The children’s book prize, launched by The Alligator’s Mouth and The Bright Agency in 2018, celebrates the best books for 6-8-year-olds, and champions authors and illustrators, supported by book wholesalers, Gardners and Coram Beanstalk, the UK’s first and longest serving children’s charity. The judges for The Alligator’s Mouth Award 2025 are Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre (who won the 2024 award with Adventuremice: Otter Chaos), Jasmine Richards (founder of Storymix), Head Teacher and book blogger Tom Griffiths, children’s author and primary school librarian Mariesa Dulak, head of Coram Beanstalk Amy Lewis, and co-owners of The Alligator’s Mouth children’s bookshop, Margaret Wallace-Jones and Tony West.

Congratulations to the 2025 longlist authors and illustrators! Learn more about the award here.