FAB Prize 2025: Celebrates New Talent in Children’s Publishing

The FAB Prize 2025, won by Sheetal Kowalczyk and Mumbi Munyua, celebrates creatives of colour in children's publishing. The prize aims to showcase new talent and address diversity in the industry.

Leah Thaxton, FAB Prize judge, claimed: “Last evening we celebrated a brand-new accomplice of amazing talent, sustained by Tony’ sChocolonely, and we admired our keynote audio speaker, Mariesa Dulak. Considering that winning the FAB Reward, Mariesa has actually been shortlisted for three nationwide awards and is the victor ofThe Week Junior’s Picture Publication of the Year, exquisitelydemonstratingthat there is no restriction to what FAB alumni can accomplish.

First Prize Winners Announced

First-prize text victors each receivea globally publishing contractand a place on a Faber Academy creating course. First-prize picture champions each obtain a 1 year membership to the Organization of Illustrators (AOI) and a one-to-one tutorial with Orange Beak.

Ama Badu, FAB Prize judge, claimed: “We obtained such phenomenal entries this year that choosing our champions was specifically tough. I have no doubt that all our champions, regardless of where they placed, will certainly go on to do fantastic points in kids’s posting.”

Judges’ Appraisals of Winning Entries

Munyua, the first-place picture victor, submittedaselectionof pictures, which the courts described as “lively, evocative and bold”. They said: “Mumbi’s work seems to perfectly record the essence of each character.”

Second place for the text reward was granted to JoWozencroftfor her submission,23 Minutes. The judges added: “Jo builds ambience and stress particularly well. We were in room with her characters, listening to the silence and counting down the mins until their next encounter.”

Second Place Winners Honored

Kowalczyk won the text prize for her submission, Leela and the Jump Day. The judges said: “Sheetal brought such fun and fancifulness to just how we inform time. The carefully crafted verse paints a jubilant and intense picture.”

Arti Braude was granted second location for the picture reward. The courts said: “We enjoyed the range of Arti’s job.

FAB Prize Mission and Impact

The FAB Prize aims to uncover andshowcasenew ability from creatives of colour, “shutting the void between what is currently published and the reality for numerous families”. This year’s visitor judges included writer Chitra Soundar and Alex Wharton, thepreviousChildren’s Laureate Wales.

Chitra Soundar, FAB Reward guest court, claimed: “The judging of this year’s entrances was greatly challenging and entirely wonderful. The entries were infused with creative imagination and ability and there is no doubt in my mind thatall ofthe entrants can build an one-of-a-kind path in children’s posting.”

The 2025 FAB Prize, run by Faber, has actually been won by Sheetal Kowalczyk and Mumbi Munyua for text and illustration, respectively. The champions were announced at an award event the other day evening (20th November), which took place at The Bindery in London.

Second location for the message reward was granted to JoWozencroftfor her submission,23 Minutes. Arti Braude was granted second location for the picture prize. Leah Thaxton, FAB Prize court, said: “Last night we celebrated a brand-new cohort of fabulous talent, sustained by Tony’ sChocolonely, and we admired our keynote audio speaker, Mariesa Dulak. Given that winning the FAB Prize, Mariesa has been shortlisted for three national awards and is the winner ofThe Week Junior’s Image Book of the Year, exquisitelydemonstratingthat there is no limitation to what FAB alumni can attain. First-prize message champions each receivea globally posting contractand a location on a Faber Academy creating training course.