A kids TV favourite is getting together with a top children’s author and leading critic to choose the best UK picture book for 2025.
The judging panel for Oscar’s Book Prize this year includes CBeebies presenter Ben Cajee, along with the bestselling Smriti Halls and Imogen Russell Williams, an expert reviewer with a comprehensive knowledge of classic and contemporary children’s literature.
The panel’s selection from a hand-picked shortlist will become the 12th annual winner of Oscar’s Book Prize and scoop a £10,000 award at a London event on May 6th. The prize is supported by Amazon and the London Standard and is named after Oscar Ashton, who died in 2012 from a heart condition aged three and a half. Completing the five-strong panel are Viveka Alvestrand, who co-founded the literary award in memory of her son, and Zak Watts, Amazon’s UK Books Country Manager.
About our 2025 Judging Panel
Ben Cajee is an experienced television and radio presenter, voiceover artist, writer and event host. He’s been a main presenter on CBeebies since 2015 and has gone on to front Blue Peter, Bitesize Daily, Live Lessons, Presentation and Match of the Day Kickabout on CBBC, as well as live broadcasts for BBC Sport. He’s a regular on Match of the Day on BBC One, presenting / producing their community features. Ben voiced the Tokyo Olympics 2020, Wimbledon 2021 - 23, Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 and Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 across BBC Sport’s red button and iPlayer services. Having previously worked for the International Cricket Council, Ben has an extensive knowledge of cricket and led as an ambassador for the ECB’s All Stars Cricket initiative. He was a lead presenter and stadium host for games at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, appeared on BBC Sport’s The Cricket Social and presented features for the BBC’s coverage of The Hundred.
Ben said: “I’ve always loved reading and storytelling. I know that picture books play such an important role in shaping relationships with the people you’ve shared them with and forming core memories. I can think back to my childhood and those special times and now have the privilege of reading lunchtime and bedtime stories for our young audiences on CBeebies and at festivals and events around the country. I’m looking forward to helping select the wonderful books that Oscar’s Book Prize will recommend this year - and being captivated by their stories and pictures.”
Smriti Halls is an internationally bestselling, multi-award winning children’s author, whose stories have been translated into 43 languages… and counting. Her books are loved by children and adults alike and include picture book favourites Rain Before Rainbows (illust. David Litchfield), the I’m Sticking With You series (illust. Steve Small) and U.S. #1 bestseller I Love You Night and Day (illust. Alison Brown). Smriti has been a Writer in Residence for BookTrust and is a patron for the School Library Association; she works widely with schools, libraries, festivals, bookshops and prisons to bring a love of reading to the widest possible audience. Smriti has been shortlisted for a Book of the Year at The British Book Awards, and three times for Oscar’s Book Prize.
Smriti said: “Oscar’s Book Prize is a hugely important award, shining a brilliant light on the very best in children’s picture books. The shortlist always sparkles with absolute gems and it’s my joy to be on the judging panel this year.”
Imogen Russell Williams is the Guardian children’s book critic and the author of children’s non- fiction including The Big Book of the UK, The Big Book of Slimy Things and Great Britons.
Imogen said: “One of my favourite things about being a children’s critic is the hilarious, touching picture books I read every day. Packed with meaning and made for sharing, they shape loving, joyous memories for children just beginning to enter the world of books. The outstanding Oscar’s Book Prize has been raising the profile of this wonderful form of literature for over a decade, championing and celebrating so many brilliant new preschool books, and I’m honoured to be a judge in 2025.”
Viveka Alvestrand is a jewellery designer and digital marketer. She is Oscar’s mum and in 2013 co-founded Oscar’s Book Prize, judging every year since. Zak Watts is Amazon’s UK Books Country Manager. He has spent more than 13 years at the company, working in a range of director roles across sustainability and consumer goods.
