The Alliance of Radical Booksellers is delighted to announce that the winners of this year’s Little Rebels Children’s Book Award are Andrea Beaty (author) and David Roberts (illustrator) for their book, Ada Twist, Scientist (Abrams & Chronicle Books).
Ada Twist is the story of a young girl, Ada Marie, with boundless curiosity who can’t stop asking ‘Why?’ Her quest for answers and her many scientific experiments occasionally lead her in to trouble. Ada is a true little rebel and, like the pioneering scientists she is named after (Marie Curie and Ada Lovelace), a fantastic feminist role model.
Little Rebels judge Catherine Johnson said of the winning book: “This is a story where words and pictures work brilliantly together. Its subject matter shouldn’t be radical but sadly given the nature of the world (of books and in general) it meets all the criteria for this award.”
The award was presented at the London Radical Bookfair, held at Goldsmiths University, on Saturday 24th June. Susan Van Metre, editor-in-chief of children’s book imprints at Abrams in New York, collected the award on behalf of Beaty and Roberts.
Van Metre read a statement from the authors in which they heralded the power of stories to help children make sense of the “confusing and worrying times” we live in. They said: “We must help [children] become critical thinkers and doers. Encourage them to read, question, and think about everything so they will be ready to tackle the work ahead of them. We must offer them hope and comfort and understanding.”
The Radical Bookfair also hosted a panel discussion with shortlisted authors GR Gemin (Sweet Pizza) Katharine Quarmby (Ossiri and the Bala Mengro) and Bethan Woollvin (Little Red), chaired by children’s author Catherine Johnson.
Congratulations to all of the shortlisted authors, and to Andrea, David, and Ada!
The Little Rebels Children’s Book Award 