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littlerebsprize.bsky.social
Little Rebels Award
@littlerebsprize.bsky.social
130 followers 140 following 160 posts
Est. 2012. The Little Rebels Children's Book Award celebrates UK radical fiction for readers aged 0-12. Run by Letterbox Library & Housmans Bookshop on behalf of the Alliance of Radical Booksellers #LittleRebelsAward #UKKidLit #KidLitUK #KidsBookAward
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littlerebsprize.bsky.social
And this, my friends, is a happy motion picture 😉of our #LittleRebelsAward materials being mailed out to some lucky schools/libraries after @theclpe.bsky.social ran a giveaway last month.

5 additional luckies are getting a set of the 6 shortlisted books for FREE.

#KidLitUK
November 12, 2025 at 2:44 PM
littlerebsprize.bsky.social
Fabulous to see the 2021 Winner of #littlerebelsaward @amdassu.bsky.social at the launch of her new MG book Wild Journey published by @zephyrbooks.bsky.social

Oooh- and two other winners in attendance!
Pic 1- with @lawrencepatrice.bsky.social (2023 winner)
Pic 2- Zanib Mian (2018 winner)
#KidLitUK
Az Dassu, left, stands smiling with Patrice Lawrence. Patrice holds up two copies of Wild Journey. In a bookshop, surrounded by bookshelves. Author Zanib Mian stands smiling, holding a copy of Wild Journey. Behind her is a tall bookshelf full of copies of the book. Just off to the right, in the background, we can see Az Dassu.
November 6, 2025 at 1:06 PM
littlerebsprize.bsky.social
More of our #LittleRebelsAward 2025 Shortlistee Catchup…

The creatives behind the wonderful Kende! Kende! Kende! couldn’t attend our award night but Kirsten Cappy sent such a lovely message, packed with rebelliousness!

Extract below.

#KidLitUK
#UKKidLit
@childsplayusa.bsky.social
Background image taken from the picture book Kende! Kende! Kende! Superimposed are extracts from author Kirsten Cappy’s quote. Reads: “Imagine a country bereft of Lillie’s living family. Imagine a country without Lolie’s future contribution as, perhaps, an engineer. Imagine the co-authors’ community without the actual men and women who gave their love and voice to this book. It is unacceptable and, thus, we rebel. May KENDE! KENDE! KENDE! make little rebels of all its readers”
November 3, 2025 at 1:42 PM
littlerebsprize.bsky.social
We blush proudly whenever we see our name in #LittleRebelsAward winners’ subsequent works.

Here we are, listed in @amdassu.bsky.social ‘s brand new illustrated middle grade: Wild Journey.😊
@headofzeus.bsky.social
#UKKidLit #KidLitUK
A section in the book called “About the Author”. This lists all of the author’s award credits including The Little Rebels Award. The cover of Az Dassu’s new book. Orange/black/white palette. 5 small illustrations depict each of the 5 chapters: An injured starling being cradled in 2 hands 2 camel riders linked with a rope A prowling wolf A child runs with homemade ‘wings’ An artist’s sketch book The 5 pictures are linked by a curving swirl- a starling murmuration Subtitle reads, “a flight of stories across deserts & forests, cities & seas”
October 30, 2025 at 1:54 PM
littlerebsprize.bsky.social
Continuing our #LittleRebelsAward 2025 Shortlistee Catchup…

Chibundu Onuzo’s Mayowa & the Sea of Words was chosen for Waterstones’ Paperback list for 2025.👏👏👏
@bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social
#KidLitUK #UKKidLit
A screenshot from Instagram. Cover images of Mayowa & the Sea of Words and Ghostlines . Text details how both Bloomsbury titles have been chosen for the Waterstones Paperback list for 2025.
October 30, 2025 at 1:46 PM
littlerebsprize.bsky.social
Playing #LittleRebelsAward 2025 Shortlistee Catchup…

How did we fail to notice that Cathy Jenkins won the Children’s Lit Fests 2025’s Indie & Small Publisher Young Reader Award?

Such a lovely win as children’s votes carry huge weight.

