Nominations have been published for two of the country’s oldest children’s book awards for writing and illustration for children. The CILIP Carnegie Medal is awarded annually by CILIP for an outstanding book written in English for children and young people; while the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal is awarded for distinguished illustration in a book for children and young people.

121 books have been nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal and 116 for the Kate Greenaway medal. In total 237 books have been nominated for 2018. This is 30 more than for the 2017 Medals and 75 more than for the 2016 Medals. Each nominated book is read by every member of the judging panel – twelve children’s and youth librarians from CILIP’s Youth Libraries Group – who volunteer their time as judges.

From these nominations the judging panel will decide the long and shortlists and finally, the 2018 medal winners, based on the official medals criteria. The long and shortlists identify a range of outstanding books for children and young people of all ages and interests, with world-class literature and illustration from new and established authors and illustrators.

A panel of judges from Amnesty will award the Amnesty CILIP Honour to one book from each shortlist that most distinctively illuminates, communicates, or celebrates our personal rights and freedoms.

Previous winners of the CILIP Carnegie Medal include Neil Gaiman, Sally Gardner, Patrick Ness, Terry Pratchett, Philip Pullman and C.S. Lewis; whilst previous winners of the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal include Chris Riddell, Levi Pinfold, Raymond Briggs, Shirley Hughes and Quentin Blake.

The awards shadowing scheme engages thousands of children and young people in schools and libraries in the UK and overseas through ‘shadowing’ reading groups. They read and engage with the shortlists critically and creatively, through group participation and digitally, posting online reviews, blogs, artworks, videos and reading and visual literacy based creative activities.

In 2017, CILIP launched an independent diversity review of the Medals, chaired by Margaret Casely-Hayford, looking at how embedding quality, diversity, inclusion and participation can best be championed and embedded in the awards. An interim report will be published in December 2017 followed by a consultation and final report in the autumn of 2018.

Nominations are made annually by members of CILIP. Nominations published have been checked and verified for their eligibility and titles have received at least one nomination from a CILIP member.

CILIP Carnegie Medal Nominated Titles 2018

CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal Nominated Titles 2018

Key dates

15 February 2018

Longlist announcement

15 March 2018

Shortlist announcement

18 June 2018

2018 Medal winners’ announcement and Amnesty CILIP Honour commendations

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For further information please contact Cat Cooper at CILIP on ckg@cilip.org.uk / 020 7255 0653

Notes

About the CILIP Carnegie Medal

The Carnegie Medal, awarded annually, was established in 1936, in memory of the Scottish-born philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie (1835 – 1919). A self-made industrialist who made his fortune in steel in the USA, Carnegie’s experience of using a library as a child led him to resolve that “If ever wealth came to me that it should be used to establish free libraries.” He set up more than 2,800 libraries across the English speaking world and, by the time of his death, over half the library authorities in Great Britain had Carnegie libraries.

About the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal

The Kate Greenaway Medal was established in 1955, for distinguished illustration in a book for children. Named after the popular nineteenth century artist known for her beautiful children’s illustrations and designs, the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal is awarded annually for an outstanding book in terms of illustration for children and young people.

About CILIP: the library and information association

CILIP is the leading professional body for librarians, information specialists and knowledge managers. Our goal is to put information and library skills and professional values at the heart of a democratic, equal and prosperous society. CILIP is a registered charity, no. 313014. The youth libraries group (YLG) of CILIP works in a ‘pressure group’ role to preserve and influence the provision of quality literature and library services for children and young people, both in public libraries and school library services.