Almost 800 5-7-year-olds in 24 primary schools across Shropshire will be spending the second half of the Summer Term immersed in reading the six fabulous titles shortlisted for the Shropshire Bookfest Picture Book Award 2026. A huge treat awaits them!

Chosen by children from over 70 titles nominated by leading UK publishers for the Award, the six books are all very different.

There are tales of friendship… of daring to be yourself… and of finding out what’s really important… There are celebrations of creativity and the different ways our brains work… And stories about moving home, the feeling of belonging… and about the healing powers of kindness, community and nature.

Each of the books creates a wonderfully imaginative and enticing world, full of rich language and vibrant images.

• This That What – written by Katy Ashworth, Illustrated by Colleen Larmour (Puffin Books)

• Alone On My Rock – written by Smriti Halls, illustrated by Luke Scriven (HarperCollins)

• We Are Like Birds – written and illustrated by Laila Ekboir (Kumusha Books – HarperCollins)

• Ant Party – written by Ross Montgomery, illustrated by Sarah Warburton (Walker Books)

• It’s Behind You! – written by Jeanne Willis, Illustrated by Momoko Abe (Andersen Press)

• The Butterfly House – written and illustrated by Harry Woodgate (Andersen Press)

Shropshire Bookfest has provided teachers with an extensive Resource Pack containing lots of suggestions for exciting activities to help children explore each of the books.

And children will also be able to have fun entering the Picture Book Award Art Competition, creating artwork inspired by the books.

We’re also very much looking forward to seeing the entries for the Class Response Competition. In previous years, we’ve had some wonderful class displays, scrap books, poems, songs, films – all celebrating the books on the shortlist and how much the children have enjoyed reading them.

The closing date for entries is 26th June, which is also the all-important date when the children will cast their votes for their favourite book!

We cant’ wait to find out which book will get the most votes and be crowned winner of the Shropshire Bookfest Picture Book Award 2026!