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Age Group: EYFS

Organised by The Bookseller, The British Book Awards (also known as The Nibbies) is an annual celebration of all things books! Offering a snapshot of the book industry’s achivements and output, the Nibbies include three categories exclusively for children’s books: Children’s Fiction, Children’s Non-Fiction and Children’s Illustrated.

These awards are judged by a panel drawn from across the book industry and beyond, and we at BooksForTopics were delighted to see many of our favourites among the impressive shortlists of children’s titles.

The Children’s Fiction category includes one of our Year 6 Recommended Reads, Skandar and the Unicorn Thief, alongside two of our Books of the Month picks Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun and Tyger, the latter of which went on to win the category. Another of our Year 6 Recommended Reads, You Can Do It, features in the Children’s Non-Fiction shortlist, while one of our Christmas favourites for younger readers, What the Ladybird Heard at Christmas, is shortlisted in the Children’s Illustrated category.

You can check out the full shortlist for the 2023 British Book Awards below!

Although the Children’s categories in the Nibbies celebrate books for children of all ages, here we focus on the titles suited to readers of primary school age. The full shortlists, including the titles for older readers, can be found here.

Picturebook

This fabulous picture book from superstar author and illustrator Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler is a riot of slapstick fun and silliness. The Baddies are the meanest, nastiest ghost, witch and troll in the land.

They just adore being bad, and fight over who is the worst.

When a little girl moves into a nearby cottage, the Baddies can’t wait to scare her out of her wits.

But the little girl quickly shows them that you don’t have to be big to be brave, and baddies don’t always win.

A brilliant paperback edition for new and old fans alike.

Perfect read-aloud rhyming text and stunning pictures on every page with lots of details to spot.

Julia and Axel are the team that have created picture book favourites such as The Gruffalo, Stick Man, Zog and The Smeds and The Smoos – all of which have been made into animated films premiering on BBC1 Christmas Day.

Picturebook

A fee-fi-fo-festive treat for Supertato fans this Christmas – an unmissable adventure in this super bestselling series! As seen on TV!

It’s showtime in the supermarket as Supertato and the veggies put on their very own production of Jack and the Beanstalk, starring The Evil Pea as Jack and Supertato as Jack’s mum.

There are thrills, spills and the return of a familiar-looking melon-bot as this hilarious, panto-tastic show unfolds. Will Jack’s beans bring him riches beyond his wildest dreams? Will Jack and Supermum be able to escape the fearsome giant?

All will be revealed…

Picturebook

“My dog Sam has a superpower. He doesn’t wear a costume. He can’t fly. And he definitely can’t make himself invisible.
Sam’s superpower is happiness.”

Sam can find happiness in the most unexpected places: a smelly old boot, a deflated ball, even in a muddy puddle! When Dad leaves for work, Sam’s young owner needs a little help to be happy again. Can Sam show his best friend how to be a bit less sad and a bit more dog?

This is a funny and heart-warming picture book about finding joy in the simplest things. With uplifting text from Caroline Crowe and engaging, lively illustrations from Carlos Velez, this feel-good story celebrates the connection between children and pets and encourages us all to be more dog!

Picturebook

Finn is in a horrible mood and doesn’t want to talk about it, but after some persuading, agrees to go for a hike with Grandpa. Throughout their forest walk, they see many different things: big, strong trees with networks of roots growing underneath, still water with schools of fish swimming below, and an expectant bird with eggs nestled under her. Grandpa explains that people also have hidden feelings beneath the surface, and despite appearances, may be feeling the say way you do.

Picturebook

From the creator of Barbara Throws a Wobbler – the ultimate story to chase (and laugh) your worries away.

Geoffrey’s got the jitters! It started last night when he was thinking about school – a funny, wiggly feeling in his tummy that grew and grew. But when Geoffrey’s tummy jitters started talking to him – that’s when he knew they were out of control. Geoffrey had to do something…

Through a laugh-out-loud story and loveable character, Nadia Shireen shows how to understand and dispel anxieties, one jitter at a time.

Selected as one of The Sunday Times Best Children’s Book of the Year.

Picturebook

“The cool on my toes felt kind of nice.
As Mama held me tight, I thought:
Maybe I’ll go in next time.”

A child’s first encounter with the sea leaves them feeling small and scared. What could be hiding in the dark depths below? When the family visits a lake and a river, the child’s fear of water gradually starts to ebb as curiosity begins to flow. But playing in the water still doesn’t feel right. Mama says there is no rush to try swimming, and that the water will wait. Maybe next time?

This gently powerful story about taking your time and listening to yourself, with lyrical words from Emily Joof, reminds us that it’s okay for progress to be gradual. Bold and dynamic illustrations from Matilda Ruta bring the journey to life with warmth and vibrancy. A perfect book for any child who is feeling nervous about new experiences.

Picturebook

Have you found the spaces in between? The secret places no one else has been? This beautiful picture book celebrates themes of anxiety and kindness by exploring the hidden places to be found in a busy city.

Traffic! Road works! Ambulances! Where do you go when the hustle and bustle of the city gets too much? The Spaces In Between follows one little girl and her father, as they seek out the secret spaces where they can go to find peace and quiet.

With themes of anxiety, fear, kindness and joy, explore how children can find ways of coping with noisy, busy spaces. From the warm embrace of a loved one, finding joy by splashing through puddles, and feeling the crunch of autumn leaves on the pavement, this book is full of ideas on how to find calming spaces in the middle of the hubbub.

Tips and suggestions at the back of the book are full of ideas that are accessible to all children, wherever they are in the world.

Written by phenomenal TED speaker, poet, writer and activist Jaspreet Kaur with beautiful illustrations by award-winning artist Manjit Thapp.

Picturebook

Life-affirming and lyrical, this beautiful picture book celebrates the awesome power of nature, while gently introducing young children to the concept of life and death.

Over the course of a year, a young child and their dog watch kingfishers by the river with Grandpa. As spring turns to summer and autumn to winter, the kingfishers raise a family, while Grandpa teaches his grandchild about the power of nature and the circle of life.

Written in memory of her father, whose favourite bird was the kingfisher, Anna Wilson takes readers on a lyrical journey though a year in the life of a kingfisher family. Stunning illustrations by Sarah Massini bring the riverbank to life in all its glory, while the powerful intergenerational bond between grandparent and grandchild shows that just as spring always follows winter, hope will always return if you know where to look for it.

A positive story about life, death, and being a part of the natural world.

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