Banner illustration used with permission of Mark Wilson from his book Ben and Gracie’s Art Adventure, published by Hachette, 2011
Book Links Award for Children’s Historical Fiction
The annual Book Links Award for Children’s Historical Fiction inaugurated in 2021, aims to recognize fiction that increases the understanding and appreciation of history by children.
A prize of $1000 will be awarded to a book that is not only an outstanding work of fiction but excels at increasing this understanding of history in children.
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Definition of Historical Fiction for children
We have amended the definition of the genre set by the Historical Novel Society Australasia to a novel in which the majority of the narrative, i.e. more than 50% of the events described, has taken place before 2000.
Historical sub-genres considered to be historical fiction include historical mystery, historical fantasy and alternate history. Time-slip novels, multiple-time period novels, and parallel narrative novels are also considered historical fiction with flexibility to crossover between eras stretching from before 2000 until contemporary times provided more than 50% of the events described take place before 2000.
Previous winners: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021
Award Judging Criteria
The Judges assess entries as a work of historical fiction that will increase the understanding and appreciation of history by children, meets the criteria for this genre and presents a quality work which demonstrates:
Literary merit including aesthetic qualities of language, standing the test of time, realistic characters;
Historical accuracy based on sound research;
Cohesiveness of language, theme and style;
Appeal to the implied readership;
Quality of illustrations, book design, production, editing;
Originality in the treatment of literary elements.
Important Dates
Submissions open: September 1 2025
Entries close: 31 December 2025
Longlist announced: 1 May 2026
Shortlist announced: 1 June 2026
Winner announced: 1 August 2026
Book Links Children’s Historical Fiction Novel Prize Rules for 2026
Eligibility Criteria
Novels must be historical novels as per the definition set out in the rules.
Picture books and graphic novels are eligible. Novels may include illustrations.
All forms of non-fiction including narrative non-fiction and memoir are ineligible.
Novels must have first been published or released in English between 1 January 2025 and 31 December 2025 (the Publication Period).
Books must be available for purchase by the general public in Australia.
Books must be written in the English language or bilingual texts where one language must be English.
These awards are only for books in the printed format, as distinct from digital and audiovisual formats.
Reprints of earlier novels are ineligible.
Books written as part of a series or published in serial form will be judged as separate entities which must be able to ‘standalone’ as a complete work in their own right. Each must have an independent structure and not be reliant on other parts of the series.
Authors/creators must be citizens or residents of Australia or New Zealand at the time of entry.
Verse novels are eligible
Novels written by two or more authors in collaboration are eligible. Novels that are the collective work of a community group are ineligible.
Posthumous entries will not be accepted. A novel will be disqualified if an author dies after their book is entered.
Novels which do not meet the eligibility criteria will be removed from contention and not be considered by the judging panel.
Entry Rules
Publishers, agents, or authors may nominate novels for the Prize. If the novel is being nominated by a publisher or agent, the author’s consent to enter the work must be obtained. This must be confirmed on the nomination form by ticking a box.
A publisher, agent, or author may nominate more than one novel provided a separate entry fee is paid for each novel.
A non-refundable entry fee per novel of $30 is payable.
Entry to the Book Links Award for Children’s Historical Fiction is made by completion of the entry form, payment of the entry fee and submission of the required number of copies of the book.
THREE copies of the book are required. The books will be distributed to the judges. Submitted copies of books whether deemed eligible or not shall become the property of Book Links and shall not be returned to the entrant.
The judges’ decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
All entries will be acknowledged and receipted. While all reasonable care will be taken, no responsibility will be accepted for loss or damage of submitted entries.
Send books to
Award Administrator
Book Links Qld
8/46 Drane Street
Clayfield, QLD 4011
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Email any queries regarding the Book Links Award for Children’s Historical Fiction to: info@booklinks.org.au