Congrats Cathy! @graffegbooks.bsky.social
#KidLitUK
A screenshot from a post by @ChildrensLFest on Twitter. Reads: “CONGRATULATIONS Winner of our #clfbookawards in the Independent & Small Publishers Young Reader category - chosen by children from 30 schools and 5 libraries: Cathy Jenkins & Monique Steel. #NationalYearofReading every year #readingforpleasure” Beneath text is a visual asset declaring the same with the cover of the book, “Zac & Jac”.
October 28, 2025 at 10:06 AM
littlerebsprize.bsky.social
Where Are the Big Political Ideas in Children’s Books?

A blog written by organisers @letterboxlibrary.bsky.social in the inaugural year of #LittleRebelsAward.

www.letterboxlibrary.com/post/where-a...
#KidLitUK
October 17, 2025 at 12:50 PM
littlerebsprize.bsky.social
Our award night brings together a whole community of rebels, little and big. Former award winners and Big Rebels, @lawrencepatrice.bsky.social (left) ⬇️ & JT Williams ⬇️ (right), joined us this year.

And we spotted Patrice talking to a former shortlistee: Varsha Shah (right of Patrice)!
#KidLitUK
Former Winner Patrice Lawrence stands, posing and smiling. She’s taken off her glasses which she holds down in her right hand. Wears a black tank top & check trousers. To her left is Varsha Shah. She wears dark trousers and a glittery silver shirt/jacket. She too has a broad smile. There are bookshelves either side. A black and white head & shoulders portrait. On the left is author JT Williams.she smiles. Wears a bold patterned shirt. To her left is one of the award organisers - she wears a black suit jacket; smiling. Bookshelves either side.
October 15, 2025 at 12:35 PM
littlerebsprize.bsky.social
⚡️Newsflash:

Author adds all correct award info. to their website.
#KidLitUK
#LittleRebelsAward
Shows a screenshot of author Sarah Hager Holt’s website which shows the cover of book The Fights That Make Us and then text reads, “Warm-hearted and powerful story of friendship, family and standing up for what you believe in for 10+ readers. Set now and the 1980s. Winner of the Polari Prize for Children & Young Adult books 2024 and the Little Rebels Award 2025, shortlisted for the Brilliant Books Award, the Young Quills Award for historical…”
October 14, 2025 at 12:58 PM
littlerebsprize.bsky.social
Hi #LittleRebelsAward Folk!
10 days on and we’re still absolutely buzzing 🐝from our award evening.

A huge thank you to @theclpe.bsky.social for allowing us to host in their glorious Literacy Library.

For your weekend, we leave you with this JOYFUL moment below…
#KidsLitUK
#UKKidsLit
A photo of a large group of people, standing. Most are mid-whooping! Smiles & laughter. At the centre is this years’s Little Rebels Award Winner, Sarah Hagger-Holt, holding a framed picture of 3 toddlers (one of whom is holding a ‘Take Action’ placard). To her left is Ken Wilson Max, the artist who created the picture. They stand in a space surrounded on all sides by bookshelves.
October 10, 2025 at 11:34 AM
littlerebsprize.bsky.social
And now, (some of) our 2025 #LittleRebelsAward Shortlistees
happily join our little gallery of past shortlistees- thank you, all of you, for all of the work you have done making social justice topics engaging, riveting & accessible for young audiences ♥️
#KidLitUK ⤵️
October 7, 2025 at 12:45 PM
littlerebsprize.bsky.social
Special tribute was paid to Ken Wilson-Max at last week’s #LittleRebelsAward ceremony.

