Waterstones Children's Book Prize shortlist

Tigers and beetles, time travel and the refugee crisis are among the themes on this year's shortlist for the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize, which includes picture books, middle grade and YA fiction.

The books are described as a 'guiding light of optimism in the face of uncertain times' by Waterstones, although there are darker themes including Francesca Sanna's The Journey, Nicola Yoon's The Sun is also a Star and the Swallow Man by Gavriel Savit, which each reflect on war and separation. James Daunt, Waterstones managing director, said, "These are wonderful books of great power and imagination. They show children's publishing to be as inventive and inspiring as ever, and to have a pointed relevance that seems never more important in the shaping of ideas and attitudes." The categories include Illustrated Books, Younger Fiction and Older Fiction. The six books shortlisted within each section will compete to be category winner and from these, the overall title of Waterstones Children's Book Prize will be selected. The winners will be announced on 30th March. Last year's overall winner, My Brother is a Superhero by David Solomons (Nosy Crow), became a number one children's bestseller. The Waterstones' children's buyer, Florentyna Martin, pointed to a "surge of talent" in debut children's publishing. She added, "Whilst reading has always encouraged an element of escapism, this year's shortlists provide a guiding light of optimism in the face of uncertain times... We're delighted to celebrate these inspiring books." Waterstones Children's Book Prize Shortlist Illustrated Books: The Bear Who Stared by Duncan Beedie (Templar - Bonnier) Life is Magic by Meg McLaren (Andersen Press) Super Stan by Matt Robertson (Orchard Books - Hachette) The Journey by Francesca Sanna (Flying Eye) Tiger in a Tutu by Fabi Santiago (Orchard Books - Hachette) There's a Tiger in the Garden by Lizzy Stewart (Frances Lincoln) Younger Fiction: Cogheart by Peter Bunzl (Usborne) Captain Pug by Laura James (Bloomsbury) Beetle Boy by M G Leonard (Chicken House) The Girl of Ink & Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave (Chicken House) Time Travelling with a Hamster by Ross Welford (HarperCollins) Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk (Corgi Penguin Random House) Older Fiction: Hour of the Bees by Lindsay Eager (Walker) Paper Butterflies by Lisa Heathfield (Egmont) Orangeboy by Patrice Lawrence (Hodder - Hachette) The Wildings by Nilanjana Roy (Pushkin) Anna and the Swallow Man by Gavriel Savit (Bodley Head) The Sun is also a Star by Nicola Yoon (Corgi Penguin Random House)