BookTrust Storytime Prize
The BookTrust Storytime Prize was launched in 2019 to find the best book for sharing with children aged 0–5, and since 2021 it has been part of the Bookstart Storytime programme, designed to support libraries to inspire families with children aged 0–5 to share stories together and make visiting their local library part of everyday life.
BookTrust Storytime Prize winner Caryl Hart running a Storytime session
Discover the 2027 BookTrust Storytime Prize shortlist
Our shortlist judging panel, made up of representatives working in the library sector across England and Northern Ireland, chose the five books that will be distributed to libraries taking part in Bookstart Storytime programme.
Watch 2026 BookTrust Storytime Prize winner Caryl Hart introducing the five books that have been shortlisted for the 2027 prize:
The books in the shortlist are:
- All the Wonderful Ways to Move by Laura Baker, illustrated by Sandra de la Prada (Little Tiger)
- Balloon’s Big Adventure by Carly Gledhill (Andersen Press)
- Bear’s Nap by Emily Gravett (Two Hoots)
- Calling All Bears! By Diana Murray, illustrated by Alex Willmore (Boxer Books)
- Feed Your Monster by Anna Milbourne (Usborne)
- Frank the Pizza by Eoin McLaughlin, illustrated by Mike Byrne (HarperCollins Children’s Books)
- Frank is a Butterfly by Alex Latimer (Oxford University Press)
- Googly Eyes: I Am the Moon, illustrated by Teresa Bellón (Boxer Books)
- The Great Unicorn Rescue by Diane Ewen (Macmillan Children’s Books)
- How to Find a Yeti by Matt Hunt (Nosy Crow)
- Marching Band by Kael Tudor, illustrated by Kate Hindley (Nosy Crow)
- Oh Dear, Look What I Got! By Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury (Walker Books)
- Priya Mistry and the Lost Treasure by Babita Sharma, illustrated by Ali Pye (Orchard Books)
- Rescue Crew by Suzy Senior, illustrated by Mike Byrne (Farshore)
- Squish! By Tim Bugbird, illustrated by Ian Worrall-Dutton (Make Believe Ideas)
- Taking the Long Way Home by Jake Hope, illustrated by Brian Fitzgerald (Scallywag Press)
- Tiny Tiger: Why Can’t I? by Smriti Halls, illustrated by Steve Small (Simon & Schuster)
- The Turtles Who Turned the Tide by Rachel Bright, illustrated by Jim Field (Orchard Books)
- We’re Going on a Dino Hunt by Yasmin Bond, illustrated by Vicky Lommatzsch (Two Windmills)
- When I am Kind, illustrated by Paula Bowles (Child’s Play International Ltd)
- Wrong Time Rooster by Michael Parkin (Flying Eye Books)
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BookTrust Storytime Prize: previously shortlisted books
If you’ve read the current BookTrust Storytime Prize shortlist, do try these fantastic books next. The Bookstart Storytime programme is designed to support libraries to inspire families with children aged 0–5 to share stories together and make visiting their local library part of everyday life.
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Bookstart Storytime is an exciting library experience for families, offering a fun, free, and easy way to entertain under 5s at local libraries.