Polari Prize Children’s and YA shortlist event.

We’re incredibly proud to host the shortlist announcement for the 2022 Polari Prize’s Children’s and YA Category in a fun, free, and family-friendly picture book event at the shop on September 10th 2022.

The Polari Prize is the UK’s only book award to honour LGBTQ+ writing, and this year saw the launch of its first ever children’s and YA category.

This shortlist event will feature interactive storytelling, arts and crafts and much silliness, the event will be a celebration of LGBTQ+ love and families.

There will also be readings from both longlisted picture book writers, Harry Woodgate (Grandad’s Camper) and Ian Eagleton (Nen and the Lonely Fisherman), and chair of judges Jodie Lancet-Grant (The Pirate Mums, The Marvellous Doctors for Magical Creatures.)

Reading at the event…

Jodie Lancet-Grant

Jodie Lancet-Grant is the Chair of Judges for the Polari Childrens and YA Prize, and the author of LGBTQ+ inclusive picture books The Pirate Mums and The Marvellous Doctors for Magical Creatures. Her day job is in publishing as a Communications Director for an imprint at Pan Macmillan.

Harry Woodgate

Harry Woodgate (pronouns: they/them) is an award-winning illustrator, who was shortlisted for the V&A Illustration Awards 2019 and the Folio Society Book Illustration Competition 2018 and 2019. Their debut picture book Grandad’s Camper won the Waterstones Children’s Book Award for picture books in 2022, and was inspired by their university dissertation, which revealed a lack of representation for older LGBT characters in children’s books. When they’re not creating amazing books, they love writing music, cycling, baking, and exploring independent coffee shops and bookstores. Harry is based in St Albans, UK

Ian Eagleton

Ian is 37 years old and is the director of The Reading Realm. He is also a content creator and resource writer for various educational organisations, including The Literacy Shed and Authorfy. Ian has taught in primary schools for 13 years and during this time has been a member of the senior management team, a phase leader, and literacy co-ordinator. He has an NQPSL, which focused on improving reading. Ian has also run staff training and writing workshops for children. He still teaches part time at a local school and especially enjoys sharing picture books, poetry and creative writing activities with the children he teaches. You can follow Ian on Twitter at @MrEagletonIan

Order your FREE ticket and books to be signed and personalised at the event here:

Please select ‘local pickup’ at checkout to avoid postal charges.

Polari Prize Children’s and YA long listed books 2022: