GLL Literary Foundation announces 2026 awards for children’s authors
Now in its second year, the GLL Literary Foundation has selected 20 children’s authors from across the UK to receive bursary placements for 2026 worth up to £4,000 each.
The Foundation was established in November 2024 to support children’s authors, inspire young readers and champion public libraries. It brings together writers, librarians and communities from across Bromley, Dudley, Greenwich, Lincolnshire and Wandsworth, areas where GLL operates public libraries under its ‘Better’ brand.
GLL is a worker-owned charitable social enterprise.
The 2026 GLL Literary Foundation authors are:
· Truly Johnston – Bromley – Chicken House
· Penny Chrimes – Bromley – Hachette; Firefly Press
· Venessa Taylor – Bromley – Hashtag Press
· Abiola Bello – Bromley – Simon & Schuster; Hashtag Press
· Poppy T. Perry – Dudley – Fox & Ink Books
· Donna David – Dudley – Oxford University Press; Pan Macmillan
· Siren Knight – Dudley – Usborne Publishing
· Clare Harlow – Greenwich – Puffin
· Ryan Crawford – Greenwich – Oxford University Press
· Nicola Kent – Greenwich – Little Tiger; Andersen Press; Oxford Children’s Books
· Auriol Bishop – Greenwich – DK; Headline Home
· Lisa Williamson – Greenwich – Guppy Books
· Luan Goldie – Greenwich – Walker Books
· Cheryl Diane Parkinson – Lincolnshire – Dinosaur Books Ltd
· Anne Miller – Lincolnshire – Oxford University Press; HarperCollins Children’s Books
· Lui Sit – Wandsworth – Macmillan Children’s Books; Knights Of Media
· Eve Wersocki-Morris – Wandsworth – Little Tiger
· Jane Porter – Wandsworth – Otter-Barry Books
· Iqbal Hussain – Wandsworth – Penguin Random House Children’s
· Ramzee – Wandsworth – Hachette
Entries were assessed by a board of trustees drawn from GLL libraries, children’s librarians and the publishing world.