The Shortlist Edit: Part 1

Now that you’ve met our shortlist, it’s high time we talked more about the brilliant books that they’ve created! And who better to do that than our wonderful judging panel themselves?

Please watch below for the judges’ soundbites on each book in turn. If you haven't read them already - now’s the time to grab a copy of each of our stupendous six and see what you think of the judges’ comments.

Thanks so much again to our brilliant panel for such amazing care and consideration. All of the submitted books were wonderful, and choosing just six is a Herculean task!!!

Chris Riddell on Barbara Throws A Wobbler by Nadia Shireen (Puffin)

Viveka Alvestrand on The Pet by Catherine Emmett and David Tazzyman (Macmillan Children’s Books)

Janet Ellis on The Fire Fox by Alexandra Page and Stef Murphy (Macmillan Children’s Books, Two Hoots)

Ben Bailey Smith on The Duck Who Didn’t Like Water by Steve Small (Simon & Schuster)

Lisa de Meyer on I’m Sticking with You Too by Smriti Halls and Steve Small (Simon & Schuster)

Viveka Alvestrand on Maybe… by Chris Haughton

Good luck, everyone!!!! Just a few days left until we find out which of these incredible six books will win! Stay tuned next week for more news…and some extra illustrations…