Calling all teachers and librarians! Would you like to help select the Spark! School Book Award shortlists? We'd particularly love to hear from teachers & librarians from underrepresented backgrounds. Apply now via our website: sparkbookawards.co.uk/schools/panel-sign-up Deadline: 28 Sept 2026

ATTENTION PUBLISHERS! Spark! 7 is now open for submissions. We're looking for the best new children's fiction and non-fiction for our 2027 Award. Check out our website for full submission details, and send your books in by 17 October: sparkbookawards.co.uk/publishers

Thank you to all the wonderful schools who read the books, watched the author visits, entered the competitions and voted! And finally, thank you to all of our shortlisted authors, illustrators & publishers for your engagement with the award - you're all amazing! 🙌

In the 11+ Fiction Category our winner is: 'I Dare You' by @tamsinwinterauthor.bsky.social

In the 9+ Fiction Category our winner is: 'Shrapnel Boys' by Jenny Pearson

In the 7+ Fiction Category our winner is: 'Wild Magic: Legend of the Black Lion' by Abiola Bello & Emma McCann @simonkidsuk.bsky.social

In the Non-Fiction Category our winner is: 'Choose Your Own Evolution' by @juleshoward.bsky.social & @gordywright.bsky.social @nosycrow.bsky.social

In the Picture Fiction for Early Readers Category our winner is: 'Once I Was a Tree' by Eoin McLaughlin & Guilherme Karsten @nosycrow.bsky.social

Huge congratulations to winners of the Spark! School Book Award 2026! It was close but here are the five books the children voted for…

We recorded our Final Ceremony this afternoon but YouTube let us down and cut our livestream halfway through! 😔 Sorry about that! We’ll send out a replacement ceremony within the next 24 hours. Watch your email for more details… Spoiler alert…winners up next!

Voting closes today so get those last minute votes in ASAP...we can't wait to find out who the winners are! All of the winners will be announced at our Final Award Ceremony, which will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel on Tues 23 June at 13:45. Don't miss it! 🎉🏆📚 youtube.com/@sparkbookawards

It's time to vote, but how will you choose between all of these brilliant books!? 😍 Follow the link on the email to place your school's vote for the best book in each category. Who is it going to be??? Don't forget to get your votes in by Friday 19 June. ✨📚🏆

Don't forget that our Pupil Competition is open but the deadline is coming up next week! (Wed 10 June) We can't wait to see your creative responses to the shortlisted books. Full details are on our website: www.sparkbookawards.co.uk/schools/pupi...

We're looking forward to the SLA Conference in Winchester this weekend...we hope you'll come and say hello to us and find out more about the Spark! School Book Awards! @sla.org.uk #SLAConference #ChangingNarratives

In today's author spotlight, Jamie Hammond tells us all about the hilarious and monstrous 'Grumpfort', shortlisted in our 7+ category. And don't miss Jamie's online author event on Thursday - sign up now via our event schedule! youtu.be/My61Z-IN-Xw?...

Jamie Hammond - Grumpfort - Shortlist Spotlight - 7+

YouTube video by Spark! School Book Awards

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Claire Powell's author event tomorrow will be a draw-along so don’t forget paper & pencils! If you haven't signed up, you can still join us via our YouTube livestream... youtube.com/@sparkbookawards

Love this! Thank you so much, Mr Griffin and @sparkbookaward.bsky.social for this lovely video review of my first book. Chuffed to bits here! @kidsbloomsbury.bsky.social #kidlitUK

Spark! School Book Award@sparkbookaward.bsky.social · 5mo ago

On Buzz's Book Club this week, we're exploring 'The Valley of Lost Secrets' by the brilliant Lesley Parr... @lesleyparr.bsky.social www.sparkbookawards.co.uk/schools/buzz...

On Buzz's Book Club this week, we're exploring 'The Valley of Lost Secrets' by the brilliant Lesley Parr... @lesleyparr.bsky.social www.sparkbookawards.co.uk/schools/buzz...

Spark! Book Awards - Buzz's Book Club

Welcome to Buzz's Book Club! Buzz, our mascot, loves a good book. Keep an eye on this page for some great recommendations for our Sparky readers.

sparkbookawards.co.uk

Once again, we have a brilliant line-up of SEVEN author visits next week. Don't forget to sign up via the links on our Online Author Event Schedule or watch along on our YouTube livestream. @bexhogan.bsky.social @tanyaturnerwriter.bsky.social @mossmontmomery.bsky.social

In today's author spotlight video, here's Eoin Mclaughlin introducing his brilliant picture book, 'Once I Was a Tree', in front of an amazing tree! Don't forget to sign up for Eoin's online author visit next Wednesday. @nosycrow.bsky.social youtu.be/GdIrLRX4scE?...

