Bookbug Hero Award 2025

Entries for 2025 are now closed. This page is for information only.

Do you know a Bookbug Hero?

The Bookbug Hero Award in association with Walker Books is now in its sixth year and celebrates the fantastic work of those who use Bookbug to change the lives of the children, families and communities they work with.

They could be a health visitor, librarian, nursery teacher, family worker, volunteer – anyone who works with Bookbug! However, previous winners and highly commended Bookbug Heroes cannot be nominated again for the 2025 prize.

If you or someone you know is making a real difference, tell us about them in our short form below. It only takes a few minutes. All we need to know is a bit about them, and why you think they should be our Bookbug Hero 2025!

Nominations are open from Wednesday 4 September to Friday 1 November 2024 at 5pm. A shortlist of nominees will then be drawn up and final winner decided by an expert panel made up from Early Years practitioners and authors.

Last year's Bookbug Heroes

Last year we were proud to announce our winner of the 2024 award, Jane Putsey, and highly commended nominees Laura Atkinson, Claire Baillie, Lynsey Reid and Helen Tait.

Read about our previous Bookbug Hero Award winners from the last 5 years of the award.

The impact of the Bookbug Hero Award has been documented by the winner of the 2023 Award, Ian Keane who said:

'Our library service was losing the battle and losing the war on maintaining Public Services. To have a national agency declare that you and your service are doing great was a shock (a good one).

It reinvigorated the whole team, it inspired us to work harder, we nearly doubled the number of attendees in the 'Hero' year. It has recalled us to life and reminded us of our relevance and worth. The war for public service is still being fought but thanks to the Bookbug Hero Award, for a little while at least we won our battles and found new strength. It won't be long before the early Bookbug toddlers return with their children. Hopefully, if we keep winning, the Library and our team will be there to greet them.'

The Bookbug Hero Award is in association with Walker Books.