The Sheffield Children's Book Award 2025

Celebrating the best of children's writing and illustration - The Sheffield Children;s Book Award.

Last Friday, 14th November 2025, the Lyceum and Crucible Theatres in Sheffield were buzzing with excitement as hundreds of schoolchildren gathered to celebrate the Sheffield Book Awards, an annual event that champions the joy of reading and the power of storytelling.

Warmed up by local Poet Craig Bradley, and hosted by CBeebies very own Joanna Adeyinka, this year’s awards were particularly special, showcasing an incredible lineup of books that captured imaginations across the city. Voted for by Sheffield schoolchildren, the awards reflect what truly resonates with young readers today.

You can watch our video of the day right here:

Category Winners

The categories were filled with vibrant and engaging titles, each bringing something unique to the table. Congratulations to our category winners below:

• Mixed-Up Farm Animals by Spencer Wilson, published by Boxer Books
• Smelly Peggy  by Helen Stephens, published by Walker Books
• Otto The Top Dog by Catherine Rayner, published by Macmillan
• Croaky: Search for the Sasquatch by Matty Long, published by Oxford
• The Letter with the Golden Stamp by Onjali Q. Raúf, published by Orion
• I Am Rebel by Ross Montgomery, published by Walker Books
• Songlight by Moira Buffini, published by Faber

And the Overall Winner Is…

The biggest cheer of the day went to Otto The Top Dog, crowned the Overall Winner of the Sheffield Book Awards 2025! This book clearly struck a chord with young readers as chants rang throughout the theatre!

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A Fond Farewell

This year’s ceremony also marked a poignant moment: Schools and Young People's Library Manager Jayne Crawshaw celebrated her final Sheffield Book Awards as she retires after an incredible 45 years of dedicated service to the library community. Jayne’s passion for books and commitment to inspiring young readers has left a lasting legacy in Sheffield.

We wish Jayne all the best in her next chapter and thank her for everything she has done for libraries and literacy in our city.

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The Sheffield Book Awards are more than just a celebration of literature, they’re a testament to the importance of giving children a voice in the world of books. By voting for their favourites, young readers become active participants in recognising the talents of our great authors and illustrators. 

Congratulations to all the authors and illustrators who made this year’s shortlist and to the schools and libraries that continue to nurture a love of reading in Sheffield.

Get those books ready and we'll see you in 2026!!