Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Children's Book Cover Final Competition 2024/25 - WINNER Tomislav Tikulin

We have had another exciting children's book cover competition that has drawn to a close; this was the fifteen competition we have run in sixteen years. We would like to thank every voter and supporter, illustrator, author, and publisher who got behind our annual event. We have had another challenging time shouting about this one and making it visible. However, we've had five fabulous rounds showcasing 25 brilliant children's book covers for you to vote from. A big thank you to everyone who supported and voted for them - you have done them proud. 

Last night, the FINAL came to a fantastic conclusion with a nail-biting finish and a massive amount of VOTES. We now have another excellent winner ... I'm delighted to announce that the winning book cover was illustrated by Tomislav Tikulin for The Doomsday by Kevin Moran. Published by O'Brien Press (3rd March 2025) and designed by Emma Byrne. 

You can check out more of his brilliant work on his website HERE. We welcome him to the Hall of Fame featuring all the other past winners across the years (see below). Many congratulations, Tomislav!

2009/10 - Jon Mayhew 'Mortlock' Illustrated by Christian Lorenz Scheurer

2010/11 - Darren Shan 'Birth of a Killer' Illustrated by David Wyatt

2011/12 - Curtis Jobling 'Werewolf: Shadow of the Hawk' Illustrated by Andrew Farley

2012/13 - Thomas Taylor 'Haunters' Illustrated by Steve Wells 

2013/14 - Niel Bushnell 'Timesmith' Illustrated by James Fraser 

2014/15 - M. G. Harris/Gerry Anderson's 'Gemini Force One' Black Horizon Illustrated by Blacksheep

2015/16 -  M. G. Leonard 'Beetle Boy' Illustrated by Julia Sarda 

2016/17 - Roderick Gordon 'Summerhouse Land' - Illustrated by Stanley Donwood

2017/18 - (No Book Cover Wars) 

2018/19 - Vashti Hardy 'Brightstorm: A Sky-Ship Adventure' Illustrated by George Ermos 

2019/20 - Joan Haig - 'Tiger Skin Rug' - Illustrated by Annie Glennie

2020/21 - Nizrana Farook -' The Boy Who Met a Whale' - Illustrated by David Dean

2021/22 - Michael Mann - 'Ghostcloud '- Illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat

2022/23 - Jo Clarke - 'Libby and the Highland Heist' - Illustrated by Becka Moor

2023/24 - Bex Hogan - 'Bronte Tempestra and the Lightning Steeds' -  Illustrated by Hannah McCaffery

Children's Book Cover Friendly Tussle - THE FINAL WINNER 2021/22 - CHAAYA PRABHAT - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

This year we had an amazing book cover competition; one of the best for a long time. Therefore, we would like to thank every voter and supporter, illustrator, author, and publisher who got behind our little competition - the newly named Children's Book Cover Friendly Tussle. We've had five superb rounds of which you voted in your thousands (about six thousand votes in total) for 25 brilliant book covers. These truly reflect the wealth and talent of the many amazing illustrators who, at times, do not always get the credit they really deserve. The final managed to gather great momentum gaining an amazing 2913 votes. In the end, any of the top four book covers could have won due to the high number of votes they each received. So well done to everyone who supported the illustrators - you have done them proud. 

The final came to a fantastic conclusion last night where we found another excellent winner... I'm delighted to announce that the winning book cover that caught the wind to success was by CHAAYA PRABHAT for the debut book by Michael Mann - GHOSTCLOUD. Check out more of her brilliant work on her website HERE. The book was published by Hodder Children's Books (7 October 2021) - well done to Samuel Perrett and the team for producing such a wonderful book. It really does deserve to join the hall of fame with all the past winners across the years. Many congratulations!

