The Paul Cave Prize for Children's Literature, established in 2023 by Tim Saunders Publications, is an offshoot of The Paul Cave Prize for Literature, showcasing stories for youngsters (from the age of five to twelve).
Children's books published by Paul Cave included Olly Otter and Wizard Wubble. Paul knew all too well how difficult it was for authors to break into the highly competitive world of children's literature, which has provided the impetus for establishing this important prize.
Winners receive feedback, cash prizes and copies of the book featuring their work.
Children's books published by Paul Cave included Olly Otter and Wizard Wubble. Paul knew all too well how difficult it was for authors to break into the highly competitive world of children's literature, which has provided the impetus for establishing this important prize.
Winners receive feedback, cash prizes and copies of the book featuring their work.
What we are looking for
All forms of poetry: haiku, free verse, sonnet, acrostic, villanelle, ballad, limerick, ode, elegy, flash fiction and short stories up to 5,000 words. The emphasis should be on providing an enjoyable reading experience with strong vocabulary and grammar while being mindful of the audience's age. If the work can provide some worthwhile educational value as well then all the better.
Submissions can be accompanied by illustrations (jpg files not exceeding 2MB per image) as follows (but submissions don't have to be accompanied by images):
Poetry and flash fiction can be accompanied by 1 image
A short story can be accompanied with up to 5 images
(the publisher reserves the right to select images)
Work must be new and unpublished.
International submissions welcome.
Rights to any work published remain with the author.
The publisher reserves the right to edit and exclude inappropriate submissions.
All forms of poetry: haiku, free verse, sonnet, acrostic, villanelle, ballad, limerick, ode, elegy, flash fiction and short stories up to 5,000 words. The emphasis should be on providing an enjoyable reading experience with strong vocabulary and grammar while being mindful of the audience's age. If the work can provide some worthwhile educational value as well then all the better.
Submissions can be accompanied by illustrations (jpg files not exceeding 2MB per image) as follows (but submissions don't have to be accompanied by images):
Poetry and flash fiction can be accompanied by 1 image
A short story can be accompanied with up to 5 images
(the publisher reserves the right to select images)
Work must be new and unpublished.
International submissions welcome.
Rights to any work published remain with the author.
The publisher reserves the right to edit and exclude inappropriate submissions.
Guidelines
Poems
should not exceed 30 lines
Flash fiction
should not exceed 300 words
Short stories
should not exceed 5,000 words
Poems
should not exceed 30 lines
Flash fiction
should not exceed 300 words
Short stories
should not exceed 5,000 words
Judges
The Saunders family:
Tim (publisher and journalist)
Caroline (former secondary school teacher and head of department)
Harriett is at secondary school
Heidi is also at secondary school. Her book reviews are published in Anorak magazine and she has written her own book Lyndhurst Lightning Bolts
Henry - anything about football will grab this primary school pupil!
Tim Saunders, his wife and children love reading and discussing stories, often around the dining table. This makes them the perfect judges for this prize - our children are the target audience... You can rest assured that between us we will read every single submission. Unlike other contests, no AI is used whatsoever!
The Saunders family:
Tim (publisher and journalist)
Caroline (former secondary school teacher and head of department)
Harriett is at secondary school
Heidi is also at secondary school. Her book reviews are published in Anorak magazine and she has written her own book Lyndhurst Lightning Bolts
Henry - anything about football will grab this primary school pupil!
Tim Saunders, his wife and children love reading and discussing stories, often around the dining table. This makes them the perfect judges for this prize - our children are the target audience... You can rest assured that between us we will read every single submission. Unlike other contests, no AI is used whatsoever!
Prizes
Best Short Story - £100
Best Poem - £25
Best Flash Fiction - £20
A winning illustration could find its way onto the front cover of the book.
Winners of each category will have extracts of their work published on this web page and will receive a complimentary copy of The Paul Cave Prize for Children's Literature 2025 book.
All approved submissions will feature in The Paul Cave Prize for Children's Literature 2025. Each writer who submits a piece of approved work is guaranteed to have it published in the book.
Best Short Story - £100
Best Poem - £25
Best Flash Fiction - £20
A winning illustration could find its way onto the front cover of the book.
Winners of each category will have extracts of their work published on this web page and will receive a complimentary copy of The Paul Cave Prize for Children's Literature 2025 book.
All approved submissions will feature in The Paul Cave Prize for Children's Literature 2025. Each writer who submits a piece of approved work is guaranteed to have it published in the book.
How to enter
1. email your submission(s) to [email protected]
2. send payment by Paypal to [email protected]
or a cheque made payable to Creative Coverage and posted to 49 Church Close, Locks Heath, Southampton SO31 6LR. England. (Make sure the correct postage is paid otherwise it will not be delivered).
