Writing Competition Winners - Celebrating Creativity in Young Authors

The Forest 1st Tutoring Children’s Writing Competition shines a spotlight on the imaginative talents of young writers. The 2025 competition showcased stories filled with creativity, humour and vivid storytelling. This event not only encouraged children to develop their writing skills but also celebrated their unique voices and perspectives.

The judging process involved two stages. First, the entries were reviewed by the young authors of The Guinea Pig Saga, giving the competition a peer-driven start. Then, the final decisions were made by Beth Cox, a respected children’s book editor with two decades of experience. The high quality of submissions made the judging a rewarding challenge.

Below, we explore the highlights of the competition, introduce our judge, and share details about the winning stories and prizes.

Our Judge – Beth Cox

Beth Cox brings 20 years of experience in children’s book publishing, working as both an editor and an inclusion consultant. Her work spans books for all age groups, and she is deeply committed to ensuring children see themselves reflected in the stories they read. Beth believes every child deserves to find books where they feel they belong.

In addition to her editorial work, Beth is the author of five non-fiction books. Her Level Headers activity-book series and All Bodies Are Wonderful have received critical acclaim, with the latter shortlisted for the Royal Society’s Young People’s Book Prize in 2024. Her expertise and passion made her an ideal judge for this competition.

Lucy and Barney – Our Amazing Competition Winners!

The winning authors

First Place – The Lost World by Lucy Sandell

Lucy Sandell’s story, The Lost World, captured the judges’ attention immediately. Beth described the opening as “absolutely brilliant”, highlighting Lucy’s confident use of varied sentence structures that kept the narrative engaging. The dialogue felt natural and added depth to the characters, while the atmospheric details painted a vivid picture of the mysterious world she created.

Lucy’s ability to build suspense and curiosity made her story stand out. Her writing showed maturity beyond her years, balancing imagination with clear storytelling. For her achievement, Lucy received a £40 Waterstones voucher and a certificate recognising her accomplishment.

Second Place – An Axolotl’s Dream by Barney Sandell

Barney Sandell’s An Axolotl’s Dream brought charm and humour to the competition. The story followed a group of axolotls with a clever twist: they hypnotise the zoo staff. This inventive detail made the judges laugh and demonstrated Barney’s playful approach to storytelling.

The narrative had a strong structure, with well-paced events that kept readers interested from start to finish. Barney’s use of humour and creativity showed his unique voice as a young author. He was awarded a £20 Waterstones voucher and a certificate for his work.

Third Place – Samurai Cat and the Lava Monster by Austin Howard

Austin Howard’s Samurai Cat and the Lava Monster impressed the judges with its imaginative plot and engaging characters. Beth was drawn to Austin’s ability to create a vivid adventure that combined action and fantasy in a way that felt fresh and exciting.

The story’s pacing kept readers on the edge of their seats, and the descriptions brought both the lava monster and Samurai Cat to life. Austin’s writing demonstrated strong storytelling skills and a clear passion for fantasy tales. He received a certificate and a copy of The Guinea Pig Saga acknowledging his third-place finish.

Highly Commended

We are pleased to acknowledge two further entries:

• John Sebrell – for his lively story about a new puppy and a gang of robbers.

  
  

• Molly Kittley-Davies – for The Egyptian Disaster, an exciting adventure set in ancient Egypt.

  
  

Both children will receive certificates recognising their achievement.

Encouraging Young Writers Through Competitions

Competitions like the Forest 1st Tutoring Children’s Writing Competition provide more than just prizes. They offer young writers a platform to express themselves and gain confidence in their abilities. Feedback from judges like Beth Cox helps children understand what makes a story compelling and how they might continue to develop their craft.

Parents and educators can support young writers by:

• Encouraging regular writing practice

• Reading a variety of books together to inspire creativity

• Providing constructive feedback focused on strengths and areas for growth

• Celebrating all efforts — not just wins — to build confidence

The Importance of Representation in Children’s Literature

Beth Cox’s work as an inclusion consultant highlights the importance of diverse stories in children’s books. When children see characters who look like them or share their experiences, it fosters a sense of belonging and encourages a lifelong love of reading.

Thank You to All Entrants

A huge thank you to every child who entered the competition. Beth commented on the impressive standard of writing across all entries and how enjoyable it was to read such a variety of ideas and voices. Choosing the award recipients was far from easy.

At Forest 1st Tutoring, we are constantly amazed by the creativity of the children we teach. Their stories remind us how imaginative, thoughtful and bold young writers can be — and how important it is to continue nurturing the next generation of storytellers.

Well done to every participant. Your creativity made this competition truly special. Whether a child wins a prize or simply enjoys the process of writing, the experience is valuable, meaningful and inspiring.