The Readers' Choice Award was created in 2023 in response to the years of requests from schools to have a say in the awards. Schools wanted to shadow the books and cast a vote on their favourite books like some other awards do. With our limited capacity we tried to think of the best way to get schools involved. In the end we decided to have a poll with all the longlisted books and encouraged readers to buy the books or support the ones they've read and vote for their favourite across each category. Schools especially got very involved and we're so pleased for the thousand votes received. We cannot wait to see this award grow!
Readers’ Choice Award 2023 – Picture Books
WINNER
With 23.2% of the vote...
Small’s Big Dream by Manjeet Mann, illustrated by
Amanda Quartey, published by HarperCollins Children’s
Books.
In second place, with 15.9% of the vote...
Me and My Dysphoria Monster by Laura Kate Dale, illustrated by
Ang Hui Qin, published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
In third place, with 9.6% of the vote...
John Agard’s Windrush Child by John Agard, illustrated by Sophie
Bass, published by Walker Books.
Readers’ Choice Award 2023– Children’s
WINNER
With 21.2% of the vote...
The Twig Man by Sana Rasoul, published by Hashtag
Press.
In second place with 10.1% of the vote...
Keep Dancing Lizzie Chu by Maisie Chan, published by Piccadilly
Press.
In third place with 9.1% of the vote...
Sadé and the Shadow Beasts by Rachel Faturoti, illustrated by
Rumbidzai Savanhu, published by Hodder Children’s Books.
Readers’ Choice Award 2023 –YA
WINNER
With 21.6% of the vote...
Love In Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello, published
by Simon & Schuster
In second place, with 15.5% of the vote...
Gay Club! By Simon James Green, published by Scholastic.
In third place, with 12.6% of the vote...
Toxic by Natasha Devon, published by UClan Publishing.
Readers’ Choice Award 2023 –Adult
WINNER
With 22.8% of the vote...
Still Lives by Reshma Rui, published by Renard Press
In second place, with 19.9% of the vote...
Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn,
published by Viking.
In third place, with 17.1% of the vote...
The Attic Child by Lola Jaye, published by Pan Macmillan.