Ken has powered ahead with inclusive children’s books as an author/illustrator/publisher for 30+ yrs. An outstanding Big Rebel. Here, presenting @sarahhaggerholt.bsky.social with a specially commissioned print.
Winner Sarah Hagger-Holt, wearing mostly black, stands, holding a framed print showing 3 rebellious toddlers; one holds a ‘Take Action’ sign. Standing to her left is Ken Wilson-Max in a red&white patterned shirt. They are surrounded by a crowd of happy faces.
October 7, 2025 at 12:31 PM
littlerebsprize.bsky.social
1/2 A fabulous Little Rebels Award Shortlistee Panel at our award night last week. Thank you @darrenchetty.bsky.social for your always-thoughtful & inquisitive chairing. And thank you @sarahhaggerholt.bsky.social @ellemcnicoll.bsky.social @sflayzell.bsky.social &Cathy Jenkins..
#KidsLitUK
#UKKidsLit
Chair, Darren Chetty, sat down, in profile. He is speaking, holding a mic in left hand and looking down at his iPhone in right hand. To his left is author Cathy Jenkins who looks down, laughing. Author SF Layzell holds a mic & is talking. To her left is author Cathy Jenkins. To her right is author Elle McNicholl and, next to her, author Sarah Hagger-Holt. All are sat down, front facing. Everyone is smiling. Author Sarah Hagger-Holt has the mic now and is gesturing with her other hand, legs crossed, in a casual pose. To her right is a big board with a kids book illustration (red riding hood?) To her left is Elle McNicholl who is turned towards her and laughing. To her left we can just see SF Layzell. Now Elle holds the mic. The other panellists are all laughing.
October 6, 2025 at 12:43 PM
littlerebsprize.bsky.social
1/4
🥳CONGRATULATIONS to the first ever double prize winner of The Little Rebels Award for Radical Children’s Fiction @sarahhaggerholt.bsky.social

#KidLitUK
#UKKidLit
…a little thread on why this book matters so much ⬇️
October 2, 2025 at 12:54 PM
littlerebsprize.bsky.social
🥳🎉CONGRATULATIONS🎉🥳

We are delighted to announce that the Winner of the 2025 Little Rebels Award for Radical Children’s Fiction is @sarahhaggerholt.bsky.social for The Fights That Make Us, published by Usborne.

Congratulations, Sarah! Our first ever double champion!!
#KidLitUK
Photo right hand corner of author Sarah Hagger-Holt. Under which is written the title of her book “The Fights That Make Us” and then “WINNER”. Left side is the book cover and, above that, a confetti shower.
October 1, 2025 at 10:54 PM
littlerebsprize.bsky.social
TONIGHT
TONIGHT
TONIGHT
#UKKidLit #KidLitUK
#LittleRebelsAward
#WinnerReveal
The shortlist poster for the little rebels award 2025 showing book covers for the six shortlisted titles: Kende! Kende! Kende! The Fights That Make Us Cottonopolis Keedie Mayowa & the Sea of Words Zac and Jac Top left award logo “Little Rebels Award 2025” Top right “Celebrating Radical Fiction for Children” Partially obscuring some of the book covers are 6 question marks.
October 1, 2025 at 10:25 AM
littlerebsprize.bsky.social
The Shortlistee Panel is always an Award Ceremony highlight.

This is last year’s panel ⬇️, chaired by @darrenchetty.bsky.social who has everyone’s attention here!

We’re so looking forward to hearing from our 2025 shortlistees tomorrow. And we’re delighted Dr Chetty will be back chairing!
#KidLitUK
Shows a colour photo of a panel discussion. All are sat, looking towards the chair, Darren Chetty who is on the far right. To his right and onwards are shortlistees Kate Rafiq, Karen George, Jane’s Catchpole, Harry Woodgate, Helen Rutter, Eliza Paganelli, Jen Reid, (barely visible) Yaba Badoe and J.T.Williams. Behind them is a screen with a poster image of the 8 books in that year’s shortlists. There is a surround of bookshelves.
September 30, 2025 at 12:24 PM
littlerebsprize.bsky.social
Dear #LittleRebelsAward Folk:

Ahead of tomorrow evening’s Award Ceremony, let’s remind ourselves of our very brilliant

🪧LITTLE REBELS AWARD
SHORTLIST 2025🪧

Books which are ⭐️plump⭐️with social justice content and hopeful activism!

#KidLitUK
#UKKidLit
#bookawards
#kidsbookawards
September 30, 2025 at 12:14 PM
littlerebsprize.bsky.social
What a panel! What a night!

Last October 2024, our Shortlistee Panel shared all of their most rebellious thoughts at our award night ceremony. (See alt text for names)

We can’t wait to hear what our 2025 Shortlistee Panellists have to say.
#LittleRebelsAward
#KidLitUK
Photo shows a lineup of little rebels award shortlistees from last year / 2024. From left to right back row: JT Williams, Yaba Badoe, Jen Reid, Harry Woodgate, James Catchpole, Karen George, Kate Rafiq, Diane Ewen Two shortlistees crouch at the front- these are Elisa Paganelli and Helen Rutter. Behind them is a screen with a poster image of the 8 books in that year’s shortlists. There is a surround of bookshelves.
September 29, 2025 at 1:12 PM
littlerebsprize.bsky.social
1/2 📣In 2022, former winner, shortlistee & Special Commendation recipient @gill-lewis.bsky.social pledged £250 annually to the #LittleRebelsAward winner to give to a charity of their choice.

