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2027 submissions: IBBY UK Outstanding Books For Young People With Disabilities

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IBBY UK has revealed the books submitted for consideration for the 2027 Outstanding Books For Young People With Disabilities. A record number of submissions were received this year, and IBBY UK commented on the thoughtful progress publishers have made in this area, while encouraging more publishing in different formats.

Eleven books (listed below) have been submitted for consideration for the 2027 list. These show a wide range of disabilities and backgrounds and provide authentic, respectful representations and reflect the growing numbers of ‘own voice’ and ‘lived experience’ books. Several are from small publishers who have collaborated with agencies and family groups to develop and test their ideas. Mental health is well-represented in this list, as validating mental health struggles through fiction is vital in increasing understanding and tolerance. The two non-fiction titles, both written by disabled authors and focusing on the experience of physical disability, are important contributions.

 

2027 IBBY UK SELECTION of OUTSTANDING BOOKS for YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Jen Campbell, James Catchpole and Lucy Catchpole, eds.  Owning It: Our Disabled Childhoods in Our Own Words, illustrated by Sophie Kamlish. Faber, 2025

Fiona Carswell The Boy Who Loves to Lick the Wind, illustrated by Yu Rong. Otter Barry Books, 2024

Lucy Catchpole Mama Car, illustrated by Karen George. Faber, 2024

Jaime Gamboa The Invisible Story, illustrated by Wen Hsu Chen, translated by Daniel Hahn. Lantana Press, 2024

Rob Harrell Popcorn Piccadilly Press, 2024

Daniel McMurray Let’s Start in the Middle, illustrated by Andy Smith. Sweet Cherry Publishing, 2024

Maggie O’Farrell When the Stammer Came to Stay, illustrated by Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini. Walker Books, 2024

Cathy Reay How to Be Disabled and Proud. Puffin, 2025

Jion Sheibani The Silver Chain. Hot Key Press, 2022

Cassie Silva Listening to the Quiet, illustrated by Frances Ives. Lantana Press, 2023

Alex Strick Let’s Play, illustrated by Annie Kubler and Sarah Dellow. Child’s Play International) Ltd, 2025

The final selection will be announced at the Bologna Book Fair in 2027.

 

IBBY UK announce Honour Book nominations 2026

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The IBBY UK committee has revealed the books chosen as the UK Honour Books for the 2026 list. The IBBY Honour List is a biennialselection of outstanding, recently published books, honouring writers, illustrators and translators from IBBY member countries

For the first time, IBBY UK is nominating books in Welsh alongside books in English.

Writing (English)
What the World Doesn’t See by Mel Darbon (Usborne 2023)

In this YA novel the story unfolds in a dual narrative as Mel Darbon sets out to dispel myths about people with disabilities and give them their own voice, drawing on her experience of having had a much-loved brother with learning disabilities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing (Welsh)
Jac a’r Angel by Daf James (Y Lolfa 2022)

Jac a’r Angel is a humorous, charming and sensitive ‘coming of age’ story of an innocent boy who uses his imagination to overcome grief and the dark forces of life. A beloved Christmas time classic for young readers and adults alike.

Illustration
The Star Whale illustrated by Petr Horáček, written by Nicola Davies (Otter-Barry Books 2023)

A wide-ranging, richly coloured collaboration exploring variety across the natural world, looking at our planet and its creatures in closeup detail. Petr uses a vivid many coloured palette in his paintings, often incorporating collage and textured effects.

Translation (into English):
The Secret of Helmersbruk Manor. A Christmas Mystery by A A Prime (translator from Finland-Swedish), written by Eva Frantz (Pushkin Children’s Books 2023)

This novel moves between 1975, 1925 and 2019, following the intriguing history of Helmersbruk Manor, after Flora and her mother go there in 1975 for Christmas. First published in Finland, and rendered into English by a translator who enjoys texts containing magic, mystery and philosophical allegory.

Translation (into Welsh)

Curiad Coll: Cyfrol 1 [Heartstopper: Book 1) by Alun Saunders (translator from English), written by Alice Oseman (Rily Publications Ltd 2023)

The first Heartstopper graphic novel adapted into Welsh by Alun Saunders, it provides readers with the opportunity to become immersed in the Heartstopper world whilst fitting perfectly within modern south Wales, bringing the story to life with a Welsh authenticity that celebrates culture and community.

