A tale featuring an endearing creature created by a Welsh writer-artist has claimed the top prize in children’s literature. Sleep Tight, Disgusting Blob, the work of Huw Aaron as both author and artist, has been declared the overall victor of the 2026 Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. This publication secured victory in the Illustrated Books division prior to claiming the supreme accolade.
Bea Carvalho, head of books at Waterstones, described Huw Aaron as a storyteller and illustrator of staggering talent, a new voice to be seriously excited about. She noted that booksellers everywhere hailed Sleep Tight, Disgusting Blob as an instant bedtime story classic, falling in love with Huw’s dreamy, painterly style and sweet rhyming text, and relishing the joy that it brings to little ones at bookshop story times. She characterised it as a gorgeously cosy tale which puts an adorable spin on all things spooky with bags of charm and a hilarious and monstrously cute supporting cast. According to her, Blob is a character for the picture book hall-of-fame.
The picture book has been labelled a hilarious and imaginative rhyming story, presenting wonderfully grotesque yet oddly relatable bedtime customs set to captivate young readers everywhere. Mr Aaron, a cartoonist, author, and illustrator originally from Swansea and now based in Cardiff, also received a nomination in the Younger Readers category for Unfairies. He stands as the inaugural author in the award’s history to achieve nominations for two separate titles across different divisions in a single year. Rosie from Waterstones Bracknell characterised the winning publication as a truly brilliant bedtime story full of love, whilst Eilish from Waterstones Rustington described it as an apparent instant classic. Rachael from Waterstones Altrincham remarked that the book is inventive, funny, original, and brings a smile simply upon recollection. The Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, now in its 22nd year, comprises £5,000 and sustained backing for the winner’s writing and illustrating career.