Submissions will be accepted on receipt of fee outlined below:
One short story - £30
Two short stories - £40
Up to 3 poems/flash fiction - £10
Up to 8 poems/flash fiction - £15
1. email your submission(s) to [email protected]
2. send payment by Paypal to [email protected]
or a cheque made payable to Creative Coverage and posted to 49 Church Close, Locks Heath, Southampton SO31 6LR. England. (Make sure the correct postage is paid otherwise it will not be delivered).
Submissions will be accepted on receipt of fee outlined below:
One short story - £30
Two short stories - £40
Up to 3 poems/flash fiction - £10
Up to 8 poems/flash fiction - £15
Entries open
November 30, 2026
Entries close
midnight February 28, 2027
Winners announced
March 31, 2027
Winners of 2025
Short story winner
The Perfect Pair by Michelle Felesina
Extract
A long time ago, when there were magical things,
like dragons and fairies and horses with wings,
there lived a creature who’ll not be forgotten
as he was so mean and terribly rotten...
Poetry winner
The Trainers by Jill Philpott
Extract
Mother grabbed my trainers, and tossed them in the bin.
“Don’t you start!” she shouted, as I raised an awful din!
“They’re split, and torn, and filthy, with a smell beyond compare,
it’s time we went to town, and bought a nice new pair!”
Flash fiction winner
The Wicked Paintbrush by Laura Sanders
Extract
Charlotte entered her daddy's shed where he kept his tins of paint. She had thought of a good idea. She found a tin of red paint and an old paintbrush propped up in the corner...
Short story winner
The Perfect Pair by Michelle Felesina
Extract
A long time ago, when there were magical things,
like dragons and fairies and horses with wings,
there lived a creature who’ll not be forgotten
as he was so mean and terribly rotten...
Poetry winner
The Trainers by Jill Philpott
Extract
Mother grabbed my trainers, and tossed them in the bin.
“Don’t you start!” she shouted, as I raised an awful din!
“They’re split, and torn, and filthy, with a smell beyond compare,
it’s time we went to town, and bought a nice new pair!”
Flash fiction winner
The Wicked Paintbrush by Laura Sanders
Extract
Charlotte entered her daddy's shed where he kept his tins of paint. She had thought of a good idea. She found a tin of red paint and an old paintbrush propped up in the corner...
Winners of 2024
Best Short Story
Pete Pitman – Rumpleskin’s Stilt
Extract
“Why don’t you get off your backside and do something. Anything. I despair. I really do.” Lily-Sue watched as her mother fussed and twitched around the house. She watched as she returned, a tea-towel draped over her shoulder, and wagged her finger at her husband, who was slumped in an armchair. “The house is falling to pieces around us, and you just sit there feeling sorry for yourself.”
Best Poem
Hazel Bowden – The Key
Extract
I found a heavy rusty key.
I don’t know what it’s for.
Some long-forgotten cupboard,
or a secret hidden door.
Best Flash Fiction
Daan Spijer – Celeste Bear
Extract
“Hey! Over here! Look up!” They don’t see me up here on the shelf. I was put up here because I’m special and the shop owner doesn’t want children to treat me roughly and get me dirty.
Best Short Story
Pete Pitman – Rumpleskin’s Stilt
Extract
“Why don’t you get off your backside and do something. Anything. I despair. I really do.” Lily-Sue watched as her mother fussed and twitched around the house. She watched as she returned, a tea-towel draped over her shoulder, and wagged her finger at her husband, who was slumped in an armchair. “The house is falling to pieces around us, and you just sit there feeling sorry for yourself.”
Best Poem
Hazel Bowden – The Key
Extract
I found a heavy rusty key.
I don’t know what it’s for.
Some long-forgotten cupboard,
or a secret hidden door.
Best Flash Fiction
Daan Spijer – Celeste Bear
Extract
“Hey! Over here! Look up!” They don’t see me up here on the shelf. I was put up here because I’m special and the shop owner doesn’t want children to treat me roughly and get me dirty.
Testimonial
I hope you receive lots of entries, it's a great competition.
Garry Davidson, Chile
Important note regarding BT email addresses
BT email addresses are not accepting emails from Tim Saunders Publications, returning them undelivered. If you have not received acknowledgement from Tim Saunders Publications please provide an alternative, non-BT email address. Sorry for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.
I hope you receive lots of entries, it's a great competition.
Garry Davidson, Chile
Important note regarding BT email addresses
BT email addresses are not accepting emails from Tim Saunders Publications, returning them undelivered. If you have not received acknowledgement from Tim Saunders Publications please provide an alternative, non-BT email address. Sorry for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.