2009/10 - Jon Mayhew 'Mortlock' Illustrated by Christian Lorenz Scheurer

2010/11 - Darren Shan 'Birth of a Killer' Illustrated by David Wyatt

2011/12 - Curtis Jobling 'Werewolf: Shadow of the Hawk' Illustrated by Andrew Farley

2012/13 - Thomas Taylor 'Haunters' Illustrated by Steve Wells 

2013/14 - Niel Bushnell 'Timesmith' Illustrated by James Fraser 

2014/15 - M. G. Harris/Gerry Anderson's 'Gemini Force One' Black Horizon Illustrated by Blacksheep

2015/16 -  M. G. Leonard 'Beetle Boy' Illustrated by Julia Sarda 

2016/17 - Roderick Gordon 'Summerhouse Land' - Illustrated by Stanley Donwood

2017/18 - (No Book Cover Wars) 

2018/19 - Vashti Hardy 'Brightstorm: A Sky-Ship Adventure' Illustrated by George Ermos 

2019/20 - Joan Haig - Tiger Skin Rug - Illustrated by Annie Glennie

2020/21 - Nizrana Farook - The Boy Who Met a Whale - Illustrated by David Dean

2021/22 -  Michael Mann - Ghostcloud - Illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat 

FINAL WINNER OF MR RIPLEY'S BOOK COVER WARS 2019/2020

Mr. Ripley's Book Cover War final 2019/20 has now come to an exciting end. After five exciting heats, we now have another fantastic winner ....... 

I would like to thank everyone who has supported the book cover wars. I hope that you have enjoyed it as much as we have. It's been very exciting and thrilling to see the love for children's book covers. 

I would like to thank everyone who has taken part and supported this long-running competition. Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Book Cover Wars was started to give credit to the unsung heroes of some of our favourite book covers and the creative teams and people behind them. I hope we've done that HERE. 

Altogether, over 3,400 votes were cast over the last six weeks. Thank you all once again FOR VOTING. The winner of the £10 Book Voucher and mystery book will be announced on Twitter later tonight. 

Anyway, without further ado, I'd like to award the title of 'Mr Ripley's Book Cover Wars - Book Cover of the Year 2019/2020 to . . . . . . .    

Joan Haig - Tiger Skin Rug - Published by Cranachan Publishing (6 Feb. 2020). Book Cover Designed by Annie Glennie - Congratulations to another worthy winner. 

This book cover will be placed in the Ripley's Hall of Fame where it will accompany the following past winners: 

2009/10 - Jon Mayhew 'Mortlock' illustrated by Christian Lorenz Scheurer

2010/11 - Darren Shan 'Birth of a Killer' illustrated by David Wyatt

2011/12 - Curtis Jobling 'Werewolf: Shadow of the Hawk' illustrated by Andrew Farley

2012/13 - Thomas Taylor 'Haunters' illustrated by Steve Wells 

2013/14 - Niel Bushnell 'Timesmith' illustrated by James Fraser 

2014/15 - M. G. Harris/Gerry Anderson's 'Gemini Force One' Black Horizon illustrated by Blacksheep

2015/16 -  M. G. Leonard 'Beetle Boy' illustrated by Julia Sarda 

2018/19 - Vashti Hardy 'Brightstorm: A Sky-Ship Adventure' illustrated by George Ermos 

CONGRATULATIONS - FINAL WINNER OF MR RIPLEY'S BOOK COVER WARS 2018/19

Mr Ripley's book cover wars final 2018/19 has now come to an exciting end. After four cracking heats, we now have another fantastic winner ....... 

I would like to thank all the people who have supported the book cover wars. I hope that you have enjoyed it as much as we have. It's been very exciting and very nail-biting.  I would like to thank everyone who has taken part and supported this long-running competition. Mr Ripley's Enchanted Book Cover Wars was started to give credit to the unsung heroes of some of our favourite book covers and the creative teams behind them. I hope we've done that HERE. 

Altogether, over 1,600 votes were cast over five weeks. Thank you all once again FOR VOTING. The winner of the £10 Book Voucher and the Book will be announced on Twitter. 

Anyway, without further ado, I'd like to award the title of 'Mr Ripley's Book Cover Wars - Book Cover of the year 2018/19' to . . . . . . .    

