Last year’s winning authors and illustrators from left: Theo Parish, Margaret McDonald, Olivia Lomenech Gill and Nathanael Lessor.
but Duckenberg’s illustrations reveal a ‘multi-layered’ secondary story that depicts a hardworking mother cleaning the friend’s home, whilst the children are innocently unaware of the social divide.
l The Endless Sea by Linh Dao, written by Chi Thai (Walker) – Linh Dao’s striking visual contrasts between home and journey in The Endless Sea convey a poignant story of a refugee family traveling from Vietnam. Judges praised the ‘highly emotive’ colour palette, and use of light and dark silhou- ettes to build the mood.
l Lord of the Flies: The Graphic Novel illustrated and adapted by Aimée de Jongh, written by William Golding (Faber & Faber) – A new interpretation of William Golding’s classic sees the action transferred to a graphic novel, adapted and illustrated by Aimée de Jongh. The judges said reading this book is an ‘uncomfortable experience but one you don’t want to let go’, praising de Jongh for her ‘extremely strong and impactful’ retelling of this much-loved classic.
l The Sleeper Train by Baljinder Kaur, written by Mick Jackson (Walker) – The colours, diverse characters and commo- tion of a family journey on a night train are vividly brought to life in this vibrant tale. Every character has a distinct identity and facial expressions. Illustrations draw on rich cultural elements and challenge stereotypes..
l Wildful by Kengo Kurimoto (Push- kin Children’s Books) – Mental health is explored in Kengo Kurimoto’s Medal for Illustration shortlisted book, Wildful, one of two graphic novels on the shortlist. Judges loved the ‘filmic quality’ Kurimoto has brought to his story of a young girl discovering the joy and magic of a hidden woodland near home, as she processes the grief of losing her grandmother.
l Freedom Braids by Oboh Moses, April-May 2026
written by Monique Duncan (Lantana) – Black identity in history is explored on the Medal for Illustration shortlist with Oboh Moses’ debut, Freedom Braids, a picture book about the liberation of enslaved African women during the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Moses uses his bold and vivid digital illustration style to portray fear alongside the love of a community of women with great ‘impact and power’.
l The Paper Bridge by Seng Soun Ratanavanh, written by Joelle Veyrenc, translated by Katy Lockwood-Holmes (Floris Books) – The journey to reach a neighbouring town in The Paper Bridge is innovatively explored by Seng Soun Ratanavanh using intricately detailed paper scenes that have been lit and pho- tographed, providing an ‘exquisite’ and ‘memorable’ reading experience.
l Wiggling Words by Kate Rolfe (Two Hoots) – Kate Rolfe, who was shortlisted for her debut picture book in 2025, also uses typography in her 2026 Medal for Illustration shortlisted title, Wiggling Words. Offering an insight into dyslexia, Rolfe’s illustrations develop from panicked chaos to ordered creativity, celebrating the boundless potential of neurodiversity through typography and ‘striking’ high contrast colours.
The 2026 Carnegies are supported by three key sponsors – ALCS, Scholastic, and Sora. Sora is the official digital partner and will provide free digital access to Shad- owing Groups for all shortlisted titles. The Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) and the English Media Centre have developed reading resources for each of the shortlisted books to support shadowing groups. First News is the offi- cial media partner for the awards. For more details on this year’s awards and to take part in the Carnegies Shadow- ing Scheme visit
www.carnegies.co.uk.” IP
INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL 49
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