Submissions are now open for titles to be put forward to the Shropshire Bookfest Picture Book Award 2026.

Shropshire Bookfest is now ready to launch its PICTURE BOOK AWARD 2026 for our primary schools across Shropshire for their Key Stage 1 pupils in RECEPTION, YEAR 1 and YEAR 2.

Run every two years, this reading for pleasure project for this KS1 age group is now set to reach 690 pupils from 20 primary schools.

The following criteria apply:

Title(s) to have been first published in the UK between 1st January 2025 and 31st December 2025.

Fiction titles only.

Author and illustrator must be resident in the UK.

Books must be suitable for ages 5 – 7 (Reception through to Year 2).

Stand-alone titles – characters may form a series of books but each story to be stand-alone.

Maximum number of submissions – 5 titles per publisher/imprint.

Submissions must be available in paperback by April 2026.

Deadline:

We would be grateful if publishers could supply three copies of each nominated title by Wednesday 18th February 2026.

Please send nominated titles to: Annabel Warburg, The Arches, Longnor, Shrewsbury SY5 7PP

Timeline:

(We have consulted with schools and have carefully programmed this project in order to make time allowances for KS2 SATS – KS2 children will be helping KS1 children read the books – and KS1 phonics screening tests).

18th February 2026: Closing date for submissions for the longlist.

22nd February – 26th March 2026: Key Stage 1 children in selected Shropshire Primary Schools will read and review the Picture Book Award longlisted titles.

18th May 2026: Announcement of the four titles shortlisted for Picture Book Award 2026. (These will be chosen based on the reviews and recommendations of the children who read the longlist).

mid-May – 25th June 2026: Multiple copies of the Picture Book Award shortlisted titles will be delivered to schools across Shropshire. Children will read and discuss them, creating artwork and class responses along the way. On 25th June, they will cast their votes for their favourite book.

early July 2026: The winner of the Shropshire Bookfest Picture Book Award 2026 will be announced. All schools will be encouraged to run special assemblies to celebrate the winner and the project.

Key Facts about the Shropshire Bookfest Picture Book Award Project

20 primary schools across Shropshire are participating in the Picture Book Award 2026.

690 children will be involved in the project.

Number of titles that will go through to the Picture Book Award 2024 shortlist: 4

690 copies of shortlisted titles will be purchased by the Shropshire Bookfest Picture Book Award 2026 project for participating schools.

The project is funded by a combination of charitable trusts and foundations, by participating schools and delivered by Shropshire Bookfest.

Shropshire Bookfest is a registered charity, holder of the Queen’s Award for Excellence and is run by a group of dedicated volunteers and two (self-employed) co-ordinators.

The shortlist for Picture Book Award 2024 was as follows:

Who Ate All the Bugs? by Matty Long, published by Oxford University Press (winner)

The Dodo Who Dreamed She Could Fly by Catherine Emmett and Claire Powell, published by Simon & Schuster

Dick the Delightful Duck by Kaye Umansky and Ben Mantle, published by Scholastic

The Quickest Bedtime Story Ever by Louise Fitzgerald and Kate Hindley, published by Nosy Crow

Please get in touch if you have any questions or would like any more information.  Thank you in advance for your support of our work and for helping so many children develop a life-long love of reading.

Contact:  Annabel Warburg – Project Manager annabel.warburg@shropshirebookfest.co.uk