What are the IBC Children’s Choice Awards?
In the autumn term, IBC opens the Children’s Choice Awards, an exciting shadowing scheme for our IBC Awards, where children act as 'official' judges, reading the shortlisted books and voting on their favourites.
The scheme aims to engage children in fun and enjoyable reading activities that mirror the IBC Awards process.
Who can participate?
Children in any setting can participate, facilitated by an adult. For example, any teacher, librarian, parent or caregiver can register to participate in the Children’s Choice Awards on behalf of one child or a group.
What age range is this for?
Children of any age can take part in the Children’s Choice Awards with adult direction. There are three book award categories to choose from:
- Baby & Toddler Books (1–3)
- Picture Books (3–7)
- Highly Illustrated Children’s Fiction (6–9)
Age brackets are for loose guidance only. In particular, children aged 7 and over are welcome to participate in the Picture Book shadowing process. Likewise, children aged 9 and over can take part in Children’s Fiction shadowing.
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In partnership with
What are the IBC Awards, and why are we launching the Children’s Choice Awards?
As a registered literacy charity, we aim to help parents, teachers and librarians source diverse and inclusive books for children. Our annual IBC Awards highlight outstanding new children’s literature for the under-9s in three categories, rewarding children’s authors and illustrators with a shared prize fund of £30K.
This year, we are launching our Children’s Choice Awards in tandem with the main book awards. This shadowing scheme is designed to excite children about reading, motivating them to engage with a broader range of books.
The scheme follows the recent release of The National Literacy Trust’s annual reading survey, which suggests children and young people’s reading for pleasure is at its lowest level in two decades, with only ‘1 in 3 (32.7%) children and young people aged 8 to 18’ saying they ‘enjoyed reading in their free time in 2025’, a 36% drop since 2005.
For more information about IBC and the work we do, check out our About us page, inclusive book reviews, recommendations and thematic booklists curated by experts.