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Waterstones Children's Book Prize Winner 2023
It is with enormous pleasure that we announce The Cats We Meet Along the Way as the Overall Winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2023.
Apocalyptic novels are not generally renowned for their heartwarming qualities but it is a measure of the originality and compassion at the heart of Mikail’s luminous debut that The Cats We Meet Along the Way elegantly subverts expectations at every turn. With the end of the world imminent, Aisha and her richly drawn family and friends undertake one final road trip across Malaysia to reconnect with June, the sister she hasn’t seen for two years. Tender, moving and brimming with hope and positivity, The Cats We Meet Along the Way is a beautiful tribute to working out what truly matters when life as you know it threatens to vanish forever.
‘In a phenomenal debut, Nadia Mikail’s prose sparkles in the growing market for older readers. Booksellers were overwhelmed by the tenderness woven through each chapter; the moments of silence between the characters are as truthful and evocative as their conversations. Mikail has ultimately crafted a novel of hope, set against an eventful road trip, that encourages us to share stories and dreams.’
FLORENTYNA MARTIN, WATERSTONES HEAD OF CHILDREN'S
Steeped in the magic of Muslim folklore, Khan's enchanting children's debut sends our eponymous hero into a stunningly imagined underground world where the trickster jinns hold sway.
The author-illustrator of Mabel and the Mountain delivers another pitch-perfect story encouraging little ones to embrace their feelings, as the last woolly mammoth starts to get a bit nervous about her place in the herd.
From the Waterstones Blog
The Waterstones Children's Book Prize Blog: Nadia Mikail
The overall winner of this year's Waterstones Children's Book Prize spotlights the children's book that changed her life.
The Waterstones Children's Book Prize Blog: M.T. Khan
The winner of the Younger Readers category of this year's Waterstones Children's Book Prize spotlights the children's book that changed her life.
The Waterstones Children's Book Prize Blog: Kim Hillyard
The winner of the Illustrated Books category of this year's Waterstones Children's Book Prize spotlights the children's book that changed her life.
Nadia Mikail, author of Best Book for Older Readers Winner and Overall Winner The Cats We Meet Along the Way
M.T. Khan, author of Best Book for Younger Readers Winner Nura and the Immortal Palace
Kim Hillyard, author and illustrator of Best Illustrated Book Winner Gretel the Wonder Mammoth
The moment Kim Hillyard discovers she’s won Best Illustrated Book for Gretel the Wonder Mammoth
Nadia Mikail and M.T. Khan receive their awards for Best Book for Older Readers and Best Book for Younger Readers respectively
Waterstones Head of Children’s Florentyna Martin presents Nadia Mikail with her Overall Winner award for The Cats We Meet Along the Way
Last year’s Overall Winner Hannah Gold passes on the baton to 2023’s triumphant trio of winners
A wonderful evening of fun and celebration was had by all
Illustrated Books Shortlist
Younger Readers Shortlist
Older Readers Shortlist
Previous Overall Winners
Celebrating the Waterstones Children's Book Prize
Celebrating the Waterstones Children's Book Prize
Ever since Stuart Hill’s masterful fantasy The Cry of the Icemark scooped the inaugural gong back in 2005, the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize has grown in stature to become one of the most prestigious children’s book awards in the literary calendar.
Rising Stars
We are passionate about discovering new talent. From the beginning, the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize has been sharing the best in new writing for children and teenagers and has helped to forge the careers of authors and illustrators who are now household names.
Hard-Hitters
We applaud Young Adult works that refuse to speak down to their readers, covering gritty and controversial topics with intelligence and sincerity.
Picture Perfect
We know that pictures can bring stories to life. Over the years it has been our pleasure to introduce fresh creative talent which combines words and pictures to stunning effect.
Bold & Brave
Throughout the history of the prize, we've rewarded books that engage with complex issues in innovative and extraordinary ways. Stories that move, provoke and stay with you forever.
Literary Laughs
We know that one of the hardest challenges for a writer is making readers laugh and that's why we love to celebrate books that raise either a chuckle or a full-on guffaw.
Action-Packed Pages
Feeding young imaginations with the fuel to build universes of their own, we have always championed sweeping adventures of new worlds and daring deeds.
Conversation Starters
Our choices always put readers first, rewarding the books that matter to them and reflecting the topics young people of all ages are most passionate about.
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