2025 Derby Children's Picture Book Award - The Shortlist

Derby Book Festival has announced the three shortlisted books for the Derby Children’s
Picture Book Award 2025, selected by 16 Derby primary school teachers. Now in its seventh
year, the Award celebrates picture books that children can relate to and in which the
diversity and challenges of modern life are represented. 

Children’s publishers were invited to submit up to three books, published in 2024, which
meet the Award criteria. A record number of 75 books were submitted from publishers.
Members of the Festival’s Education Group selected the longlist of 12 books, before the
team of teachers made their selection of the shortlist.

Making the shortlist are ‘If I Were Prime Minister’ by Trygve Skaug and Ella Okstad; ‘Flower
Block’ by Lanisha Butterfield and Hoang Giang, and ‘The Girl at the Front of the Class’ which
is written by Onjali Q. Rauf and illustrated by University of Derby alumnus and lecturer,
Pippa Curnick.   

This year 63 Derby schools will take part, receiving copies of the books for each class,
involving 217 classes. Around 6,500 children in Years 2 and 3 will vote for their favourite
book after reading them in class this term. Voting Day is 28th March and the winner will be
announced on 3rd April.

The previous winners have been hugely inspiring books, which continue to be used by
schools across the city.

Di Smith, who has devised and has organised the Award since it began seven years ago,
said: “We had a very high standard of submissions again this year and recognition of the Award continues to grow. We are delighted that each year the number of books and
publishers increases. This year we have had 75 books submitted by 29 publishers which is
an increase of 20 books and nine publishers. We have an excellent and varied shortlist of 
books which will give Derby children the opportunity to see a window on their world and a
mirror in which to see themselves.”

A teacher at St Werburgh’s Primary said: “We can’t wait to take part again - it’s our favourite time of the year! Our school has been taking part in the Derby Children’s Picture Book Awards for several years, and each year, the excitement and enthusiasm among the
children grows even more.”

Another teacher at Ashwood Spencer Primary said: “We participated last year and had a
fantastic experience reading and voting for the books. It greatly boosted the children’s
enthusiasm for reading. Even after the Festival, the children continued to enjoy the books
during their free reading time. The selected books were especially meaningful and resonated well with the children in our school.”

Professor Keith McLay, Chair of Derby Book Festival and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the
University of Derby, said: “The Derby Children’s Picture Book Award is part of the Derby
Book Festival, which proudly celebrates its 10th year in 2025. These Awards aim to inspire a
new generation of readers through books which reflect their own lives and experiences.

“This is a special award as the only people who vote for the winner each year are the school
children who read the shortlisted books.

“Derby Book Festival works closely with schools in the city and county to nurture a love of
books and reading, and the University of Derby is proud to support the charity.”