Creative Book Awards 2026: Shortlist Unveiled

Shortlist:

Best General Crafts Book with
• Making Matters: In Search of Creative Wonders by Clare Hunter (Hodder & Stoughton)
• You Will Be Able to Paint with Watercolour by the End of This Book by Harriet de Winton (Octopus Publishing Group)
• Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards (Profile Books)
• Made Weave Love by Phoebe Jones (Quercus Books)
• Craftland: A Journey Through Britain’s Lost Arts and Vanishing Trades by James Fox (Penguin Random House UK)
• Sketchbook Joy by Katie Moody (The Quarto Group)
• Craft Your Year with Sara Davies by Sara Davies (Transworld Publishers)
• Craft Your Cure by Gemma Longworth (Watkins Media)

Best Knitting & Crochet Book with
• Crochet Squares by Maria Gullberg (B.T. Batsford Ltd)
• Get Stitched by Tom Daley (HarperCollins)
• Sweater Success by Chantal Miyagishima (The Quarto Group)
• Crocheted Squares by Kate Eastwood (CICO Books)
• Simple Designs for Meditative Knitting: 19 Easy, Beautiful Patterns for a Mindful Experience by Barbara Breen (Barbara Breen)

Best Seasonal Crafts book with
• Celebrate Diwali by Renu Bhardwaj (Ebury Publishing)
• Festive by Francesca Stone (Ebury Publishing)
• Crafting the Wheel of the Year by Claire Gelder & Deb Bowen (Search Press)
• A Year in Crafts by Claire Young (CICO Books)
• Seasonal Crafts: Autumn by Gillian Chapman (Wayland)

Best Sewing Book with
• The Art of Couture Embroidery by Jessica Pile (B.T. Batsford Ltd)
• Abstract Textiles by Anne Kelly (B.T. Batsford Ltd)
• Sewing Machine Projects for Children by Angela Pressley (CICO Books)
• Pattern Cutting Deconstructed by Monisola Omotoso (Laurence King Publishing)
• Make 100 Bags by Stuart Hillard (Pavilion, HarperCollins)
• The Handmade Home: 21 Simple Sewing Projects for Your Home by Arounna Khounnoraj (Hardie Grant Books and Quadrille)

Best Children’s Picture/Early Readers book with
• Minna’s Masks (Wonderfully Wired Stories) by Louise Gooding (DK)
• Destiny Ink: Birthday Secret by Adeola Sokunbi (Nosy Crow LTD)
• Fold-Out + Play: Doll’s House by Ingela P Arrhenius (Nosy Crow LTD)

Best Children’s PRE-School book with
• Rose Signs Good Morning! by Rose Ayling-Ellis (DK)
• Pop Up Peekaboo Reindeer! by DK (DK)
• British Museum: Around the World Colouring: London by Andy Passchier (Nosy Crow LTD)
• Unicorn Academy: Meet the Unicorn Riders: Sticker Activity Book by Nosy Crow LTD (Nosy Crow LTD)
• Farm Magic Painting by Campbell Books, illustrated by Axel Scheffler (Macmillan Children’s Books)
• British Museum: Around the World Colouring: Ancient Rome by Andy Passchier (Nosy Crow LTD)

Best Children’s Primary School book with
• 5 Facts a Day Science by DK (DK)
• Marvellous Messages by Rose Ayling-Ellis (DK)
• The Superhero’s First Aid Manual by Dr Punam Krishan (DK)
• How the Earth Works by Dr Lucia Perez-Diaz (DK)
• National Trust: Beneath the Waves by Lauren Fairgrieve (Nosy Crow LTD)
• University of Cambridge: Build Your Own Solar System by Lauren Fairgrieve (Nosy Crow LTD)

Best Colouring Book with
• Super Cuties: A Cosy Christmas Colouring Book by Rosie Bay (DK)
• Wonderful Wildflowers by Johanna Basford (Ebury Publishing)
• Moomin Moments (Macmillan Children’s Books)
• Cozy Corner by Coco Wyo (Penguin Random House Children’s)
• Hayden Williams: The Fashion Activity Book by Hayden Williams (Octopus Publishing Group)

Best Gardening book with
• You’re Overwatering It! by Jonny Balchandani (Ebury Publishing)
• The Kindest Garden by Marian Boswall (The Quarto Group)
• Nettles & Petals by Jamie Walton (The Quarto Group)
• How Does Your Garden Grow?: The elements of planning, growing & caring for a garden by Milli Proust (Hardie Grant Books and Quadrille)

Best Journaling/Lists book with
• You Need to Exist by YungBlud (Ebury Publishing)
• Burn After Writing: Expanded Edition by Sharon Jones (Ebury Publishing)
• The Daily Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron (Profile Books)
• The Pranayama Journal: A 28 Day Workbook (Singing Dragon)
• A Year of Junk Journaling: 52 creative prompts to transform scraps of your life into art by Martina Calvi (Hardie Grant Books and Quadrille)

Best New Author 2024 - 2025 (Any Creative Genre) book with
• Clay by Sarah Reeves (Octopus Publishing Group)
• Random Acts of Crochet Kindness by Olivia Dieterich (Search Press)
• The Modern Embroidery Handwook by Claire Albans (White Owl)
• Crochet Socks that Rock by Anna Nikipirowicz (David & Charles)
• Creative Abstact Mixed Media by Kate Rebecca Leach (David & Charles)

CONGRATULATIONS:
Congratulations to all the authors and publishers who made the shortlist! Your hard work and creativity truly stand out. The shortlisted books are now with our expert judging panel. Their experience and keen insights will determine the best of the best.

WHAT’S NEXT:
Winners will be announced on our website on 25th March 2026. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for the results!

The Creative Book Awards 2026 celebrates the innovation and creativity that make the craft world so inspiring. Thank you for being part of this journey – happy reading, and good luck to all!