Katya Balen.
They build us, they anchor us, they let us be wild. They are everything.” Chair of Judges Jennifer Horan said:
“October, October by Katya Balen is a captivating story featuring exquisite descriptions of the natural world and relationships that develop and heal. It is an expertly written, beautiful and lyrical novel alive with wonder and curiosity.” South London-based author Katya Balen has spent her career working in SEND schools and is the co-director of Mainspring Arts, an organisation which runs creative workshops for neurodiver- gent people.
Yoto Kate Greenaway
Danica Novgorodoff is the winner of the 2022 Yoto Kate Greenaway Medal for her interpretation of Jason Reynold’s Long Way Down (Faber). Danica has transformed the 2019 Carnegie short- listed story into a graphic novel, helping to open up the powerful tale to new audiences and give fans a chance to experience it in a new format.
Danica Novgorodoff.
Working in watercolours, Danica impressed judges with her innovative style as she interprets the story of 15-year- old Will and the decisions he has to make after his brother is shot.
Danica described the win as an honour, adding that the book was a “dream pro- ject. She said: “Long Way Down is a book that asks us to empathise with a character who is planning to harm another person, and endanger his own life, out of grief and revenge. He’s in a complicated, difficult situation, and he needs to make a very hard decision. Through the illustrations, I wanted to show this emotional torment, to make his internal feelings come alive on the page. The book doesn’t preach, but it asks readers, what do you feel, and what would you do?”
She adds: “I believe that kids are empowered when they have access to all kinds of books, and can choose for them- selves what they want to read. Graphic novels can be an especially engaging form of reading, and a gateway to all types of literature. But graphic novels are also an
Mariachiara Di Giorgio.
extraordinary, complex, versatile medium in themselves, not dumbed down versions of ‘real’ books. You wouldn’t discourage a kid from going to a museum to look at paintings or sculptures or photography, so why would you tell them not to look at artwork in a book? Images are visceral in a different way than text, and when an artwork moves you, it’s speaking to you in a different language than words. There is no single way to tell a story, and graphic novels are one fascinating way to express emotions and ideas that can’t be put into words alone.”
Chair of Judges Jennifer said: “[Long Way Down] is a brilliant, innova- tive adaptation of the novel by Jason Reynolds. It uses stunning watercolour to powerfully portray the tragedy of gun violence and the emotional impact it has on young people’s lives.” The winner of this year’s Kate Greenaway Shadower’s Choice award for illustration is The Midnight Fair (Walker Books) illustrated by Mariachiara Di Giorgio. The heart-warming, immersive wordless picture book uncovers the secret life of animals who prowl the fairground at night, and was written by Gideon Sterer.
The awards took place on 16 June at the British Library, and you can watch a video of the whole ceremony at https://carneg-
iegreenaway.org.uk/stream/ IP
44 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL June 2022
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