So many books! The 2016 Branford Boase longlist has been revealed

Whenever something or someone you love gets recognised for being awesome, you can’t help but get excited, so you can imagine the levels of joy here at MP! Books when the Branford Boase Award longlist was announced, starring so many of our favourite books and authors. It was a little like this:

Every year the Branford Boase is awarded to the author and editor of a truly outstanding children’s book in memory of Henrietta Branford and Wendy Boase, former editorial director and founder of Walker Books respectively.

Julie Eccleshare, who set up the prize with Anne Marley, said: “It’s been an extraordinary year for debuts, and our longlist includes an enormously varied collection of interesting, well-written books. The boundaries of what is possible in books for children seems to be ever expanding. We read fantasy adventures, mysteries, time travel stories, political satires and more – all of which are designed to entertain children, for sure, but also to help them navigate the complexities of growing up in this hectic decade.”

This huge list will be narrowed down to a shortlist on May 4th and then the winner will be revealed in July.

Here’s the full longlist:

‘Othergirl’ by Nicole Burstein, edited by Charlie Sheppard (Andersen Press)

‘Aubrey and the Terrible Yoot’ by Horatio Clare, edited by Penny Thomas (Firefly)

‘The Bolds’ by Julian Clary, edited by Charlie Sheppard (Andersen Press). Illustrations by David Roberts

‘The Baby’ by Lisa Drakeford, edited by Rachel Leyshon (Chicken House)

‘The Dreamsnatcher’ by Abi Elphinstone, edited by Jane Griffiths (Simon & Schuster)

‘Captive’ by A J Grainger, edited by Elv Moody and Christian Trimmer (Simon & Schuster)

‘Seed’ by Lisa Heathfield, edited by Ali Dougal (Egmont)

‘Deep Water’ by Lu Hersey, edited by Sarah Stewart (Usborne)

‘Stone Rider’ by David Hofmeyr, edited by Ben Horslen and Tig Wallace (Penguin Random House)

’13 Days of Midnight’ by Leo Hunt, edited by Jessica Tarrant (Hachette)

‘The Next Together’ by Lauren James, edited by Annalie Grainger (Walker)

‘The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones’ by Will Mabbitt, edited by Ben Horslen (Penguin Random House). Illustrated by Ross Collins.

‘Me and Mr J’ by Rachel McIntyre, edited by Stella Paskins (Egmont)

‘The Accidental Prime Minister’ by Tom McLaughlin, edited by Clare Whitson (Oxford). Illustrated by the author.

‘Girl on a Plane’ by Miriam Moss, edited by Charlie Sheppard (Andersen Press)

‘The Sin Eater’s Daughter’ by Melinda Salisbury, edited by Genevieve Herr (Scholastic)

‘My Brother is a Superhero’ by David Solomons, edited Kirsty Stansfield (Nosy Crow)

‘Birdy’ by Jess Vallance, edited by Emma Matthewson (Hot Key Books)

‘Hamish and the Worldstoppers’ by Danny Wallace, edited by Jane Griffiths (Simon & Schuster). Illustrated by Jamie Littler

‘One of Us’ by Jeannie Waudby, edited by Rachel Leyshon (Chicken House)

‘Time Travelling with a Hamster’ by Ross Welford edited by Nicholas Lake (HarperCollins)

‘The Art of Being Normal’ by Lisa Williamson, edited by Bella Pearson (David Fickling Books)

‘The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow’ by Katherine Woodfine, edited by Alison Dougal and Hannah Sandford (Egmont)

Which book do you think should win? Let’s discuss on Twitter at @maximumpopsbooks!