SIX QUEENS (Macmillan) by Lydia Monks, BRIGHT BIRDS AND THEIR BRILLIANT BRAINS (Two Hoots) by Kate Read and HANDLE WITH CARE (Guppy Books) by Louisa Reid have all been longlisted for the UK Literary Association (UKLA) Book Awards 2026.
The UKLA awards, the only national children’s book awards judged by teachers, aim to showcase high-quality children’s books that can reflect all identities and promote diversity, highlighting the titles that every teacher, who wants to inspire a passion for reading for pleasure, needs in their school.
As explained in UKLA’s longlist announcement, the awards are completely uninfluenced by any commercial factors, such as sales or expensive marketing campaigns. 85 judges will cover the four categories and have until mid-March 2026 to read the longlisted books, discuss them with their group leaders, and share them with pupils. All the groups will then meet for the difficult task of choosing their shortlist of 6 books in each category. The four categories are 3-6+, 7-10+, 11-14+ and Information Books 3-14+
SIX QUEENS, a fascinating illustrated guide to the iconic wives of Henry VIII by Lydia Monks, and Kate Read’s exquisite gift book for bird lovers, BRIGHT BIRDS, have been longlisted in the Information Books for 3-14+ category.
Louisa Reid’s stunningly powerful YA novel, HANDLE WITH CARE, has been longlisted in the 11-14+ category.
The judges’ final choices will be announced in July 2026.
For the full longlist, click here.
