The School Library Association (SLA) has announced the shortlists for the Information Book Award (IBA).

The shortlisted books cover a diverse range of themes, from exploring different cultures to managing emotions, how the world works to how others experience it. The 2025 IBA shortlist shows the endless possibilities for engagement with information books, spanning everything from burps to jellyfish and art to physics.

The panel of judges were impressed by the quality of entries and have narrowed the titles down to a shortlist of 12 books, across three age categories.

Age 0-7 Category

Along Came A … Burp!, Saskia Gwinn, illustrated by Paula Bowles (Templar Books)

Me and My Hair, Kimberley Kinloch, illustrated by Jessica Gibson (Usborne)

This Book Will Make You an Artist, Ruth Millington, illustrated by Ellen Surrey (Nosy Crow)

What is AI?, Neal Layton (Hodder Children’s Books, Hachette Children’s Group)

Age 8-12 Category 

Amazing Asia, Rashmi Sirdeshpande, illustrated by Jason Lyon (Quarto)

How to Walk on the Moon and Other Incredible Ideas About Physics, William Potter, illustrated by Richard Watson (Arcturus Publishing)

Inside Story: How the News Works, ITN Productions, illustrated by Terri Po (Templar Books)

The Jellyfish Garden: Explore their Curious World, Paola Vitale, illustrated by Rossana Bossù (Post Wave Children’s Books)

Age 13-16 Category

Black History for Every Day of the Year, David and Yinka Olusoga, illustrated by Kemi Olusoga (Macmillan Children’s Books)

The History of Information, Chris Haughton with Loonie Park (DK Children’s)

Queerbook, Malcom Mackenzie, illustrated by Emily A. Foster, cover illustrated by Madelén Foss (Red Shed, Farshore)

Seriously HAPPY, Ben Aldridge (Quarto)

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in November. Four Children’s Choice accolades, one in each age category and an overall winner, will be chosen by schools participating in the IBA Book Club. Last year’s overall Children’s Choice winner was Unspoken by Kwame Alexander.

There’s still time for more schools to get involved and vote for their favourite books. Thanks to funding from the Authors Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) 90 schools that signed up to the IBA Book Club early will receive a free set of the shortlisted books in their chosen age category. Three schools will receive a Golden Bookmark, giving them the chance to record a video presenting one of the Children’s Choice awards, which will be played at the ceremony. All schools can purchase the shortlisted books at a discounted price from Peters.

Barbara Hayes, CEO at ALCS, says ‘We are thrilled to congratulate the shortlist for the 2025 Information Book Award. Information books are vital for engaging young readers and expanding their knowledge, and we are delighted that so many participating book club schools are receiving their choice of books.’

Clare Bowles, CEO at Peters, says ‘We’re pleased to see such an exciting line-up of shortlisted titles again this year, highlighting some of the brilliant information books being produced for children and young adults in the UK. Non-fiction can be a great way to get readers hooked – as there’s bound to be something for every pupil! It’s great to see coverage of such a wide range of topics, with everything from AI to art, philosophy to physics and more.’

Victoria Dilly, CEO of the SLA says, ‘The titles on the shortlist represent how exciting and engaging reading information books can be for children across the age ranges.  They cover everything from the animal kingdom to Ai, from the human body to the stoics, using engaging text and beautiful, bright illustrations to draw the reader in. For librarians and teachers these books offer an ideal route into reading and encouraging curiosity about the world we live in. The opportunity to explore culture, discover new places and ways of understanding each other leaps off the pages of these shortlisted titles. I feel excited for all the readers who will have access to these books through the IBA Book Club, thanks to our generous funders, they are all in for a treat.’

The winner will be announced at an award ceremony in London on 27^th November.