The shortlists for the 2026 British Book Awards Books of the Year have been announced. There are two specifically children’s categories, but the new Graphic Novels category has several children’s books in it and Illustrator of the Year is entirely children’s illustrators. Children’s author AF Steadman also represents in the shortlist for Author of the Year.
Bartleby is a little bear in a bowler hat who refuses to do things a lot. He says “I prefer not to” when asked to share what he did over the weekend with the class. He says it when the rest of the class plays the giant xylophone and sings silly songs. He says it during play time and spends it all alone. When his teacher asks the class to do self-portraits, Bartleby whispers his idea to her. Soon Bartleby has contributed just the right thing to complete their portraits and seems like he’d like to join in more tomorrow.
As a shy child myself, I immediately recognized the quiet use of a polite phrase to turn others away. Phelan captures this with empathy and shows how isolating it can be to have so many defences up. I appreciated that Bartleby figures out the solution on his own, speaks to his teacher and shares his idea with the class. The illustrations in this charmer of the picture book use color to show how separate Bartleby becomes with his stand-offish approach. Bartleby is unique in his class in more ways than one thanks to his more formal clothing too.
A book about shyness that offers space and opportunity for growth. Appropriate for ages 3-6.
Topsy the Opossum has brought all the equipment and supplies to make a Welcome Spring meal for her friend LouAnn. LouAnn the Bear will wake soon from her hibernation and pancakes are just the right thing for a hungry bear in spring. Soon the table is set and five perfect pancakes are set out. When Topsy turns her back though, there is a “CLUNK!” and the pancakes are gone. Topsy makes five more pancakes, but once again they disappear. Could it be squirrels or birds? Over and over again Topsy makes pancakes and they are gone. Topsy is worried about running out of ingredients and the time is getting closer and closer to LouAnn waking up. More forest friends come to help make pancakes and soon they have plenty of them for one hungry bear. But how about for one mama bear and her new cubs?
Written with a merry frenzy of pancake flipping, hot griddles and fast-moving cubs, this picture book reads aloud brilliantly. The text is welcoming and invites readers right into the action. The illustrations are a delight as readers will soon glimpse the pancake thieves and realize what is happening while the text only shares Topsy’s point of view. The noises of each theft changes, making the book all the more dynamic.
Pancake lovers will flip for this one. Appropriate for ages 3-6.
The weather is warm and the flowers are out, but Bear is still sleeping. His animal friends decide to check on him, but they have to be careful since Bear gets very grumpy if they wake him up. At first he sneezes from the dust, but goes back to sleep. While the friends wait for him to wake, they gather flowers, open the curtains and even paint Bear’s toenails. Bear wakes up on his own, roaring and rather grumpy. But he sees his friends, tastes some berries and realizes that it’s spring. Time to play!
Stein’s book about Bear is a merry look at a grumpy waking process. The love the friends have for Bear and their patience as he wakes himself adds to the warmth of this springtime read. The decoration of Bear in flowers and painted toenails results in something whimsical and charming rather than what readers might anticipate. The art is done in deep colors with bear chocolate on the page and the spring flowers a tropical cornucopia. The blues of Bear’s deep sleep add to the contrast.
A friendly look at a bear in springtime. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
Waking Brain Cells 