Vashti Hardy - 'Brightstorm: A Sky-Ship Adventure' - Book Cover illustrated by George Ermos 

Many congratulations to the winner. This book cover will be placed in the Mr Ripley's Hall of Fame where it will accompany the following worthy past winners:

2009/10 - Jon Mayhew 'Mortlock' 

2010/11 - Darren Shan 'Birth of a Killer' illustrated by David Wyatt

2011/12 - Curtis Jobling ''Werewolf: Shadow of the Hawk' illustrated by Andrew Farley

2012/13 - Thomas Taylor - 'Haunters' illustrated by Steve Wells 

2013/14 - Niel Bushnell - 'Timesmith' - illustrated by James Fraser 

2014/15  - M. G. Harris/Gerry Anderson's - 'Gemini Force One' Black Horizon by Blacksheep. 
2015/16 -  M. G. Leonard - 'Beetle Boy' - illustrated by Julia Sarda 

2016/17 - Roderick Gordon - 'Summerhouse Land' - Book Cover by Stanley Donwood

Mr Ripley's New Book Cover Wars Heat FOUR 2018/19 + Matt Haig & Chris Mould - The Truth Pixie Signed Book Competition

We have now come to the end of week three.....

Congratulations to our previous heat winners, 

Heat One: P. G. Bell 'The Train to Impossible Places'. Published by Usborne Publishing Ltd (4 Oct. 2018) with the Book Cover Illustration By Flavia Sorrentino. - 65 Votes

Heat Two: Sophie Green - 'Potkin & Stubbs'. Published by Piccadilly Press (7 Mar. 2019) with the Book Cover Illustration by Karl James Mountford - 128 Votes

Heat Three: Vashti Hardy - Brightstorm: A Sky-Ship Adventure - Published by Scholastic (1 Mar. 2018) - Book Cover Illustration by George Ermos - 88 Votes

Heat Three: The winner of the £10 Book Voucher is -  Mrs Lenbob - Congratulations!

This week is the fourth heat (four altogether) of the Book Cover Wars. For any follower of this site, I am going to select another five book covers for you to vote from. The winner of this heat will then go forward to the final round and get a chance to be crowned as 'Mr Ripley's Enchanted Book Cover Winner 2018/19'.

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Book Cover War Rules are as follows: 

• There will be four weekly heats with five book covers to vote for.
• One heat winner each week will make the grand final. 
• The book cover with the most votes from the other four heats as the highest runner-up will also be entered into the final. 

As a voter, not only will you get the chance to choose your favourite book cover, but you will also be in with the chance to win a different special book/gift voucher each week. This week is the chance to win a first edition Double signed a copy of Matt Haig & Chris Mould - The Truth Pixie, a fantastic read...

If you are interested then all you need to do is:

• Vote for your favourite book cover using the poll 
• Leave a comment through this post or poll - HERE
• Mention it on Twitter/Facebook share any place you like!  #BOOKCOVERWARS 
• Sit back, watch the voting develop and wait to hear whether you've won (once the poll has closed).
• This poll will end 12th November 2018 at midnight UK time. 

So here are the five book covers to vote for this week:

Book One: Nick Cook -  Fractured Light - Published by Voice from the Clouds (20 Aug. 2018) - Book Cover Illustrated by Ryan Schwarz

Book Two: Amy Wilson - Snowglobe - Published by Macmillan Children's Books (18 Oct. 2018) - Book Cover Illustration by Helen Crawford-White 

Book Three: Candy Gourlay - Bone Talk - Published by David Fickling Books (2 Aug. 2018) - Book Cover Illustration by Kerby Rosanes

Book Four: Philip Reeve - Night Flights - Published by Scholastic (5 July 2018) - Book Cover Illustration by Ian McQue

Book Five: Jarrett Lerner - REVENGE OF THE ENGINERDS? - Published by Aladdin Paperbacks (19 Feb. 2019) - Book Cover Illustration by Serge Seidlitz



HAPPY VOTING EVERYBODY! #BOOKCOVERWARS

Mr Ripley's New Book Cover Wars Heat Three 2018/19 + National Book Token Competition

We have now come to the end of week two and what a brilliant start to the book cover wars it has been! 

