Overview
- Frank Cottrell-Boyce will chair the inaugural judging panel, with two adult judges selecting an eight-book shortlist before three child judges join to choose the winner.
- Eligibility for the first cycle covers books written in or translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland between November 1, 2025 and October 31, 2026.
- Submissions open in spring 2026, the shortlist arrives in November 2026, and the first winner will be announced at a dedicated event in February 2027.
- The prize is backed by the AKO Foundation and will gift at least 30,000 copies of shortlisted and winning titles annually through partners including the National Literacy Trust, The Reading Agency, Beano Brain, Bookbanks and the Children’s Book Project.
- Payouts mirror the adult Bookers: £2,500 to each shortlisted author and £50,000 to the winner, with prize sharing for translators or illustrators when applicable, and leading children’s authors have welcomed the initiative.