David Fickling Books Search for a Storyteller competition runs annually in partnership with the Arvon Foundation and is open to submissions from unagented writers across the UK and beyond.

The 2025 winner, When the Birds Wake Up by Jessica Mary Ellis, illustrated by Sophie Burrows, is a powerful verse novel about ten-year-old Pear as she navigates her grandmother’s Alzheimer’s, a new school and an unexpected friendship.

Runner-up A Scrap of Moss and Magick by Helen Parry is a richly imagined, gothic-tinged middle-grade fantasy in which servant girl Thirza must confront a world of spells and darker forces.

Children's book clubs can apply for copies to review both titles.

Each book club will receive a set of books to review as well as bookmarks, postcards, book club questions and discussion guides.

What happens next

If your group is chosen, the books will be delivered to you by the publisher, and you will have six weeks after you receive the book to send back reviews. Please only apply for this opportunity if you will be able to send reviews.

One lucky book club will also win the opportunity to ask the author some questions and receive a personalised video message from the author.

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1. Name of group:

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2. Age of group members:

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3. Name of local library authority or school

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4. Name of main group contact (your name)

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5. Email address of main group contact (this is so that we can contact you on whether your pitch is successful or not)

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6. Full address of library or school (best address to send the books if your group is successful)

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7. Which book would your book club like to review?

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8. Tell us more about your group (how often you meet, the type of books you like to read etc.)

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9. Please tell us why your group would like to take part in this offer.

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10. If your group is selected, how will you promote excitement about this book with your group?

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11. Is your group happy to read, discuss and review the book?

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12. Will you be able to share some images with your group (these can be without faces), of your display or your reviews on social media?

Thank you!

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