Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2022 Shortlist announced
Posted on Thursday, February 10, 2022
Category: Book Awards
Waterstones has announced which books have been shortlisted for its prestigious Children's Book Prize 2022.
The books shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize were announced today, and include an exciting collection across all age ranges
Some 18 books have been nominated across three categories for younger readers, older readers and illustrated books and were chosen to "inspire readers" in an uncertain world, said Florentyna Martin, Waterstones head of children's. "Offering varied perspectives on themes of belonging and identity, the shortlisted books invite young readers to find comfort in familiar communities, discover engaging new worlds, or adventure to the unknown, all whilst being guided by unique, life-changing and relatable characters."
Among the six books competing for the younger readers prize is Kelly Yang's Front Desk, which was inspired by the author's own childhood and which follows the story of Mia and her motel-based Chinese immigrant family. Also featured in the younger readers' section is Bumble And Snug And The Angry Pirates by Mark Bradley, the first comic book to make the shortlist, which teaches lessons about friendship and controlling your anger.
In the older readers' category, Angeline Boulley's thriller Firekeeper's Daughter tells the story of a young Native American woman who faces difficult questions about community, corruption, and identity. Meanwhile, in the category for the illustrated prize, Grandad's Camper by Harry Woodgate celebrates love and inclusion as a grandad tells his granddaughter about the travel adventures he used to have with Gramps.
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Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2022 shortlist
Illustrated Books Shortlist
Grandad's Camper by Harry Woodgate (Andersen Press
The Viking Who Liked Icing by Lu Fraser (Bloomsbury Children's Books)
Wolfboy by Andy Harkness (Bloomsbury Children's Books)
Alone! by Barry Falls (HarperCollins Children's Books)
The Duck Who Didn't Like Water by Steve Small (Simon & Schuster Children's Books)
Out to Sea by Helen Kellock (Thames & Hudson)
Younger Readers Shortlist
Children of the Quicksands by Efua Traore (Chicken House Books)
Amari and the Night Brothers BB Alston (HarperCollins Children's Books)
The Last Bear by Hannah Gold (HarperCollins Children's Books)
Bumble and Snug and the Angry Pirates by Mark Bradley (Hachette Children's Books)
Front Desk by Kelly Yang (Knights Of)
Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow by Benjamin Dean (Simon & Schuster Children's Books)
Older Readers Shortlist
Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth (Andersen Press)
The Crossing by Manjeet Mann (Penguin Random House)
The Upper World by Femi Fadugba (Penguin Random House)
Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley (Oneworld Publications)
The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna (Usborne)
Not Here To Be Liked by Michelle Quach (Usborne)
Previous Overall Winners
A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll (Knights Of)
Look Up! by Nathan Bryon (Penguin Random House)
The Boy At the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Rauf (Hachette Children's Books)
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (Walker Books)
The Girl of Ink & Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave (Chicken House)
My Brother Is a Superhero by David Solomons (Nosy Crow)
