Children's Fiction category

A Wrinkle in Time is a groundbreaking and inspiring mix of fantasy and science fiction, in a story where children travel through time and space to battle a cosmic evil.

The mysterious disappearance of Meg and Charles Murry’s father seems unsolvable, until a chance encounter leads them to realise that they may find answers in the hands of their eccentric neighbours Mrs Whatsit, Mrs Who and Mrs Which.

With the help of Mrs Whatsit, Mrs Who and Mrs Which, Charles and Meg and their friend Calvin embark on a fantastical journey through a ‘wrinkle in time’ to find their father.

The group encounter weird and wonderful beings such as Aunt Beast and the Happy Medium, but they are put to the test when they find themselves on a dark planet controlled by a mysterious all-powerful evil. Will they find their father and get back to Earth?

Bridging science and fantasy, darkness and light, fear and friendship, the story has become a classic of children’s literature and is beloved around the world.

We would like you to design a fresh and exciting cover look for this fabulous story filled with adventure, danger and packed with descriptions of fantastical visuals.  

Primarily aimed at children aged 9 to 11, your design should convey the key themes of the book imaginatively and in a way that will instantly engage the core audience as well as those who buy and recommend books for children – parents, carers, teachers, booksellers, etc. This book was published in 1962 and has had many cover iterations – think about how you can approach this with a new original concept.

Your cover design needs to include all the cover copy supplied and be designed to the Puffin specified design template, incorporating the Puffin branding and all additional elements such as the barcode. Please refer to the submissions details page for more details and downloads.

Copyright must be cleared for all images used in your cover design and you must include a credit line on the back cover of your design for any third-party images used. For example: ‘Cover photograph by Allen Lane’.

We recommend that you read the book before you start on your design to get a sense of the themes, characters and the author’s voice. A Wrinkle in Time is stocked in most bookshops and libraries and is available in both audiobook and eBook formats.

We are looking for a striking cover design that is well executed, has an imaginative concept and clearly places the book for its market. The cover should encourage children to pick the book up themselves but should also engage adults to want to buy it for them.

While all elements of the cover (front, back and spine) need to work together, remember that the front cover has to be able to work on its own, and to be eye-catching within a crowded bookshop setting as well as on screen at a reduced size for digital retailers.

1st Prize

The first prize winner of each of the two categories will receive a six-month-long mentorship programme with a member of the Penguin Art Department (dates to be confirmed). They will also receive a Wacom Intuos Pro Medium tablet and Penguin books to the value of £100. 

2nd Prize 

The second-prize winners of each category will receive a Wacom Intuos Pro Medium tablet and Penguin design books to the value of £100. 

3rd Prize 

The third-prize winners of each category will receive a Wacom Intuos Medium tablet and Penguin design books to the value of £100.