details for slvr children's book awards 2026 coming soon...

SLVR Children's Book Awards 2025

#slvr2025 winners

congrats

winners

AUSTRALIAN
AUTHORS

BRILLIANT

STORIES

#slvr2025 winners

congrats

winners

AUSTRALIAN
AUTHORS

BRILLIANT

STORIES

WRITING EXCELLENCE

Title: Making Brighter Days

Author: Sinead Stevenson

Illustrator: Olha Rastvorova

BIG FEELINGS & BEYOND

Title: My Brain Is a Racecar

Author: Nell Harris

Illustrator: Nell Harris

PICTURE PERFECT

Title: Snuggled Away

Author: Cate Storey

Illustrator: Sarah Matsuda

MOST HUMOROUS BOOK

Title: Who Likes the Zoo?

Author: Yasmin Bastouil

Illustrator: Liza Polovynkina

MOST HEARTWARMING

Title: The First Year

Author: Emilie Tunstill

Illustrator: Elle Dawson-Scott

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY

Title: It's OK to Just Be Yourself

Author: Jules Elizabeth

Illustrator: Pablo D'Alio

FOR GREATER GOOD

Title: By The Seaside

Author: Gretel Louise

Illustrator: Olena Kyrychenko

WILDCARD

Title: The Girl With A Feather In Her Hair

Author: Eleanor Pearson

Illustrator: Julie Spencer

#slvr2025 finalists

congrats

finalists

AUSTRALIAN
AUTHORS

BRILLIANT

STORIES

FINALISTS ANNOUNCED | FINALISTS ANNOUNCED | FINALISTS ANNOUNCED | FINALISTS ANNOUNCED | FINALISTS ANNOUNCED | FINALISTS ANNOUNCED | FINALISTS ANNOUNCED | FINALISTS ANNOUNCED |

WRITING EXCELLENCE

This category recognises excellence in storytelling, including strong narrative structure, engaging language and age-appropriate tone. Whether it's lyrical, funny, heartfelt, or clever - this award honours outstanding writing.

BIG FEELINGS & BEYOND

For books that help children understand, express and navigate their emotions or physical health. This category recognises stories that support mental health, emotional and psychical resilience and wellbeing, including topics like anxiety, body awareness, healthy habits, mindfulness, grief and more.

PICTURE PERFECT

This one’s all about the visuals. For books that shine through their artwork, whether hand-drawn, painted or digitally illustrated. Judges will consider style, technique, originality and how well the illustrations enhance the story.

MOST HUMOROUS BOOK

We’re looking for giggles, chuckles and full-on belly laughs. This category celebrates books with humour, quirky characters, playful storytelling, or unexpected silliness that kids love.

FOR GREATER GOOD

This award honours creators using their work to spark change, raise awareness or give back to communities.

WILDCARD

This category is for any children's book that doesn't quite fit the others - whether it's for older readers, a unique format, or published through a hybrid or vanity press. As long as it's a non-traditionally published children's book released in printed form between 2022 and 31st August 2025, it’s welcome here!

MOST HEARTWARMING

For the book that gives you all the feels. A story that inspires kindness, empathy, hope or brings a tear to the eye. Sweet, meaningful and full of heart.

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY

Celebrating books that champion inclusivity and representation. This category is for stories that reflect diverse voices, cultures, abilities, genders and identities - books that help all children feel seen, valued and understood.

Celebrating excellence in independently published children's books.

The aim of the 2025 SLVR Children's Book Awards is to recognise & celebrate the outstanding work of self-published creatives.

In an industry that often overlooks self published books, we're here to shake things up - because if the industry won’t acknowledge the brilliance of self-published books, we’ll do it ourselves.