Celebrating new Black-British writing for children

Calling all unpublished and self-published Black-British picture book writers!

From 31 March 2025 to 30 April 2025, send us your finest manuscripts for a chance to win a £1250 cash prize from Hachette Children's Group, plus Society of Authors membership. 

There are two award categories this year: 

• baby and toddler books (1–3 years)

• picture books (3–7 years)

Get creative and send us your scripts by 30 April. We need your stories!

Hannah Ray

Group Picture Book and Preschool Publisher, Hachette Children’s Group

Hannah is judging our picture books (3–7 years) category

Iman Khakoo

Assistant Editor, Hachette Children’s Group

Iman is judging our baby and toddler books (1–3 years) category

Anna McQuinn is editor-at-large at Alanna Max. She is the creator of the successful inclusive series Booky Girl Lulu and Zeki Books. Her eloquent style of writing brings all aspects of a subject together in the most poetic way. She has written over 30 picture books and is published worldwide in many languages by Annick Press, Barefoot Books, Chicken House, Scholastic, O’Brien Press, Alanna Max, and many others.

Anna is judging our baby and toddler books (1–3 years) category

Rachael Davis-Featherstone is a mixed-raced Black-British multi-award-nominated author and literary agent. She co-founded Creative Roots Studio which helps writers and illustrators build sustainable careers. Rachael is also a Non-Executive Director for ALCS, a Trustee for English PEN and a RLF Fellow. As an author, Rachael has published over 20 books ranging from picture books to adult novels. She has been shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, longlisted for the Diverse Book Awards and shortlisted for the Inclusive Books for Children Awards. Rachael is currently pursuing a PhD in authentic representation of the mixed-raced identity in children’s literature at Bath Spa University.

Rachael is judging our picture books (3–7 years) category