See the best of Big Issue’s legendary Spring Kids Cover Competition

Have you seen the winning design of our Spring Kids Cover Competition yet?

Out of hundreds of entries, six-year-old April Floyer, from Northampton, was the winner and saw her design on the front of the magazine, which is available to buy from vendors across the country now.  

April’s message – that peace is a safe bed to sleep in – impressed us at Big Issue and our judge The Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler.

“It must be scary for people who don’t have a safe bed or have to live outside,” April said. “I know I am lucky to have a safe bed to sleep in. When you’re in bed it’s nice and quiet – if your mum and dad are not hoovering.”

But it was far from the only design that caught the eye. You can see a selection of the other designs here.

Scheffler was a big fan of designs from Suraiya Patel, aged 10, who drew a wave of peace and Indie Smith, five, whose picture felt like it should come with accompanying text from Julia Donaldson.

There were amazing group entries too from The Cathedral School, Cardiff; Tobermory Brownies; Lochgelly South Primary School; Beeston Rylands Junior School, Nottingham; Ichinnan Primary School and New Swannington Primary School, Whitwick.

Read more:

• ‘A bright and bold mosaic of creatures’: Meet the winner of Big Issue’s Kids Cover Competition 2025
• ‘It’s a happy image’: Big Issue Christmas Kids Cover Competition 2022 winner
• Take a look at all the stunning entries to Big Issue’s Christmas cover competition

Thank you to everyone who put in so much thought and showed so much talent in their entries to the competition.

At a time when peace is needed in the world more than ever, our Spring Kids Cover Competition has shown how children continue to hope and optimism for the future.

There’s still time to get a copy of this week’s magazine from Big Issue vendors on the street or in the Big Issue Shop.

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. 

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