Alligators Mouth Shortlist 2024

last updated 01 May 2024

Five books have been shortlisted for The Alligator’s Mouth Award 2024, which champions authors and illustrators of highly illustrated children’s fiction. Now in its sixth year, the children’s book prize created by The Alligator’s Mouth children’s bookshop and The Bright Agency, celebrates the best books for 6-8-year-olds.

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The shortlist was selected by a judging panel of children’s book experts, including Founder of BooksForTopics: Alison Leach, who commented: “Illustrated fiction for younger readers deserves the spotlight and this year’s strong shortlist for the Alligator’s Mouth Award is a testament to the remarkable quality of publishing in this genre over the past year. On the shortlist readers will be met with animal adventures, mythical creatures, journeys across the sea, science experiments, and fairy tale quests. These stories have been imaginatively brought to life through a vibrant balance of text and illustration – a hallmark of this important genre for newly independent readers. I’m sure that both children and adults will discover exciting new favourites among the gems on this year’s shortlist, just as the judges have.”

Also on the 2024 judging panel is award winning author/illustrator Sam Usher; Librarian and Bookseller Rising Star Zoey Dixon; last year’s winner Elys Dolan; and co-owners of The Alligator’s Mouth children’s bookshop, Margaret Wallace-Jones and Tony West.

Tony West and Margaret Wallace-Jones of The Alligator’s Mouth said: “This wonderful shortlist offers a masterclass in illustrated fiction for younger readers. The books are funny, inventive, sweet, exciting, and bursting with engaging illustrations. We love every single one, and so do our customers!”