Congratulations to our heat winners, 

Heat One: P. G. Bell 'The Train to Impossible Places'. Published by Usborne Publishing Ltd (4 Oct. 2018) with the Book Cover Illustration By Flavia Sorrentino. - 65 Votes

Heat Two: Sophie Green - 'Potkin & Stubbs'. Published by Piccadilly Press (7 Mar. 2019) with the Book Cover Illustration by Karl James Mountford - 128 Votes

Heat Two: The winner of the Waterstone's £10 Gift Voucher is - Miss Cleveland - Congratulations!

This week is the third heat (four altogether) of the Book Cover Wars. For any follower of this site, I am going to select another five book covers for you to vote from. The winner of this heat will then go forward to the final round and get a chance to be crowned as 'Mr Ripley's Enchanted Book Cover Winner 2018/19'.

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Book Cover War Rules are as follows: 

• There will be four weekly heats with five book covers to vote for.
• One heat winner each week will make the grand final. 
• The book cover with the most votes from the other four heats as the highest runner-up will also be entered into the final. 

As a voter, not only will you get the chance to choose your favourite book cover, but you will also be in with the chance to win a different special book/gift voucher each week. This week is the chance to win a £10 National Book Token. 

If you are interested then all you need to do is:

• Vote for your favourite book cover using the poll 
• Leave a comment through this post or poll - HERE
• Mention it on Twitter/Facebook any place you like!  #BOOKCOVERWARS 
• Sit back, watch the voting develop and wait to hear whether you've won (once the poll has closed). Please note that the book/gift voucher competition is open to the UK only.
• This poll will end 1st November 2018 at midnight UK time. 

So here are the five book covers to vote for this week:

BOOK ONE: Piers Torday - The Lost Magician - Published by Quercus Children's Books (6 Sept. 2018) - Book Cover Illustration by Ben Mantle designed by Samuel Perret

BOOK TWO: Sophie Anderson - The House with Chicken Legs -  Published by Usborne Publishing Ltd (3 May 2018) - Book Cover Illustrated by Melissa Castrillon

BOOK THREE: Gabriel Dylan - Whiteout (Red Eye) - Published by Stripes Publishing (10 Jan. 2019) - Book Cover design by Pip Johnson/Stripes Design Team

BOOK FOUR: Gita Trelease - Enchantée - Published by Macmillan Children's books (21 Feb. 2019) - Book Cover Illustration by Book Cover Illustration by Helen Crawford-White/Rachel Vale Art Director

BOOK FIVE: Vashti Hardy - Brightstorm: A Sky-Ship Adventure - Published by Scholastic (1 Mar. 2018) - Book Cover Illustration by George Ermos




Happy Voting!

Mr Ripley's New Book Cover Wars Heat Two 2018/19 + Waterstones Gift Voucher Competition

We have now come to the end of week one and what an exciting start to the book cover wars it has been! Congratulations to our first heat winner, P. G. Bell 'The Train to Impossible Places'. Published by Usborne Publishing Ltd (4 Oct. 2018) with the Cover Illustration By Flavia Sorrentino. 

Heat One: The winner of the Waterstone's £10 Gift Voucher is Tracey Beck - Congratulations!

This week is the second heat (four altogether) of the Book Cover Wars. For any follower of this site, I am going to select another five book covers for you to vote from. The winner of this heat will then go forward to the final round and get a chance to be crowned as 'Mr Ripley's Enchanted Book Cover Winner 2018/19'.

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Book Cover War Rules are as follows: 

• There will be four weekly heats with five book covers to vote for.
• One heat winner each week will make the grand final. 
• The book cover with the most votes from the other four heats as the highest runner-up will also be entered into the final. 

As a voter, not only will you get the chance to choose your favourite book cover, but you will also be in with the chance to win a different special book/gift voucher each week. This week is the chance to win a £10 Waterstone's gift voucher. 