Last year, Winner JT Williams donated her £250 to Accumulate: An Art School for the Homeless
#KidLitUK
A black & white photo of the little rebels award winner of 2015, Gill Lewis, taken the year she was awarded a special commendation-in 2018. She holds a bottle of fizz and a box of chocolates in her right hand. In her left she holds a copy of her book, Sky Dancer.
September 29, 2025 at 12:48 PM
littlerebsprize.bsky.social
THIS WEDNESDAY!!
9pm-ish
The winner of the edgiest children’s book award comes out to play!
Run by @letterboxlibrary.bsky.social & @housmansbookshop.bsky.social on behalf of the Alliance of Radical booksellers.

#LittleRebelsAward
#UKKidLit #KidLitUK
Pastel balloon shapes frame a poster announcement. Top left has a logo “little rebels award 2026” Top middle reads: “celebrating radical fiction for children!” Centre, written in to large maybe balloon: “Winner Reveal Wednesday 1st October (evening)” Bottom left logo for “Barry Amiel & Norman Melburne Trust” Bottom right “stay tuned” followed by deets of Insta & Bluesky accounts.
September 29, 2025 at 12:31 PM
littlerebsprize.bsky.social
This, my friends, is how wide a #LittleRebelsAward Winner smiles.
🙂🙂🙂
Last year, JT Williams took the prize with The Lizzie & Belle Mysteries: Portraits & Poison @storymix.bsky.social
🙂🙂🙂
Whose smile will go wide this year? Find out next Wednesday (evening)!
@housmansbookshop.bsky.social
#UKKidLit
Photo from the 2024 little rebels award ceremony shows author JT Williams at the centre of a group of 5 people, holding up a framed print (part of the prize). A visual asset of the 2024 little rebels award winner. Shows the book cover for The Lizzie & Belle Mysteries: Portraits & Poison. Text reads, “J. T. Williams Illustrated by Simone Douglas Farshore” (the publisher) Bottom right corner is the pale yellow award logo with “Winner” written beneath.
September 26, 2025 at 1:31 PM
littlerebsprize.bsky.social
BIG NEW for all you big rebels out there:
#UKKidLit
#KidLitUK
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
A visual asset with pastel purple bubbles framing. Top left is the little rebels award plain yellow sphere logo. Text beneath reads “winner announcement coming…” over a red bubble. A coloured banner top right, under which reads, “Wednesday 1st October (evening).” Below reads, “stay tuned” after which is the Instagram icon with “@littlerebelsaward” and the bluesky icon with this account.
September 24, 2025 at 1:06 PM
littlerebsprize.bsky.social
12. Overheard in a #LittleRebelsAward Judges Meeting🤫:

“A very useful tool for young readers to understand racism”
“It’s very readable & dyslexia-friendly”
Judges Phoebe @theclpe.bsky.social & @soofiya.bsky.social on Zac and Jac
Cathy Jenkins
Ills. Monique Steele
@graffegbooks.bsky.social
#UKKidLit
Shortlist visual asset shows book cover for Zac and Jac. Pastel bubble shapes frame the image. “Little Rebels Award” logo in bottom right corner with “shortlist” written underneath.
September 24, 2025 at 12:39 PM
littlerebsprize.bsky.social
11. Overheard in a #LittleRebelsAward Judges Meeting🤫:

“I enjoyed the explicit themes of social responsibility, refugee rights & empathy”; “the magical world-building was intriguing and worked really well”

Judge Phoebe @theclpe.bsky.social on Mayowa & the Sea of Words
Chibundu Onuzo

#UKKidLit
Shortlist visual asset shows book cover for Mayowa and the Sea of Words. Pastel bubble shapes frame the image. “Little Rebels Award” logo in bottom right corner with “shortlist” written underneath.
September 24, 2025 at 12:33 PM