The Alligator's Mouth has announced the longlist for The Alligator's Mouth Award 2025 in partnership with the Bright Agency and Gardners Books.

Richmond's dedicated children bookshop has longlisted 10 books for the award which champions authors and illustrators of highly illustrated children's fiction.

The children's book prize, now in its seventh year, celebrates the best books for 6–8-year-olds. 

Head teacher and book blogger Tom Griffiths joined the judging panel this year, alongside last year's winners Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre.

Philip and Sarah won the 2024 award with Adventuremice: Otter Chaos (David Fickling Books).

Griffiths commented: "I'm sure you'll agree The Alligator's Mouth longlist is a wealth of incredible children's literature. A diverse line-up featuring stories ranging from adventure to comedy, there's something for every reader.

"I can't wait to share this longlist with the children at my school – it's going to be really tricky to shortlist this brilliant line-up.

"The Alligator's Mouth Award is going to be a close call this year and I'm so excited to be a part of the process."

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The Alligator's Mouth Award 2025 Longlist:

• Bertha and Blink: Rumble in the Jungle written & illustrated by Nicola Colton (Little Tiger)
• Beti and the Little Round House written by Atinuke, illustrated by Emily Hughes (Walker Books)
• Gordon the Meanest Goose on Earth written & illustrated by Alex Latimer (Oxford University Press)
• Izzy the Inventor and the Time Travelling Gnome written by Zanna Davidson, illustrated by Elissa Elwick (Usborne)
• Murray and Bun: Murray the Viking written & illustrated by Adam Stower (HarperCollins Children's Books)
• Rabbit and Bear: This Lake is Fake! written by Julian Gough, illustrated by Jim Field (Hachette Children's Books)
• Reggie Rabbit: The Great Carrot Heist written by Swapna Reddy, illustrated by Becka Moor (Oxford Children's)
• Supersquirrel and the Crazy Rain Maker written by Russell Punter, illustrated by Josh Cleland (Usborne)
• The O.D.D. Squad: Rise of Invisidog written by Stuart Heritage, illustrated by Vincent Batignole (Puffin Books)
• Tiny Dogs: Bea's Secret Friends written & illustrated by Rose Lihou (Puffin Books)

Joining Griffiths, Reeve and McIntyre in the judging panel is founder of Storymix Jasmine Richards, Head of Coram Beanstalk Amy Lewis, children's author Mariesa Dulak 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 fantastic longlist is bursting with all that is wonderful in illustrated fiction for young readers.

"We're having so much fun recommending these funny, exciting, beautifully illustrated adventures – all these books will encourage young readers to go on a thrilling imaginative journey.

"Huge congratulations to all the writers, illustrators and publishers. Choosing a shortlist will be a very tough decision."

The children's book prize is in its seventh year (credit: Cesar Medina).

Books wholesaler Gardners returns as an official partner of the award and are offering independent bookshops across the UK up to a 50% discount on all ten longlisted titles until the end of July 2025.​

National reading charity Coram Beanstalk also return as a partner, running a competition that offers UK schools the chance to win the longlisted titles.

Alligator's Mouth say the competition will run until 2 June, and schools can find out more and enter via the Coram Beanstalk website.​​

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The shortlist will be announced in May 2025. The winner will be announced at the award party in July 2025.

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