If you are interested then all you need to do is:

• Vote for your favourite book cover using the poll 
• Leave a comment through this post or poll - HERE
• Mention it on Twitter/Facebook any place you like!  #BOOKCOVERWARS 
• Sit back, watch the voting develop and wait to hear whether you've won (once the poll has closed). Please note that the book/gift voucher competition is open to the UK only.
• This poll will end 21st October 2018 at midnight UK time. 

So here are the five book covers to vote for this week:

BOOK ONE: Liz Flanagan - Dragon Daughter - Illustrated by Angelo Rinaldi - Published by David Fickling Books (4 Oct. 2018)

BOOK TWO: David Almond - The Dam - Illustrated by Levi Pinfold - Published by Walker Studio (6 Sept. 2018)

BOOK THREE: A. F. Harold - The Afterwards - Illustrated by Emily Gravett - Published by Bloomsbury Children's Books (1 Nov. 2018)

BOOK FOUR: Sophie Green - Potkin and Stubbs - Illustrated by Karl Mountford - Published by Piccadilly Press (7 Mar. 2019)

BOOK FIVE: Marcus Sedgwick - Scarlett Hart: Monster Hunter - Illustrated by Thomas Taylor - Published by First Second (3 April 2018)



Please make sure that you vote and enjoy the experience. Don't forget to share this exciting adventure with your friends and followers - everyone is welcome. #Bookcoverwars (Artwork is a Dream.)

Mr Ripley's New Book Cover Wars Heat One 2018/19 - (The Power of Illustration) #Bookcoverwars

It is a delight to have your company in the book cover war for 2018/2019. For any follower of this site, this is the chance for you to become part of the weekly book cover wars. Each week, starting from today and for the next 4 weeks, I am going to select five book covers for you to vote from. The winner of each heat will then go forward to the final round and get a chance to be crowned as 'Mr Ripley's Enchanted Book Cover Winner 2018/19'.

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Book Cover War Rules are as follows: 

• There will be four weekly heats with five book covers to vote for.
• One heat winner each week will make the grand final. 
• The book cover with the most votes from the other four heats as the highest runner-up will also be entered into the final. 

As a voter, not only will you get the chance to choose your favourite book cover, but you will also be in with the chance to win a different special book/gift voucher each week. Therefore, in order to kick off the competition this week, we have a £10 Waterstone's gift voucher. 

If you are interested then all you need to do is:

• Vote for your favourite book cover using the poll 
• Leave a comment through this post or poll - HERE
• Mention it on Twitter/Facebook any place you like!  #BOOKCOVERWARS 
• Sit back, watch the voting develop and wait to hear whether you've won (once the poll has closed). Please note that the book/gift voucher competition is open to the UK only.
• This poll will end 11th October 2018 at midnight UK time. 

So here are the five book covers to vote for this week:

BOOK ONE: Andy Briggs - Drone Racer - Published by Scholastic (6 Sept. 2018) - Cover Illustration by Matteo Cuccato 

Book Two: Steven Butler - You Ain't Seen Nothing Yeti! (Nothing to see Here Hotel) - Published by Simon & Schuster Children's UK (18 Oct. 2018) - Cover Illustration by Steven Lenton 

BOOK THREE: Peter Bunzl - Skycircus (The Cogheart Adventures #3)
- Published by Usborne Publishing Ltd (4 Oct. 2018) - Cover Illustration by Becca Stadtlander & Kath Millichope (Cover Design) 

BOOK FOUR: P. G. Bell - The Train to Impossible Places - Published by Usborne Publishing Ltd (4 Oct. 2018) - Cover Illustration By Flavia Sorrentino 

Book Five: Neil Patrick Harris - The Magic Misfits (The Second Story) - Published by Egmont (4 Oct. 2018) - Cover Illustration by David Litchfield 

Please make sure that you vote and enjoy the experience. Don't forget to share this exciting adventure with your friends and followers - everyone is welcome. #Bookcoverwars (The power of illustration.)