Eoin McLaughlin - Once I Was a Tree - Shortlist Spotlight - Picture Fiction

YouTube video by Spark! School Book Awards

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We have an incredible line-up of SEVEN author visits next week. Don't forget to sign up or watch along on our YouTube livestream. @4nikkolas.bsky.social @sairaswrites.bsky.social @tamsinwinterauthor.bsky.social @bethanwoollvin.bsky.social @deborahhocking.bsky.social

In today's Author Spotlight video, Saira Shah tells us about 'Super Nani and Captain Yaz' - her charming picture book about bridging a communication gap across a generational divide... @sairaswrites.bsky.social @templarbooks.bsky.social youtu.be/LIARqMcn_N4?...

Saira Shah - Super Nani and Captain Yaz - Shortlsit Spotlight - Picture Fiction

YouTube video by Spark! School Book Awards

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We had a fantastic event with @rikworth.bsky.social & @jordancollver.bsky.social on Monday, and we heard all about 'Pets Tell Tales', shortlisted in our non-fiction category. Here's Rik to tell us a bit more about the animals of Ancient Egypt in his author spotlight video: youtu.be/NpU8TAN4-EI?...

Rik Worth - Pets Tell Tales - Shortlist Spotlight - Non-Fiction

YouTube video by Spark! School Book Awards

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We had a brilliant time on Monday chatting to Abena Eyeson about her shortlisted book, 'Running My Own Race'. Here she is introducing the book in her author spotlight video... @eyesab2.bsky.social @nosycrow.bsky.social youtu.be/nkBxIVR6748?...

Abena Eyeson - Running My Own Race - Shortlist Spotlight -9+

YouTube video by Spark! School Book Awards

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It was great meeting some young readers this morning! Here's the drawing I made on-screen while @rikworth.bsky.social and I talked about making our Egypt comic. Thanks @sparkbookaward.bsky.social!

Spark! School Book Award@sparkbookaward.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Monday is a busy day for Spark! Online Author Visits! We'll be talking to not 1 but 3 authors & an illustrator. Sign up & send in your questions now for @eyesab2.bsky.social @rikworth.bsky.social @jordancollver.bsky.social & @darrensimpson44.bsky.social via the link on the Author Event Schedule.

We've got one last author visit lined up before the Easter holidays...don't miss Jules Howard talking about his brilliant book 'Choose You Own Evolution' at 11am on Friday. Sign up via the link on the Online Author Visit Schedule... @juleshoward.bsky.social @nosycrow.bsky.social

TODAY! Live drawing! Comics! PETS TELL TALES!

Spark! School Book Award@sparkbookaward.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Monday is a busy day for Spark! Online Author Visits! We'll be talking to not 1 but 3 authors & an illustrator. Sign up & send in your questions now for @eyesab2.bsky.social @rikworth.bsky.social @jordancollver.bsky.social & @darrensimpson44.bsky.social via the link on the Author Event Schedule.

Exciting News! Our Main Pupil Competition is now open and we can't wait to see your creative responses to the shortlisted books. There's a poster available in our resources folder & more details to follow via email. (The Poetry Competition winners will be announced soon!) ✨📚🏆

Looking forward to this!

Spark! School Book Award@sparkbookaward.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Monday is a busy day for Spark! Online Author Visits! We'll be talking to not 1 but 3 authors & an illustrator. Sign up & send in your questions now for @eyesab2.bsky.social @rikworth.bsky.social @jordancollver.bsky.social & @darrensimpson44.bsky.social via the link on the Author Event Schedule.

Excited to be taking part in this event. Delighted that Running My Own Race has been shortlisted for the Spark School Book Awards!

Spark! School Book Award@sparkbookaward.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Monday is a busy day for Spark! Online Author Visits! We'll be talking to not 1 but 3 authors & an illustrator. Sign up & send in your questions now for @eyesab2.bsky.social @rikworth.bsky.social @jordancollver.bsky.social & @darrensimpson44.bsky.social via the link on the Author Event Schedule.