For decades, the Booker Prize has stood as one of the most respected honours in literature, spotlighting excellence in adult fiction across the English-speaking world. With the introduction of the Children’s Booker Prize, the foundation aims to elevate storytelling for younger audiences and honour authors who inspire the next generation of readers.

“Children’s literature has always shaped our imaginations and moral compasses,” said a spokesperson for the Booker Prize Foundation. “Recognizing its artistic and cultural value through this new award feels both natural and necessary.”

The inaugural Children’s Booker Prize 2027 will celebrate works written for readers aged 7 to 14, encompassing novels, illustrated fiction, and middle-grade narratives. A dedicated panel of judges including educators, authors, and children’s literature experts will curate a longlist and shortlist before announcing the winner later in the year.

Industry figures have already hailed the move as a major step toward bridging the gap between children’s and adult literary recognition, offering new opportunities for authors and publishers alike.

“This is a huge win for children’s storytelling,” said one children’s author. “It acknowledges that great literature doesn’t just begin in adulthood, it begins in childhood.”

The Booker Prize’s expansion reflects a broader cultural shift toward valuing literary creativity for all ages. As more readers and educators advocate for meaningful stories that empower young minds, the new award signals an era where children’s fiction takes its rightful place alongside the most celebrated works of modern literature.