Ages 3-5: Picture Fiction
Shortlist
A Mouse Called Julian by Joe Todd-Stanton
The Pirate Mums by Jodie Lancet-Grant and Lydia Corry
The Tale of the Whale by Karen Swann and Padmacandra
Tilda Tries Again by Tom Percival
12 Books of Christmas longlist
Day 1: Tilda Tries Again by Tom Percival
Day 2: My Dad is a Grizzly Bear by Swapna Haddow and Dapo Adeola
Day 3: A Mouse Called Julian by Joe Todd-Stanton
Day 4: Imagine! by Patricia Forde and Elina Braslina
Day 5: Bird's Eye View by Frann Preston-Gannon
Day 6: Daisy's Dragons by Frances Stickley and Annabel Tempest
Day 7: Betsy Buglove Saves the Bees by Catherine Jacob and Lucy Fleming
Day 8: Donut Touch! by Seb Davey and Alex Willmore
Day 9: When the Sun Goes Home by Momoko Abe
Day 10: Ten Delicious Teachers by Ross Montgomery and Sarah Warburton
Day 11: The Tale of the Whale by Karen Swann and Padmacandra
Day 12: The Pirate Mums by Jodie Lancet-Grant and Lydia Corry
Panel members
Rebecca Rouillard, Holy Cross Preparatory School (panel chair)
Rebecca is the school librarian at Holy Cross Prep and is also a writer and reviewer of children's fiction. Her favourite part of the Spark! Book Awards last year was reading the shortlisted picture books to the pre-prep and how, after the awards were over, the girls continued to vote on every book she read to them.
Gemma Lines, Castle Hill Primary School
Gemma is a Year 1 class teacher, KS1 and Phonics Leader and has been teaching for 14 years in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. She believes picture books are an invaluable teaching tool and she loves teaching language and concepts through high quality texts. Gemma can't wait tobe exposed to a fantastic range of new books from different authors this year.
Jessica Webb, Bedelsford School
Jessica is an Assistant Headteacher for Integrated Learning and Communication at Bedelsford School. She is passionate about making stories accessible for all students. Jessica cannot wait to read and share diverse and inclusive books with the learners at Bedelsford.
Millie de Garston-Webb, Heathfield Infant School and Nursery
Millie de Garston-Webb works at Heathfield Infant School as a Year 2 class teacher and the Reading/Library Subject Lead. She is really looking forward the awards, in particular to exploring a wide range of new children's literature and getting her school involved with finding a book they think is the best!
Niamh McGarry, Grand Avenue Primary and Nursery School
Niamh is a Year 1 teacher at Grand Avenue Primary School in Berrylands. She is passionate about books so is delighted to be a part of this wonderful award! Niamh is really looking forward to reading lots of wonderful stories by some amazing authors!
Nicole Williams, Grand Avenue Primary and Nursery School
Nicole is a Year 1 teacher and part of the English team at Grand Avenue Primary and Nursery School. She is very excited to have the opportunity to read a range of new children's books this year.
Last year's winner and runners up
You can find the four books we shortlisted last year below - please note, however, that the age range was 4-7 year olds in this category in 2020-21. For all other categories try our past winners page.
2020-21: Winner
2020-21: Runner up
2020-21: Runner up
2020-21: Runner up