Jericho Prize 2025 writing competition for Black-British children's writers

The Jericho Prize for Children's Writing has launched its 2025 writing competition, dedicated to showcasing new Black-British children's writers.

The competition, which is open to unpublished and self-published Black- British writers, features two categories this year:

Baby and Toddler Books (1–3 years)

Picture Books (3–7 years)

All entries should be narrative-based and feature a Black main character. The winning writer in each category will receive a £1250 cash prize provided by Hachette Children's Group, plus a 12-month membership to the Society of Authors and the Children's Writers' & Artists' Yearbook 2025 supplied by bookseller Peters.

The deadline for delivering manuscripts is 30 April. Find out how to enter here.

The prizes:  The winner in each category will receive a £1250 cash prize from Hachette; a 12-month membership to the Society of Authors including unlimited access to their resources, industry guides and advisors; a copy of Children's Writers' & Artists' Yearbook 2025 supplied by Peters

Four runners-up in each category will receive the Children's Writers' & Artists' Yearbook 2025 and a children's book bundle from Hachette, along with invaluable industry recognition and support.

Submissions open on 31 March 2025 and close on 30 April 2025. Fabia Turner, founder of the Jericho Prize, said: "There is a wealth of untapped talent in the Black- British writing community and our goal is to give new voices the opportunities they deserve.

"We're particularly excited to be able to offer a baby book award for the first time as this is an often neglected category. We look forward to discovering fresh, engaging stories that will inspire the next generation of readers."

More about The Jericho Prize

Celebrating new Black-British writing for children, The Jericho Prize, founded in 2021, is committed to breaking down barriers in children's publishing and ensuring that Black-British voices are represented in books for young readers.

Through its biennial competition and writer development programme, the prize has provided a crucial platform for emerging authors. In the past three years, the Jericho Prize has provided 16 free courses, workshops and author/illustrator talks; five writer mentorships; and more than 300 writers have received free manuscript feedback. Writers showcased and supported by the Jericho Prize have also gone on to secure literary agents and publishing deals. 

Hannah Ray, group picture book and preschool publisher, Hachette Children's Group, said the group. which is partnering the award for the second year, shares "their commitment to discovering, nurturing and promoting emerging Black-British children's writers, and to ensuring children everywhere can see themselves reflected in the books which are shared with them from the youngest age."