The judges for The Alligator’s Mouth Award 2025 have been revealed, pulling together a wonderful team of children’s book experts. Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre, who won the 2024 award with Adventuremice: Otter Chaos (David Fickling Books), return this year as judges, alongside founder of Storymix Jasmine Richards.

Joining them on the judging panel will be: Head Teacher and book blogger Tom Griffiths, children’s author and primary school librarian Mariesa Dulak, head of Coram Beanstalk Amy Lewis, and co-owners of The Alligator’s Mouth children’s bookshop, Margaret Wallace-Jones and Tony West.

Mariesa Dulak commented: ”The Alligator’s Mouth is one of my favourite local Indies and this award is one of the few that celebrates young, illustrated fiction. As a Primary School Librarian I know how important this type of fiction is for capturing readers early and building good reading habits. I can’t wait to get reading all these brilliant books and start discussing them with the other lovely judges!”

Amy Lewis commented: “We know that illustrations can really draw children in to reading, and with our latest research showing that one of the main drop off points for children choosing to read is in the 6-8 age group I am delighted to be able to help showcase some of the books that may help them continue to choose to read.”

The children’s book prize, launched by The Alligator’s Mouth and The Bright Agency in 2018, celebrates the best books for 6-8-year-olds, and champions authors and illustrators. Book wholesalers, Gardners, who offer independent bookshops a discount on the longlisted and shortlisted titles, will be continuing their support of the award as an official partner. Coram Beanstalk, the UK’s first and longest serving children’s charity, also return as partner to host the Longlist competition in Spring 2025, allowing UK Schools the chance to win the full Alligator’s Mouth Award 2025 longlist.

Margaret Wallace-Jones and Tony West of The Alligator’s Mouth commented: “Another year, another fabulous set of judges from all areas of expertise in the world of children's books. Their mission is to find the finest highly illustrated books published this year, which will delight young readers now and thrill future generations. It is a big ask, but we are confident they will rise to the challenge. This award is for books which will encourage confidence in new readers as they discover the joys of reading for pleasure.”

Submissions for the 2025 award close Friday 22nd November 2024. The award is open to books first published in the English language on a children’s list by a UK publisher between 1st October 2023 and 31st December 2024. To enter the award, publishers are invited to submit highly illustrated fiction aimed at readers aged 6-8, with illustrations on the majority of internal spreads.

The longlist will be announced in March 2025, and the shortlist will be announced in May 2025. The winner of the award will be announced in July 2025 and they will receive The Alligator’s Mouth Award trophy.
The award is inviting UK publishers to submit their entries before Friday 22nd November 2024. Publishers can submit up to three titles per imprint.

Keep up to date with award news here and on Twitter by following #AlligatorsAward.