WriteMentor Novel and Picture Book Awards 2023 – THE WINNERS
We have reached the final stage of our search for the best unpublished novels and picture books out there for kids!
Published authors, commissioning editors, librarians, booksellers, and library agents have all read the entries and we’ve come to a final conclusion.
But first, here’s our shortlisted entries (with readings to view if you wish – just click on the title to watch!)
Picture Book
| Every Cloud | Vicki Minchin |
| Fatima & Nani – Best Friends Forever | Saira Shah |
| Hares Versus Tortoises | Tracy Curran |
| Labracadabrador | Tom Woods |
| Medals for Marvin | Laura Heath |
| Rocktopus | Laura Howard |
| Story Trees | Catherine Friess |
| The Fibs | Rachel Burrows |
| The Monster Train | Vikki Marshall |
Novels
| Curse of the Possum O’Hair | Ellen Stonaker |
| Hazel and the Last Sea Dragon | Vikki Marshall |
| Maisie and the Space Catapult | Amy Tilston |
| Nan Crabapple is Spellbound | Cate Haynes |
| Ruby Madder’s Field Guide to Poisonous Plants | Michelle Heimburger |
| Sea-Born | Barrie Stevenson |
Winners and Runners-up
Picture book award
First place:
Fatima & Nani – Best Friends Forever by Saira Shah
Joint runners up:
Labracadabrador by Tom Woods
Hares Versus Tortoises by Tracy Curran
Novel award
First place:
Nan Crabapple is Spellbound by Cate Haynes
Joint runners up:
Ruby Madder’s Field Guide to Poisonous Plants by Michelle Heimburger
Curse of the Possum O’Hair by Ellen Stonaker
Congratulations to our winners and runners-up!
Thanks also due, of course, to our early author readers and our industry judges on the longlist and shortlist stages.
Opening Rounds: Emma Finlayson-Palmer, Carolyn Ward, Piu DasGupta, Jodi Herlick, Julie Marney Leigh, Clare Harlow, Philip Kavvadias, Aoife Doyle, Amy V Borg, Polly Owen, Meredith Vigh, Donna David, Becky Wilson, Sophia Payne, Clare Helen Welsh, Maureen Tai, Fiona Barker, Priscilla Mante, Alice Hemming, Ellie Lock, Sue Cunningham, Tess James-Mackey, Emily Randall-Jones, Melissa Welliver
Novel longlist judges: Eishar Brar, Editorial Director, Knights Of | Tom Bonnick, Editorial Director, HarperCollins Children’s Books | Jo Clarke, Librarian
Picture Book longlist judges: Alice Bartosinski, Senior Commissioning Editor, Picture Books, Nosy Crow | Charlie Castelletti, Editor, Macmillan Children’s Books | Sanchita Basu De Sarkar, Bookseller, Children’s Bookshop, London
Shortlist judges: Christabel McKinley, Agent, David Higham Associates | Rachel Petty, Agent, The Blair Partnership | Lucy Irvine, Agent, Peters Fraser & Dunlop | Molly Jamieson, Agent, United Agents
Responses