The Yoto Carnegie Medals announced their shortlist for this year's awards, featuring a variety of themes like refugee experiences and challenges from the Second World War. Esteemed authors such as Joseph Coelho, Kwame Alexander, and Nicola Davies are among those vying for recognition. Their writings tell brave and tenacious stories to young readers. 

These accolades, which are among the most established and highly regarded in the UK for children's literature, recognize outstanding reading experiences conveyed through writing and illustration. Children's librarians selected the works based on their exceptional quality.

Writing Category

The shortlist, comprising eight titles for writing and illustration, was announced at the London Book Fair. Poetry dominates the writing category, with three novels written in verse and one poetry collection.

Coelho offers a contemporary retelling of the Minotaur myth in "The Boy Lost in the Maze," tracing the quest of a teenager named Theo as he seeks his father. In contrast, Alexander's "The Door of No Return," set in 19th-century Ghana, vividly depicts the protagonist's passage into adulthood with compelling depth.

Davies' poetry collection, "Choose Love," illustrated by Petr Horáček, delves into refugee experiences, shedding light on the struggles of finding security and acceptance. Tia Fisher's shortlisted debut, "Crossing the Line," also utilizes verse to delve into the issue of teenagers engaging in criminal activities.

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Illustration Category

Nature emerged as a prominent theme in the illustration category. In "April's Garden" by Catalina Echeverri, nature symbolizes healing and growth, while Aaron Becker's "The Tree and the River," the only wordless picture book on the shortlist, examines the impact of humans on the environment. In Steve McCarthy's "The Wilderness," readers follow Oktober, whose outdoor-loving family takes him on a trek.

Other works completing the list are "To the Other Side" by Erika Meza, "Lost" by Mariajo Ilustrajo, "The Midnight Panther" by Poonam Mistry, "The Bowerbird" by Catherine Rayner, and "The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish" by Chloe Savage.

History and Selection Process

The Carnegie award was named after Andrew Carnegie. This award, established with a longer history than many other British book awards,  holds significance in the literary community. Yoto, a children's audiobook player brand, will sponsor the awards for three years, partnering with CILIP, the library and information association that oversees the program.

Along with the Youth Libraries Group, the Yoto Carnegie Medals play a vital role in championing librarians to inspire and empower the next generation through the transformative power of books and reading.

What sets the Yoto Carnegie Medals apart is their unique judging process, with decisions made solely by librarians. This ensures that the focus remains on the literary and artistic quality evaluated by specialists in children's literature.

As part of a national and international initiative to promote reading for pleasure, the Yoto Carnegie Shadowing Scheme actively involves thousands of children and young people in reading the shortlisted books. Through reading groups in schools and public libraries, along with dedicated educational resources and promotional materials, participants engage with the nominated titles. They can also vote for their favorite books, which will be awarded the Shadowers' Choice Awards alongside the Medal winners at the annual ceremony.

The winners of the Yoto Carnegie Medals and the Shadowers' medals will be announced in June, each receiving £5,000. Past winners include renowned authors C.S. Lewis, Neil Gaiman, and Philip Pullman.

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