Publishing house Faber on Thursday announced the launch of the 2025 FAB Prize, inviting submissions from emerging writers and illustrators of colour across picture book to young adult categories.

The competition opens on 18 April and will close on 25 July 2025.

The winning writer will receive a global publishing deal with Faber and a place on a Faber Academy course. The illustration winner will receive individual portfolio coaching from Orange Beak Studio and a one-year Illustrator + Folio Membership from the Association of Illustrators.

Established in 2017, the FAB Prize addresses the under-representation of diverse voices in children's publishing and aims to reflect a broader range of lived experiences in literature.

Entries will be judged by Faber Publishing staff, literary agent Davinia Andrew-Lynch and guest judges including Children's Laureate for Wales Alex Wharton and author and poet Chitra Soundar.

First and second prize winners and shortlistees will have the opportunity to shadow established authors and illustrators on virtual school visits via BookTrust, and their work will be included in a curated booklet distributed to agents.