Children's Book Award 2023 winners announced

Louie Stowell's Loki, A Bad God's Guide To Being Good - about the Norse god being banished to earth to live as an 11 year old schoolboy - has won the Children's Book Award 2023, following a nationwide vote by children's book groups.

The Children's Book Award 2023 winners have been chosen and voted for entirely by children.                      Loki: A Bad God's Guide To Being Good won the Books for Younger Readers category before going on to win the overall prize.

Dread Wood written by Jennifer Killick won the Books for Older Readers Category, and Blobfish, written and illustrated by Olaf Falafel, was the Books for Younger Children category winner.

Loki, A Bad God's Guide To Being Good tells the story of a Norse god who, after playing one trick too many, is banished to live on earth as a 'normal' schoolboy. Forbidden to use his immortal powers, Loki must exhibit 'moral improvement' ... but it's clear from the entries in his magical diary (which judges everything...) that Loki hasn't a clue how to tell good from evil, trust from tricks, or friends from foe. Author Louie Stowell said, 'Well, I hope you all know what you've done! Giving Loki this trophy... he is going to be unbearable! However, I'm really grateful."

Louie Stowell introduces Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Being Good:

Read a Chapter from Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Being Good

The Children's Book Award is run by the Federation of Children's Book Groups and is respected by teachers, parents and librarians. Previous winners have included J.K. Rowling, Patrick Ness, Andy Stanton, Malorie Blackman, Anthony Horowitz and Michael Morpurgo, who has won a record four times. 

Find out more on the FCBG website.  The ceremony will also be available to view on the website.

Shortlist for the Children's Book Award 2023

Books for Younger Children
Blobfish - written and illustrated by Olaf Falafel, published by Walker Books
My Rhinoceros - written and illustrated by Jon Agee, published by Scallywag Press
The Blue-Footed Booby - written and illustrated by Rob Biddulph, published by HarperCollins
Where Has all the Cake Gone? - written by Andrew Sanders and illustrated by Aysha Awwad, published by Macmillan Children's Books

Books for Younger Readers
Leonora Bolt Secret Inventor - written by Lucy Brandt and illustrated by Gladys Jose, published by Puffin
Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Being Good - written and illustrated by Louie Stowell, published by Walker Books
Ollie Spark and the Accidental Adventure - written by Gillian Cross and illustrated by Alan Snow, published by David Fickling Books

Books for Older Readers
Dread Wood - written by Jennifer Killick, published by Farshore
The Light In Everything - written by Katya Balen, published by Bloomsbury
While The Storm Rages - written by Phil Earle, published by Andersen Press

Sarah Stuffins, Coordinator of The Children's Book Award, said, "Access to books is vital if children are going to read for pleasure - and reading for pleasure is proven time and again to be so important to child development. We at the FCBG are delighted to be helping truly fantastic books reach children up and down the country, and then more delighted still to see those children engaging with - and thoroughly enjoying - the stories. Many congratulations to all our worthy winners, and many thanks to every child that voted."