Blue Peter Book Awards 2020

Since 2000, the enormously popular and influential Blue Peter Book Awards have been recognising and celebrating the best authors, the most creative illustrators and the greatest reads for children.

The Blue Peter Book Awards 2020 celebrates children's books published in the last year in two categories: the Best Story and the Best Book with Facts. Previous Blue Peter Book Award winners include Onjali Rauf, Cressida Cowell, Michael Morpurgo, Katherine Rundell, Oliver Jeffers and Liz Pichon.

Submissions for 2020 are now closed

For updates on this year's Awards, check back on this page; or follow @BookTrust on Twitter
Check out our archive for information on other years

Last year's winners!

Read our news story and see below to find out more

Best Story

Winner: The Boy at the Back of the Class

Winner

The Boy at the Back of the Class

Author: Onjali Q Raúf

This is the story about how four classmates have a massive impact on the life of Ahmet, a boy that comes to their school as a refugee from Syria. An inspiring and sweet tale that should help children be the best they can be and realise the power of kindness.

Shortlisted

The Clockwork Crow

Author: Catherine Fisher

Orphan Seren Rhys has been sent to live with her mysterious Godfather after living for 12 years in an orphanage. The possibility of her first happy family Christmas seems like it might finally be within her reach.

On her solo journey to Wales, Seren is given a mysterious package to look after by a stranger and ends up feeling obliged to take it with her. But…

Shortlisted

The House With Chicken Legs

Author: Sophie Anderson

A story of death, magic and the afterlife told by Marinka, who is desperate not to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps and wants to find her own destiny. Loosely based on the Slavic myth of Baba Yaga, this story is delightfully macabre and utterly engrossing.

Read blogs from the authors

Using your Mind Banks: How to create a new world from the one you live in right now...

How to write a fascinating fantasy story

Could you live in a House with Chicken Legs? Take this quirky quiz!

Best Book With Facts

Winner: The Colours of History

Winner

The Colours of History

Author: Clive Gifford Illustrator: Marc-Etienne Peintre

Full of fascinating facts about colour, this book focuses on a topic that is not often covered in children’s books. It offers a wide range of opportunities and new ideas for parents and schools, working across the curriculum through art, history and beyond.

Shortlisted

Professor Astro Cat’s Human Body Odyssey

Author: Dr. Dominic Walliman Illustrator: Ben Newman

Everyone's favourite cat-astronaut investigates the human body in this beautiful, graphically illustrated look at everything from eyes to muscles, genetics to reproduction and the immune, endocrine and lymphatic systems.

Shortlisted

The Element in the Room: Investigating the Atomic Ingredients that Make Up Your Home

Author: Mike Barfield Illustrator: Lauren Humphrey

Professor Ohms, a scientific detective, takes you on a journey of discovery around the periodic table. Packed with many weird and wonderful facts, it's perfect for any aspiring scientists (or detectives!).

Read blogs from the authors

Favourite facts about the human body: from the crew of Professor Astro Cat

Top ten facts about colour and their role over the centuries

Try-at-home-science: Can you solve the case of the cunningly concealed carbon?

Past winners

Find out about the winners, shortlisted books and judges from previous Blue Peter Book Awards.

Head into the archive

More about the Blue Peter Book Awards

Latest updates

'Books are absolutely crucial in getting us to think about new worlds': we speak to the award-winning author, Onjali Q Rauf 15/04/2019

Onjali Q Rauf tells Emily Drabble the story behind her incredible Blue Peter Book Award...
The Boy at the Back of the Class and The Colours of History win 2019 Blue Peter Book Awards 07/03/2019

Uncovering the mysteries of colour and tales of finding your place in the world top the...

RT @MrEPrimary: Beyond excited to go to @Booktrust today and sift through and select books for the #BluePeterBookAwards longlists. One ste… 4 hours ago
Did you see that the #BluePeterBookAwards winners were announced this week? We are SO thrilled that The Boy in the… https://t.co/D5RrBkeRNr 164 days ago

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