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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.

 

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).

UK Nominations for IBBY’s List of Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities 2023

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Every two years, IBBY invites nominations for its international list of Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities. Nominations are made by IBBY national sections and the final list is selected from these by the IBBY Documentation Centre of Books for Young People with Disabilities which is based in Toronto. Because of its international content, the list is unique in the children’s book world. It is a huge voluntary undertaking as every country is encouraged to submit up to twelve titles.

The books in the final selection form three collections. One is held at the IBBY Documentation Centre in Toronto and the others are available as travelling collections. An annotated printed catalogue of the final selection is published. Further details and copies of previous lists can be viewed online.

The 2023 list will be unveiled at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair next spring.

This year IBBY UK selected 12 titles from the 90 titles nominated by publishers and others.

For the 2023 selection there are now only two categories– picture books and novels. The third category of accessible books will be subsumed under these headings. The other central difference is that, for the first time, a book can be submitted which focuses on mental health issues as a central subject.

Category 1

Picture books from the regular production especially selected for young people with disabilities that also answer their particular needs through design, topics, illustrations and texts.

Category 2

Picture books and novels from the regular children’s book production that portray persons with disabilities.

The IBBY UK’s nominations this year were selected by committee members Dr Rebecca Butler and Carol Thompson

Picture Books

Raymond Antrobus Can Bears Ski, illustrated by Polly Dunbar. Walker Books, 2020

Rosie Robbins Loud! Scallywag Press, 2021

James Catchpole What Happened to You? illustrated by Karen George. Faber, 2021

Summer Macon Up and Down Mum. Childs Play, 2019

Reluctant Readers

Joyce Dunbar The Boy in the Jam Jar, illustrated by John Shelley. Bloomsbury, 2020

Katherine Woodfine Elizabeth and the Box of Colours, illustrated by Rebecca Cobb. Barrington Stoke, 2022

Novels / YA

Cath Howe It’s Not My Fault. Nosy Crow, 2019

Rosie Jones The Amazing Edie Eckhart, illustrated by Natalie Smillie. Hodder, 2021

Gill Lewis Swan Song. Barrington Stoke, 2021

Helen Rutter The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh. Scholastic, 2021

Lisa Thompson The Goldfish Boy. Scholastic, 2017

Anna Woltz, Talking to Alaska, translated by Laura Watkinson. Rock the Boat, 2021

 

Shortlist for the 2022 Hans Christian Andersen Award

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Congratulations to the following authors and illustrators who are on the shortlist for the 2022 Hans Christian Andersen Award.

Authors: Marie-Aude Murail from France, María Cristina Ramos from Argentina, Fatima Sharafeddine from Lebanon, Peter Svetina from Slovenia, Annika Thor from Sweden, and Margaret Wild from Australia.

Illustrators: Beatrice Alemagna from Italy, Ryoji Arai from Japan, Iwona Chmielewska from Poland, Gusti from Argentina, Suzy Lee from the Republic of Korea, and Sydney Smith from Canada.

Junko Yokota from the USA was elected as the 2022 Jury President and she led the 10-member Jury comprised of: Antoine Al Chartouni (Lebanon), Marilar Aleixandre (Spain), Evelyn Arizpe (Mexico/UK), Mariella Bertelli (Canada), Tina Bilban (Slovenia), Viviane Ezratty (France), Jiwone Lee (South Korea), Robin Morrow (Australia), Jaana Pesonen (Finland) and Cecilia Repetti (Argentina). Liz Page acted as Jury Secretary.

The criteria used to assess the nominations included the aesthetic and literary quality as well as the freshness and innovation of the body of work; the ability to see the child’s point of view and to stretch their curiosity; and the continuing relevance of their works to children and young people.

After the meeting Yokota said, ‘It was remarkable to work with such an accomplished jury. Despite coming from so many different cultures and backgrounds there was a surprising degree of consensus. We felt deep appreciation for the many wonderful candidates whose works we were privileged to study.’

The two winners will be announced by IBBY on Monday, 21 March 2022 at the Bologna International Children’s Book Fair. The medals and diplomas will be presented to the winners during the 38th IBBY Congress in Putrajaya, Malaysia during the IBBY World Congress, 5-8 September 2022.

About the Award

The IBBY Hans Christian Andersen Award, established in 1956, is the world’s most prestigious international children’s book award. Previous author winners include: Erich Kästner (Germany), Cao Wenxuan (China), Astrid Lindgren (Sweden), Gianni Rodari (Italy) Ana Maria Machado (Brazil) and Margaret Mahy (New Zealand). The illustrator winners include: Květa Pacovská (Czech Republic), Maurice Sendak (USA), Mitsumasa Anno (Japan), Igor Oleynikov (Russia), Albertine (Switzerland) and Quentin Blake (UK).

The IBBY members elect the Jury President during the biennial world congress and the Executive Committee elects the international jury of experts from nominations submitted by the IBBY National Sections.

The members of the Jury assess the complete body of the candidates’ work. All the candidates nominated for the Award have made outstanding contributions to children’s literature in their countries and are selected by the IBBY National Sections. The UK nominations were Marcus Sedgwick and David McKee.

The International Board on Books for Young People is comprised of 80 National Sections and works to bring children and books together. It is the oldest and most highly regarded organization in the world working globally for children and books. The Andersen Award is sponsored by Nami Island Arts & Education Inc.

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