Book of the Year - Children's Non-Fiction 2025
Book of the Year - Children’s Non-Fiction Winner and Shortlist
Proudly supported by The Week Jr Science + Nature
This shortlist celebrates conversation-starting books that seek to celebrate the natural world and promote curiosity in the world around us, alongside a love for Taylor Swift. Many of the campaigns put inclusivity at the heart of their approach, prioritising student outreach and creative initiatives.
The Winner
Wilding
Isabella Tree, illustrated by Angela Harding
Macmillan Children's Books
Isabella Tree and Angela Harding produced something magical with Wilding. Our panel agreed that the book represents “legacy publishing”; “This will stand the test of time”, pronounced one judge. The interconnectedness between Tree’s account of rewilding the Knepp Estate, Harding’s “beautiful” illustrations and Charlie Burrell’s photography created a book that depicts the “glorious sense of transformation” of the estate.
Our panel admired the practical tips at the end of the book and praised Wilding’s standout individuality in the children’s non-fiction market. The “comprehensive” campaign by Macmillan Children’s Books impressed our judges, who particularly loved Harding’s dedication to the project; the artist spent three weeks at Knepp across the year to immerse herself in the landscape’s seasonal changes. Harding and Tree united for three public events while Harding designed three bookshop window displays. Our judges agreed that Wilding “offers a valuable escape” into the wonders of nature.
The Shortlist
Hamza's Wild World
Hamza Yassin, illustrated by Louise Forshaw
Macmillan Children's Books
Wildlife photographer Hamza Yassin’s celebration of the natural world was treated with the utmost care at Macmillan Children’s Books. Yassin is dyslexic and this informed every inch of Hamza’s Wild World. The publisher developed a system of writing that worked for Yassin and created a dyslexia-friendly book for all young readers. During publication week, Yassin spoke to 18,000 children and took part in an extensive media campaign that included an appearance on The One Show.
Little People, Big Dreams: Taylor Swift
Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, illustrated by Borghild Fallberg
Frances Lincoln Children's Books
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books created a cultural moment with Little People, Big Dreams: Taylor Swift. Published in June to align with Swift’s Eras Tour arrival in the UK, the publisher organised book drops at the tour stadiums and launched the largest POS campaign in the series’ history. Text by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara and bold illustrations by Borghild Fallberg produced a winning result – Taylor Swift closed the year as the bestselling title in the Little People, Big Dreams series.
Science Is Lit: Crazy Chemistry and Epic Experiments
Big Manny, illustrated by Subi Bosa
Puffin
Science Is Lit combines the trademark style of Emanuel Wallace, aka Big Manny, with groovy illustrations from Subi Bosa. Puffin took Wallace’s mission – to encourage young people to pursue science – to the heart of its campaign, producing a zingy design and organising extensive outreach. Wallace took part in a science day for primary school children at Sir Isaac Newton’s home, worked with Teacher TikTokers and appeared several times on BBC’s Blue Peter.
The History of Information
Written and illustrated by Chris Haughton
DK
Chris Haughton brings his inimitable graphic style illustration and charm to The History of Information, the product of 17 years of work. Haughton’s exploration of how society’s ideas have evolved over time was supported by a global campaign that dovetailed with DK’s 50th anniversary. DK launched their biggest children’s non-fiction campaign ever on their social channels, prioritising video engagement and organising a 27-stop bookshop tour on top of extensive print and online coverage.
The World to Come
Robert Macfarlane & Johnny Flynn, illustrated by Emily Sutton
Magic Cat Publishing
The World to Come, a poetical celebration of nature by Robert Macfarlane and folk singer Johnny Flynn, received numerous plaudits and was selected as a Foyles Book of the Year. Magic Cat put inclusivity at the heart of their campaign, creating a sing-along event at Waterstones Piccadilly for the book launch. Flynn visited schools with guitar in-hand and Macfarlane embarked on an indie bookshop signing tour.
Wilding: How to Bring Wildlife Back
Isabella Tree, illustrated by Angela Harding
Macmillan Children's Books
Isabella Tree reimagined her 2018 adult title for children with watercolours and linocuts by illustrator Angela Harding. Wilding, the story of rewilding the Knepp Estate, was shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize for Children’s Writing on Nature and Conservation and has been nominated for the Carnegie Award 2025. An outdoor interview at Knepp for BBC Radio 4 Today was a standout moment from Macmillan’s campaign, as was Harding’s trio of bookshop window displays.
