Built for the books that start everything.

Picture books are where literacy begins. They are the first place a child encounters narrative, character, and the quiet truth that a story can make you feel less alone. And yet, despite this outsized cultural weight, they are among the most under-recognised forms in contemporary publishing.

First Stories Prize exists to change that — to create a dedicated, rigorous, and transparent recognition programme run by people who believe that the craft of the picture book deserves the same serious attention we give to novels, poetry, and film.

Every submission is read by human judges. Every decision is made on craft. We do not weight celebrity, publisher, or prior sales. We weight the work.