The books will become part of the 2026 collection alongside works from other member countries. These will be introduced at the IBBY Congress to be held in Ottawa, Canada, in August 2026 when diplomas will be presented to the nominated authors, illustrators and translators. A catalogue of the collection will also be produced.

Established in 1956, the IBBY Honour List,  is one of the most widespread and effective ways of furthering IBBY‘s objective of encouraging international understanding through children’s literature. Seven parallel sets of the books circulate around the world at exhibitions during conferences and book fairs, including the Bologna Book Fair. Permanent collections of the IBBY Honour List books are kept at the International Youth Library in Munich, the Swiss Institute for Child and Youth Media in Zurich, the Bibiana Research Collection in Bratislava, at IBBY in Tokyo and Northwestern University Library at Evanston, Illinois.

Find out more on the IBBY website.

Find details of the Honour List and pdf copies of previous catalogues here.

 

Books for Keeps offer: a free place at the IBBY UK 2025 Conference

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Whose History? Challenging historical narratives through writing for children and young people.

What stories do we tell children about the past? From whose point of view are these stories told? Whose lives are considered to be important and are retrievable from the records? What are historical facts and who gets to interpret them?

This year’s IBBY UK conference (8 November, Open Ealing Arts Centre, London W5 2TD) will explore and interrogate these questions.

Speakers so far include Sandra Agard, Chris Haughton, Catherine Johnson, Bali Rai, Gita Ralleigh, Michael Rosen, and J.T. Williams.

Find out more about this year’s conference and get tickets.

Special offer for readers of BfK

Not been to an IBBY UK conference before and keen to attend? Books for Keeps is offering one free place to someone in that situation.

If this is you, write to us enquiries@booksforkeeps.co.uk and explain in 150 words or less, why you would like to attend the conference and how it would benefit you.

The closing date is 17 October. The winning applicant will be announced on 22 October.

Terms and conditions: Books for Keeps Offer Free Place at IBBY UK Conference

Michael Rosen and Emily Gravett IBBY UK nominations for Hans Christian Andersen Awards 2026

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IBBY UK has announced the nomination of Michael Rosen, author category, and Emily Gravett, illustrator category, for the Hans Christian Andersen Award 2026.

In the portfolio supporting Michael’s submission, Professor Kimberley Reynolds writes, Michael Rosen‘Michael Rosen has been entertaining, educating, promoting and expanding writing for children in the UK in original, radical ways for half a century. To witness his unique way of engaging with a live young audience, making them laugh and laugh again, is like watching an entirely benevolent version of the Pied Piper once again casting his spell.’

Dr Soumi Dey, in an essay supporting Emily’s submission, writes, ‘Emily Gravett burst into the illustration scene in 2005 in the most impressive of ways – her debut Wolves won the CILIP Kate Greenaway Award. Since then, her exceptional talent for illustration as well as storytelling incorporating themes with cross-generational appeal has seen her create an oeuvre of work consisting of many titles hailed as instant modern classics. Gravett’s works offer playful, creative and, often, subversive juxtapositions of the visual and the verbal.’

Pam Dix, the Chair of IBBY UK says, ‘We are very excited to be nominating two such highly respected and significant contributors from the UK children’s literature world and look forward to working with them during the nomination process. My colleagues in the IBBY team have prepared very strong submissions for these excellent candidates.’

The IBBY Hans Christian Andersen Awards are the highest international recognition given to creators of children’s books whose complete works have made an important, lasting contribution to children’s literature. The Author Award has been given since 1956 and the Illustrator Award since 1966. The recipients of the awards are selected by a distinguished international jury of literature experts.

Discover the full list of all the 78 nominees from 44 countries and the 2026 jury members.

The shortlists for the 2026 awards will be announced early in the new year and the winners at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in April 2026. The awards will be presented to the winners at the 40th IBBY World Congress in Ottawa, Canada from 6-9 August 2026.

Previous UK winners of the author award are Eleanor Farjeon (1956), Aidan Chambers (2002) and David Almond (2010) and of the illustrator award are Anthony Browne (2000) and Quentin Blake (2002). You can read an obituary of Aidan Chambers, who died recently, on our IBBY UK website. The 2024 winners were Heinz Janisch from Austria (author award) and Sydney Smith from Canada (illustrator award).

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