This annual prize, generously funded by Nicholas Allan, author of The Queen’s Knickers, is awarded to an outstanding children’s original illustrated book for ages 0-7.
It will recognise books that strike a quirky, new note and grab the attention of a child, whether this be in the form of curiosity, amusement, horror or excitement.
The winner will receive £5,000, as well as a golden Queen’s Knickers badge, as depicted in Nicholas Allan’s original book.
The runner-up will receive £1,000 and a silvered badge.
The Queen’s Knickers Award is closed for submissions.
The 2024 Queen’s Knickers Award winner
Benjamin Zephaniah and Nila Aye for People Need People (Orchard Books, Hachette Children’s Group)
Photography © Natalie Thorpe
The 2024 Queen’s Knickers Award runner-up
Yoko Mori for Teddy’s Midnight Adventure (Pushkin Press)
Photography © Natalie Thorpe
The 2024 Queen’s Knickers Award shortlist
Coralie Bickford-Smith for The Squirrel and the Lost Treasure (Penguin Press, Particular Books)
Rachel Bright and Jim Field for The Gecko and the Echo (Hachette Children’s Group, Orchard Books)
Jairo Buitrago and Rafael Yockteng for Afterward, Everything Was Different (Greystone Kids, Aldana Libros)
Gabby Dawnay and Mona K for 5 Minute Nature Stories (Magic Cat)
Julia Kuo for Luminous (Greystone Kids)
“The books that made it onto the Queen’s Knickers shortlist all had a distinct appeal to us as judges in one way or another — whether it was in the message they conveyed, the quality of illustrations, or the timeless nature they possessed, each and every book earned its place on the list.”
—Salomey Doku, 2024 Queen’s Knickers judge
If you are interested in buying any of the books shortlisted here, please visit Bookshop.org. A percentage of each sale will go to the Drusilla Harvey Access Fund, providing access grants to help authors attend events, residencies and retreats.
2023
- Winner: Olaf Falafel for Blobfish published by Walker Books Ltd
- Runner-up: John Agard and Satoshi Kitamura for When Creature met Creature published by Scallywag Press
2022
- Winner : Alastair Chisholm and David Roberts for Inch and Grub (Walker Books) £5,000
- Runner-up: Mick Jackson and John Broadley for While You’re Sleeping (Pavilion Children’s) £1,000
2021
- Rashmi Sirdeshpande and Daine Ewen for Never Show a T-Rex a Book (Puffin) £5,000
- Runner-up: Alex T. Smith for Mr. Penguin and the Catastrophic Cruise (Hachette) £1,000
2020
- Elena Arevalo Melville for Umbrella (Scallyway Press) £5,000
- Runners-Up: Didier Lévy and Frederic Benaglia for How to Light Your Dragon (Thames & Hudson) £1,000
With thanks, the judges of the 2025 Queen’s Knickers Award:
Dapo Adeola
Dapo Adeola is an illustrator, author and character designer who was awarded Illustrator of the Year at The British Book Awards in 2022. Dapo rocketed into the picture book world with his greatly acclaimed illustrator debut, Look Up!, written by Nathan Bryon and published by Puffin in 2019, which won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize in 2020. Dapo illustrated My Dad is a Grizzly Bear and My Mum Is a Lioness written by award-winning author Swapna Haddow (both published by Macmillan Children’s Books), and collaborated with Malorie Blackman on their picture book We’re Going to Find the Monster. Dapo made his author debut in 2021 with the Puffin published picture book Hey You!: An Empowering Celebration of Growing Up Black, featuring 18 talented Black British illustrators, which also went on to win Illustrated book of the year at The British Book Awards in 2022. Born in Britain and of Nigerian heritage, Dapo is an avid believer in the importance of equal representation in the creative arts. He currently lives in Manchester.
Davina Hamilton
Davina Hamilton is a rhyming children’s author of four picture books: Riley Can Be Anything (2017), Riley Knows He Can (2018), Ella Has A Plan (2020) and Riley Finds His Beat (2023). She has been featured by outlets including BuzzFeed, HuffPost, Made For Mums, BBC Radio London and The Independent, with the latter hailing Riley Can Be Anything as the Best Inspirational Book in their 2022 Black History Month list of 13 Best Children’s Books With Empowering Black Characters. An exciting and engaging author, Davina has delivered a host of readings/talks in schools and at literary events, including the internationally renowned London Book Fair, and the storytelling festival, Shakespeare’s Telling Tales, held at the celebrated UK venue, Shakespeare’s Globe. The former Arts Editor for UK publication, The Voice, Davina has over 20 years of writing experience and has contributed to a host of publications, both in the UK and internationally.
Soofiya
Soofiya is a Brighton-based, often using bold lines and bright colour, Soof’s work is influenced from a graphic design background, communicating ideas in a playful and pattern filled way. Soofiya’s work of utilises bold and confident line work, and often draws upon a deep love of their cat Aloo and the 80s.
Nicholas Allan
Nicholas Allan is a full-time writer and illustrator. He published his first book, The Hefty Fairy, in 1989 and has since written over thirty children’s books. Many of his books are bestsellers, including The Queen’s Knickers, Father Christmas Needs a Wee, Jesus’ Christmas Party, Cinderella’s Bum, Heaven, and Where Willy Went. His books have won awards, been translated into twenty languages and adapted into television shows and West End musicals.
Nicholas has also been the Chairman of the Society of Authors’ Children’s Group and is currently the Patron of the Isle of Wight Children’s Literary Festival.