The shortlist has been announced for the 2015 Waterstones Children’s Book Prize.  There are 18 books on the shortlist for this British children’s book prize and refreshingly 15 of them are by women.  The winner in each category as well as the overall winner will be announced on March 26.

BEST ILLUSTRATED BOOK

 

Atlas of Adventures by Lucy Letherland, words by Rachel Williams

Blown Away by Rob Biddulph

 

The Dawn Chorus by Suzanne Barton

The Queen’s Hat by Steve Antony

 

The Sea Tiger by Victoria Turnbull

Where Bear? by Sophy Henn

 

BEST FICTION FOR 5-12s

 

A Boy Called Hope by Lara Williamson

Boy in the Tower by Polly Ho-Yen

 

Cowgirl by G. Gemin

Girl with a White Dog by Anne Booth

 

Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens

Violet and the Pearl of the Orient by Harriet Whitehorn, illustrated by Becka Moor

 

BEST BOOK FOR TEENS

 

The Apple Tart of Hope by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald

Dead Ends by Erin Jade Lange

 

Half Bad by Sally Green

Only Ever Yours by Louise O’Neill

 

Smart by Kim Slater

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton