeking further retail exposure, this year the awards is partnering with WHSmith.

“This collaboration aims to amplify the visibility of both the shortlisted titles and winners of the awards. With WHSmith’s extensive network of outlets across the UK, including high-street stores and an established online platform, we are excited to provide increased opportunities for the shortlisted and winning titles to reach consumers,” organisers said. 

This year’s judges include Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho, BBC “Newsround” presenter Ricky Boleto and award-winning author and illustrator Nadia Shireen. The full judging panel will be announced later this month.

Anna Bassi, editorial director of The Week Junior, added: "I am thrilled to be bringing The Week Junior Book Awards back for a second year. Our mission remains steadfast: to recognise the incredible talent within the children’s publishing industry and to inspire children to discover the joy of reading. With new categories and an exciting retail partnership, I am excited to build on last year’s success and continue championing exceptional books that capture the imaginations of young readers."

Philip Jones, editor of The Bookseller, said: "We are so delighted to be supporting The Week Junior Book Awards for its second year: this is a much-needed and ultimately joyous initiative that will elevate this area of the book business, and those writers and illustrators who give so much time and energy to inform, distract and thrill children today. We hope to see the momentum begun in 2023, build further into 2024, with September 30th now a key date in the calendar for everyone involved in the children’s books sector." 

The deadline for entries is 27th March and the shortlist will be announced on 18th June. All shortlisted authors, illustrators and publishers will be invited to a drinks reception and award ceremony taking place after The Bookseller Children’s Conference at County Hall, London on 30th September 2024. 

The following month, The Week Junior Book Festival will take place at the Barbican in London on 29th October, during half term. With an anticipated turnout of 1,000 children, organisers said “attendees can expect an engaging range of activities, from captivating storytelling to interactive workshops, all designed to ignite a passion for reading”.  

Entries for The Week Junior Book Awards are now open and interested publishers should visit theweekjuniorbookawards.co.uk.