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Age Group: KS1

Picturebook

A heartwarming picture-book story about finding your own ways to be strong, from writer and social commentator Kelechi Okafor.

Kamara loves being super strong – it makes her feel fizzy and zappy! But her classmates and their negative words lead her to question herself and the confidence she has in her physical ability.

With sport’s day and the Big Race looming, does Kamara have what it takes to reach the finish line?

Strong Like Me is a timely picture-book debut by writer, social commentator and podcast host, Kelechi Okafor. This inspirational story sets out to help children discover their power, champion themselves, and be unapologetically secure in who they are. Packed full of heart, the story opens important conversations around ability, intersectionality, race and identity.

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

Four brave children watch, listen, search, and feel, as they experience the inequalities, dangers and injustices of life in our world.

Inspired by real-life activists and campaigners Greta Thunberg, Yusra Mardini, Marley Dias and Iqbal Masih, each of these children is filled with courage, determination and hope. They campaign to help save the planet, show that refugees can contribute and show leadership in sport in their new land, they build a library of 1000 books depicting black girls, they speak out against the outrage of child slavery. Lyrical and powerful, this book is a passionate call to children everywhere to speak their truth and stand up for a better world.

Non-fiction

This book will help children to be themselves and feel like they belong. From the atoms that made them to the things that bodies can do, ALL bodies are wonderful. We know that bodies can be tricky to understand. Sometimes you might feel like your body is different. But being different is completely natural … it’s just science! Trust the experts to help you have big conversations together using this inclusive guide.

Non-fiction

With simple, direct questions, thoughtful, compassionate answers and stunning illustrations by the Ukrainian artist Oksana Drachkovska, this book explores what it really means to be a refugee. Written with advice from the Refugee Council and drawing on conversations with refugees and aid workers from around the world, the questions cover all stages of a refugee’s journey, from fleeing danger and embarking on hazardous journeys, to seeking asylum and struggling to find a new place to call home. The language and scenes have been carefully considered to be appropriate for younger children, providing an extremely useful educational tool for families and schools.

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.

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