Book for Children Competition
We are delighted to announce the 2026
Book for children shortlist
Dave in the deep – Alexander Murphy
Eco Animals vs Little Critters – Natalie Rutherford
Gwenefer and the Son of Efrddyl – Essie Brammer
Heir of stone and blood – Eman A.E
I still stand – Claire Lomas
Journey under the Hedge – Elizabeth Hubberstey
Kadzo James Superstar – Sarah Forde Owuor
La Cosa Dei Gatti – Joel Lockie
One new message – Elaine Banfield
Shoot the Moon – James Dron
Sleeping with fishes – Francisca Staines
The Fox King – Misia Butler
The Golden Lion – Ann Rhodes
The Life Singer – Andrew Miller
The Lost Selkie Queen – Ruth Stevebson
There are no giraffes at school – Souzan Alcorn
Veritas – Simone Schuemmelfeder
Prize Giving and Poetry Reading will take place on Monday 19 October at 2pm as part of the Festival.
Tickets to this event are free but seats can be reserved here.
Book for Children Judge 2026
Catherine Bruton
Catherine Bruton is a multi-award winning author of books for children and young adults. Her critically acclaimed No Ballet Shoes in Syria won the National Book Tokens #BooksAreMyBag Awards 2019 and the Middle East Book Award, amongst others.
Her most recent title Bird Boy was shortlisted for the prestigious Nero Award, and We Can be Heroes was adapted into a film, starring Alison Steadman and Phil Davies.
Under the pen name Cate Shearwater, Catherine also writes the much loved Somersaults and Dreams series.
She also juggles life as an English teacher and was recently awarded a Fellowship of the English Association and a Teacher Trailblazer Award from the Poetry Society.