Pablo and Splash: Roman Holiday by Sheena Dempsey is the Overall Winner of the 2026 FCBG Awards.
ACHUKA picked the first title in this series as a Book of the Day on 22 January 2024.
The winners for the 2026 FCBG Children’s Book Award were announced yesterday at a ceremony in Birmingham.
This award, the only once currently voted for entirely by children, is celebrating its 46th year.
The award continues to shine a spotlight on the books that truly connect with young readers, with children across the UK choosing the stories that captured their imaginations, hearts and conversations over the past year.
This year’s winners are:
Books for Younger Children:
Gozzle by Julia Donaldson and Sara Ogilvie (Macmillan Children’s Books)
Books for Younger Readers and Overall Winner:
Pablo and Splash: Roman Holiday by Sheena Dempsey (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)
Books for Older Readers:
My Name is Samim by Fidan Meikle (Floris Books)
Sheena Dempsey’s Pablo and Splash: Roman Holiday was not only voted winner in the Younger Readers category but also crowned the Overall Winner of the 2026 Children’s Book Award. Bursting with humour, comic chaos and vibrant illustrations, the latest adventure in the much-loved series proved enormously popular with children across the country.
The success of Pablo and Splash also reflects the continuing rise in popularity of graphic novels and illustrated fiction amongst young readers. Dynamic, accessible and highly engaging, graphic storytelling is playing an increasingly important role in fostering a love of reading and helping children build reading confidence and enjoyment.
Sarah Stuffins, CBA Coordinator says: “This year once again saw an outstanding response from young readers, with thousands of children taking part in the voting process. The continued enthusiasm for the award demonstrates the importance of giving children ownership over the stories they read and celebrate. This year’s winners reflect a fascinating cross-section of children’s books: a hilarious time-travel adventure story in graphic novel format, a heart-warming family story from a popular author/illustrator duo, and a thought-provoking debut about migration.”
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