The Children’s Book Award was founded in 1980 by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups and is the only Children’s Book award to be voted for entirely by children across the whole of the United Kingdom. 

Shortlist testing is open to all children in the UK and the overall winner is given the Children’s Book Award Silver Tree which they keep for a year and an engraved silver acorn which is theirs to keep.  Category winners each receive an engraved glass trophy and every shortlisted author and illustrator receives an impressive portfolio of writing and artwork created by children responses to the books.

Peter Bently and Steven Lenton’s Octopus Shocktopus is the overall winner of the 2022 awards as well as being the category winner for Books for Younger Children.  M. G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman won the Books for Younger Readers category with The Highland Falcon illustrated by Elisa Paganelli and Liz Kesler was the Books for Older Readers category with When the World Was Ours.

Congratulations to all of the authors and illustrators recognised by the Children’s Book Award and to the children involved in testing.

Peter Bently and Steven Lenton said, ‘We’re absolutely thrilled that Octopus Shocktopus! has won the Children’s Book Award 2022!  A massive THANK YOU to all the children who voted and the Federation organisers – knowing that this award has been chosen by children themselves makes it truly special.  In fact it’s OCTOTASTIC!’