This annual prize, generously funded by Nicholas Allan, author of The Queen’s Knickers, is awarded to an outstanding children’s original illustrated book for ages 0-7. It recognises books that strike a quirky, new note and grab the attention of a child, whether this be in the form of curiosity, amusement, horror or excitement. The winner will receive £5,000, as well as a golden Queen’s Knickers badge, as depicted in Nicholas Allan’s original book. The runner-up will receive £1,000 and a silvered badge.
2021 Queen’s Knickers Award Winner

Rashmi Sirdeshpande and Diane Ewen for Never Show a T-Rex a Book (Penguin Random House Children’s UK)
The 2021 shortlist
- Runner-up: Alex T. Smith for Mr Penguin and the Catastrophic Cruise
- (Hachette)
- Joy Cowley and Giselle Clarkson for The Gobbledegook Book (Gecko Press)
- John Condon and Matt Hunt for The Pirates are Coming! (Nosy Crow)
- Katie Daynes and Marie-Eve Tremblay for Lift-the-Flap Questions and Answers About Plastic (Usborne)
Entry to the 2022 Award is now closed.
The winner will be announced at a ceremony in June 2022.
- Deadline for entries: 30 November 2021
- Submissions should be a single, illustrated volume, in book form. It can be imaginative or factual e.g. a counting book.
- Submissions may be any combination or words and/or pictures, or just pictures (and in any physical format including, pop ups, flap books, and board books).
- Submissions must have been first published in the UK and Republic of Ireland between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021.
- The prize will be shared between the author or authors and illustrator/illustrators if applicable.
- Submissions must be made by the print publisher
For any queries relating to the prize please contact prizes@societyofauthors.org
2021
- Rashmi Sirdeshpande and Daine Ewen for Never Show a T-Rex a Book (Puffin) £5,000
- Runner-up: Alex T. Smith for Mr. Penguin and the Catastrophic Cruise (Hachette) £1,000
2020
- Elena Arevalo Melville for Umbrella (Scallyway Press) £5,000
- Runners-Up: Didier Lévy and Frederic Benaglia for How to Light Your Dragon (Thames & Hudson) £1,000