The Kelpies Prize is a literary award sponsored by Floris Books presented to writers of middle-grade books set in Scotland. The award is sponsored by Floris Books.
History The award was established in 2004. Between 2010 and 2019, the winner received a £2,000 prize, as well as a publishing deal with Floris Books' Kelpies imprint.
In 2019, Floris Books updated the award. Instead of presenting the award to an author who had already written a middle-grade children's book, they presented it to an author who showed promise in the field. As such, the prize included "a year of mentoring with the editorial team at Floris Books, along with a publication deal, £1,000 (about $1,215) and a week-long writing retreat".
In 2014, Floris Books introduced the Kelpies Prize for Illustration, then known as the Kelpies Design & Illustration Prize. At its onset, the award focused on cover design. When the company revamped the Kelpies Prize in 2019, they also updated the Kelpies Prize for Illustration by asking artists interested in a career in illustration to submit potential illustrations appropriate for a children's book. Winners received "a year of mentoring with the Floris Books design team, as well as a publication deal, £1,000 and a ticket to this year’s Picture Hooks conference". In 2022, the award was reduced to a £500 cash prize, with 9 months of mentoring. In 2023, Floris Books paused the Kelpies Prize for Illustration to focus on their Pathways into Children’s Publishing programme.
Kelpies Prize for Writing honorees
+Kelpies Prize for Writing honoreesYearTitleAuthorResultRef.2004Winner2008Tarantula TideWinner2009Magnus Fin and the Ocean QuestJanis MackayWinner2010The Angel Ashariel ShortlistOperation Bonobo ShortlistRed Fever Shortlist2011How to Make a Golem (and Terrify People)WinnerShortlistShortlist2012Nicking TimeWinner2013Attack of the Giant Robot ChickensWinnerNever Back ShortlistShortlist2014The Mixed-Up Summer of Lily McLeanWinnerThe Superpower ProjectShortlistMy Fake BrotherShortlist2015Slug Boy Saves the World WinnerDrowning in the Mirror ShortlistMonsters M.I.A.Shortlist2016Ruby McCracken: Tragic Without MagicWinnerThe Day My School Exploded (But It Wasn't My Fault!) ShortlistThe Secret of the Tammy Norrie Shortlist2017The Girl Who Lost Her ShadowWinnerLottie Larkin's Magical Mishap ShortlistDavid and the Surprisingly Smart-o-saurus Shortlist2018WinnerHaunted TideShortlistOver the Sea to SkyShortlist2019Winner2020Winner2021No award presented2022Winner2023WinnerShortlistShortlistShortlistShortlist2024Winner2025Winner
Kelpie Prize for Illustration honorees
+Kelpie Prize for Illustration honoreesYearAuthorResultRef.2014WinnerCommendedCommended2015WinnerPeople's choiceHighly commended2016WinnerPeople's choice2017WinnerPeople's choice2018Winner2019Winner2020Winner2021No award presented2022Winner
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