Peters Children's Book of the Year winners announced for 2025

Alison Tarrant, Peters’ Head of Library Services, says “We’re thrilled to reveal the winners of this year’s newly relaunched Peters Children’s Book of the Year Awards, showcasing the high quality of children’s and teen publishing in the UK."

"We’re proud that these awards draw on the expertise of those who are among the most passionate about promoting children’s reading – educators and librarians across the country – and look forward to building on this in years to come. Thank you to all those who took part.”

Non-fiction category and overall winner Big Bad Wolf Investigates Fairy Tales by Catherine Cawthorne and illustrated by Sara Ogilvie (Bloomsbury Children’s Books) is a ‘hilarious’ investigation into the truth behind popular fairy tales like Cinderella and the Princess and the Pea.

Did a princess really feel a tiny pea through a mountain of mattresses? And could a pumpkin actually turn into a carriage to carry Cinderella to the ball? Of course not! It's all a load of fairytale NONSENSE! Or is it . . . ? The Big Bad Wolf is on a mission to find the truth behind these tales, and clear his name in the process. 

“Amusing writing style and characterful illustrations work well together, and the contrast of fairy tales and actual science is handled with humour and a sense of balance.”

Nominated by Natalie Wise, Peters Children's Book Specialist

Voted winner in the Picture Book category, Rebecca Cobb's A Wild Walk to School (Macmillan Children's Books) is a ‘charming tale’ that turns the everyday walk to school into a magical adventure.

It's time to walk to school and mum wants the children to get there on time. But what Mum doesn't realise is that the hill is in fact the tummy of a sleeping giant and it's important to tread carefully when the floor turns to lava! It's just as well Mum has these two Brave Explorers with her.

"An utterly charming tale with a warm, humorous feel and some lovely, imaginative touches as the everyday walk to school is filled with fantastical adventure and magical creatures.”

Nominated by Lucy McConnell, Peters Senior Children's Book Specialist

In a future world where giant mechanical animals called Constructs fight and are driven by human crews, a young teenage boy with a prosthetic arm is separated from his Wolf Construct and must survive with a new crew of similarly lost youngsters. 

The first in a trilogy, our librarians describe I Am Wolf as ‘Mortal Engines for a younger readership. It tells the gripping story of Coll, who lives with his clan on a Construct, a huge technological "creature" driven by the clan's combined willpower. Together they roam their world, fighting other clans and absorbing them into their own.

But when a new and dangerous Construct attacks them, Coll is thrown clear from Wolf and left behind. Now he must survive life on ground and get back to his clan. He is helped by Rieka, a "Tock" who makes the Constructs work. She promises Coll a way to return, but can she be trusted? And what is she really trying to do...?

"Imaginative world-building and gripping plot are boosted by strong, inclusive characters that engage the reader's sympathy and challenge feelings of worth and belonging throughout.”

Nominated by Emma McElwee, Peters Children's Librarian

Tom Percival’s The Wrong Shoes is a fantastic ‘story of resilience and making the right choices,’ a powerful exploration of the ‘devastating effects of poverty.’ Main character Will has the wrong shoes – he's always known it but doesn't know how to change it. 

Navigating the difficulties of home and school when you feel you stick out is tough, but finding confidence with the help and empathy of friends can be all you need to see the way.

"Highly-readable with a sensitively drawn main character who many children will sadly be able to relate to. This book will inevitably create discussion around many issues, but mainly the devastating effects of poverty, leading to difficult and often terrible decisions about how to survive.”

Nominated by Lucy McConnell, Peters Senior Children's Book Specialist

In the Teen Fiction category, Phil Earle’s Northern Soul (Barrington Stoke) – a ‘sweet and tender tale of unrequited love sprinkled with fabulous humour’ - takes the top spot.

Up until now, Marv's uneventful life has revolved around playing football with his best mate, Jimmy. But things take a turn for the dramatic with the arrival at school of new girl Carly Stonehouse. Marv falls in love at first sight, but there's no way a girl like Carly will ever look at him. Unless, perhaps, he enlists help from a very unusual source. Follow Marv on his hilariously agonising quest for love, featuring his Croc-loving dad, a fast-food addicted musical idol from the past and some of the most cringeworthy song lyrics you might ever have heard ....

“A sweet and tender tale of unrequited love sprinkled with fabulous humour. I'm sure this will encourage a great sharing of embarrassing stories of first love and mistakes made. It's good to know it's almost a rite of passage to have to go through the angst of crushes and first relationships.”

Nominated by Michaela Owen, Peters Children's Librarian

Non-fiction category and overall winner Big Bad Wolf Investigates Fairy Tales by Catherine Cawthorne and illustrated by Sara Ogilvie (Bloomsbury Children’s Books) is a ‘hilarious’ investigation into the truth behind popular fairy tales like Cinderella and the Princess and the Pea.

Did a princess really feel a tiny pea through a mountain of mattresses? And could a pumpkin actually turn into a carriage to carry Cinderella to the ball? Of course not! It's all a load of fairytale NONSENSE! Or is it . . . ? The Big Bad Wolf is on a mission to find the truth behind these tales, and clear his name in the process. 

“Amusing writing style and characterful illustrations work well together, and the contrast of fairy tales and actual science is handled with humour and a sense of balance.”

Nominated by Natalie Wise, Peters Children's Book Specialist

Free Peters Book of the Year discussion resources

Ideal for book clubs and class reads, each winning title has a Book Talk card created by our librarians and children's book specialists, featuring discussion prompts, story themes, and suggested further reading to inspire conversation about the books. Book Talk Cards are also available for all of the shortlisted titles. 

View PCBOTY Book Talk cards.