Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books GRAND FINAL Children's Book Cover Illustration Winner 2023/24

The latest installment of our captivating children's book cover competition has concluded, marking another outstanding year for children's book cover illustration.  We extend our deepest gratitude to all the voters, supporters, talented illustrators, dedicated authors, and forward-thinking publishers who rallied behind our annual competition. Despite the challenges in garnering attention on social media, we've navigated through five brilliant rounds, buoyed by your adventurous and discerning votes. 

This journey has allowed us to highlight and showcase 36 exceptional book covers, although the sheer abundance of talent and remarkable illustrators meant that many more could have been featured. Regrettably, not all receive the recognition they truly deserve, but we aspire on our website to illuminate their creative brilliance and efforts. 

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who championed and voted for these covers throughout the rounds - your support has truly done them justice.  It brings me immense joy to reveal that the winning book cover was illustrated by Hannah McCaffery for Bex Hogan's "Bronte Tempestra and the Lightning Steeds," set to be published by Piccadilly Press on February 1, 2024. Another worthy winner to go into the Hall of FAME. 

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Children's Book Cover Competition Final Winner 2022/23

Another exciting children's book cover competition has drawn to a close; this was the fourteenth competition in fifteen years. We would like to thank every voter and supporter, illustrator, author, and publisher who got behind our little competition. We have had a challenging time shouting about this one and making it visible. However, we've had five fabulous rounds where you voted with a good sense of adventure. We're delighted to have showcased 34 brilliant book covers. We could have chosen many more as there is such a wealth of talent and such amazing illustrators around. Unfortunately, they do not always get the credit they really deserve but we hope this platform helps to highlight such creative talent and work. A big thank you to everyone who supported and voted for them through the rounds - you have done them proud. 

Last night, the final came to a fantastic conclusion with another excellent winner ... I'm delighted to announce that the winning book cover was illustrated by Becka Moor for the second book by Jo Clarke - Libby and the Highland Heist (The Travelling School Mysteries Book 2) which will be published by Firefly Press on the 19th January 2023. 

You can check out more of her brilliant work on her website HERE. We welcome her to the hall of fame featuring all the other past winners across the years (see below). Many congratulations, Becka!

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