Alice Corrie Award 2026
Who would have thought that a year could pass so quickly and here we are again finding joy in the riches of our virtual postbag for the Alice Corrie Award.
We have loved reading every single word.
To choose the winning stories in honour of our dear friend Alice was such a privilege and, if we could, we would have awarded all the entries a prize in her name. This award means such a lot to us at Orange Beak and we continue to be heartened by the support it receives in her memory. Thank you to each and every person who sent in a story.
As we said last year, there is obviously no shortage of writing talent out there and we encourage you all to keep writing. Please!
Once again, we could not have done this without the blessing and support of Alice’s family who have generously donated the prize money of £400. Alongside this we have again received an anonymous donation of £200. Thank you so much for your continued kindness. Orange Beak are giving a substantial amount of the entry money to Child Bereavement UK.
This year’s winners of the Alice Corrie Award are:
Sheena Garg for Maya and the Missing Garland - A South Asian Wedding Mystery
Sarah Hastings for A Very Unusual Day
They each receive a 30 minute chat with one of the judges plus £300.
The judges, Sarah Pakenham, Publisher, Scallywag Press and Helen Mackenzie Smith, Picture Book Publisher, Simon & Schuster, were struck by the high standard of the writing and, after much deliberation and discussion, chose these two worthy winners. Congratulations to them both.
About Sheena
I am an emerging children’s writer from an underrepresented background, creating picture books that centre children of colour in everyday emotional experiences. My stories explore adventure, family, cultural celebrations, and the quiet inner worlds of childhood through contemporary settings. They are culturally rooted and universally themed, offering authentic, incidental representation. I am un-agented and traditionally unpublished. My work has been Highly Commended by the Golden Egg Academy Awards and Books That Help, and shortlisted for WriteMentor, We Need Diverse Books, PB Rising Stars, and the Searchlight Awards.
“I’m thrilled and honoured to be one of the winners. It means a great deal that Maya, a South Asian child detective at an Indian wedding, was the story that resonated with the judges. Alice clearly had an eye for the joyful, and it gives me great pleasure to know that this is exactly the kind of story she would have loved and championed.”
About Sarah:
Sarah Hastings is an author-illustrator and has always loved storytelling. She recently completed The Golden Egg Academy Picture Book Writing Course. She is a graduate of Wimbledon School of Art and City & Guilds of London Art School. Sarah is also a primary school teacher and practising decorative artist. She believes every child deserves to see themselves in a story, but also to be transported to worlds far beyond their own.
Alongside her writing, Sarah is developing her illustration portfolio and is being mentored by author-illustrator Sophie Burrows. She lives in East Sussex with her husband and two children. In her spare time, she enjoys being surrounded by nature, exploring towns and cities, and drawing.
“I am so thrilled to be one of the winners of the Alice Corrie Award. Receiving an award that honours someone so fondly remembered makes it all the more meaningful. A heartfelt thank you to the Orange Beak team and Alice’s family for this wonderful opportunity. This recognition has given me a real boost, and I am so excited for the next stage of my writing journey.”
Alongside Sheena and Sarah, this year we also have three highly commended writers -
Helen Garland; Lorna Burt and Som Holliday