Children to Judge Inaugural Booker Prize for Young Readers

Published: 24 October 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

The Booker Prize Foundation has announced an ambitious new initiative: the launch of its first-ever prize for children’s fiction. Set to debut in 2026, the award will mark a significant expansion of the foundation’s mission to promote literary excellence, targeting young readers between the ages of eight and twelve. In what organizers have described as their “most ambitious endeavour” in two decades, the new prize will see the winning author receive £50,000, with the winner selected by a unique panel of both child and adult judges.

The Children’s Booker Prize aims to celebrate the best contemporary fiction written specifically for children and will be awarded annually from 2027 onward. The foundation has also pledged to distribute 30,000 copies of the shortlisted and winning books, aiming to nurture a new generation of readers by exposing them to high-quality literature from authors around the world. This initiative reflects a growing concern about reading habits among children, as current surveys indicate that only about 30 percent of children read for pleasure.

Dame Jacqueline Wilson, the celebrated author of The Story of Tracy Beaker, lauded the announcement as a “marvellous idea” and a timely boost for children’s literature. Wilson noted that, despite the wealth of engaging and innovative books available, many fail to reach young audiences. “A Children’s Booker Prize, like the adult Booker Prizes, will become a talking point, directing children, parents, carers, and teachers to the best contemporary children’s fiction,” she explained.

The award will be open to authors worldwide, including those whose works are originally written in English and those translated into English, provided the books are published in the UK or Ireland within the specified eligibility period. This international scope ensures that the prize will not only spotlight emerging voices but also celebrate diverse stories from across the globe.

Gaby Wood, chief executive of the Booker Prize Foundation, emphasized the transformative potential of the initiative. “The Children’s Booker Prize is the most ambitious endeavour we’ve embarked on in 20 years, and we hope its impact will resonate for decades,” she said. “It is designed to champion future classics for children, inspire more young people to read, and cultivate lifelong readers. The prize is not merely an award; it is a movement, a cause that children, parents, carers, teachers, and everyone involved in storytelling can rally behind.”

Wood highlighted the broader mission of the foundation, which is dedicated to inspiring readers through exposure to the world’s finest fiction. She stressed that nurturing children’s engagement with literature can help them imagine new worlds and, by extension, contribute to building a better future. “Welcoming young readers into our global community is tremendously exciting. We hope they encounter stories and characters that will accompany them throughout their lives,” she added.

The foundation has confirmed that Frank Cottrell-Boyce, the UK’s current Children’s Laureate, will serve as the inaugural chair of judges for the 2027 award. Cottrell-Boyce expressed his excitement at the prospect of involving children directly in the judging process. “Stories belong to everyone, and every child deserves the joy of diving into a great book. The Children’s Booker Prize will make it easier for children to discover the books that speak to them. By inviting them to the judging table and gifting copies of the nominated books, the prize will bring thousands more children into the wonderful world of reading,” he said. His enthusiasm for the role was palpable: “I am absolutely buzzing to chair the judging panel. It’s going to be – as they say – absolute scenes in there. Let the yelling commence.”

Submissions for the inaugural prize will open in spring 2026, covering books published between 1 November 2025 and 31 October 2026. The foundation will announce eight shortlisted titles in late November 2026, with the winner revealed at a high-profile event in February 2027. Shortlisted authors will each receive £2,500, while the winner will be awarded £50,000. In cases where a winning book has been translated into English, the author and translator will share the prize equally, following the precedent set by the International Booker Prize. A similar rule will apply to graphic novels, with the prize shared between author and illustrator. For highly illustrated works, the prize money will be split between author and illustrator according to an arrangement agreed upon with the publisher.

The Children’s Booker Prize represents not only an expansion of the Booker Foundation’s awards portfolio but also a strategic effort to invigorate the landscape of children’s literature. By empowering young readers to participate in the judging process, the prize emphasizes the value of children’s perspectives and the importance of fostering early engagement with literature. Experts suggest that involving children in such a prominent literary award could inspire a new wave of young literary enthusiasts and encourage more children to read for enjoyment rather than obligation.

The award has already garnered widespread support among authors and educators alike, who view it as a vital step toward bridging the gap between children and high-quality literature. Wilson and Cottrell-Boyce both highlighted the social dimension of the initiative, noting that increasing access to engaging books and highlighting exemplary contemporary fiction could have lasting cultural and educational impacts. In doing so, the Children’s Booker Prize seeks to create a sustainable pipeline for young readers who may one day become lifelong advocates of literature and storytelling.

As anticipation builds for the first round of submissions in 2026, the literary world is poised to witness the emergence of a prize that blends tradition with innovation. By combining the prestige of the Booker name with the fresh perspectives of child judges, the initiative promises to spotlight works that are both artistically excellent and deeply resonant with young audiences. This dual focus on literary quality and reader engagement sets the Children’s Booker Prize apart as a forward-thinking approach to celebrating literature, nurturing talent, and inspiring a love of reading for generations to come.