Huge congratulations to VICTORIA RICHARDS, who has won the Guppy Open Submission Competition 2025 with her fantastically funny middle-grade story MAGGIE MAYHEM AND THE HAIRY HAMSTER PANTS! A brilliantly comedic yet sweet tale with a super fun, energetic and charismatic main character, we loved Maggie, Ace and of course, the numerous fluffy hamsters!

A huge thanks to the panel of judges: author and editor, Linda Sargent, editor Adamma Okonkwo and Chris Baker, teacher and librarian – their insights and advice was invaluable – I’m very grateful to them all.

And thank you to all the shortlistees for their brilliant entries; I look forward to discussing each of their submissions in editorial chats, and also am very grateful for their patience during the judging process.