Fantastic worlds, amazing stories!
Rob Green Editor
rob.green@
cilip.org.uk Cover illustration by Olivia Lomenech Gill.
WE LOVE the Carnegies Medals here at Pen&inc., so no apologies from us for giving this year’s winners a strong showing. It was another great year for the awards, with fantastic shortlists for both writers and illustrators, but as with all competitions there can be only one winner... Although in the case of the Carnegies that’s not strictly true because we have Medal winners in both writing and illustration, as well as corresponding winners in the Shadowers’ Choice awards, chosen by young readers.
Which means we have interviews with Illustrator’s Medal winner Olivia Lomenech Gill, Writer’s Medal winner Margaret McDonald and Nathanael Lessore, who won the Shadowers’ Choice Medal for Writing. Keen-eyed readers may be wondering where Theo Parish is, after their win in the Shadowers’ Choice Award for illustration. The answer is that Theo was in a previous issue talking about their winning graphic novel (although it hadn’t even been nominated back then) Home Body, and anyone who wants to read that interview can find it at https://tinyurl. com/PenandincAW24. And if that is not enough Carnegies action for you, we have some great photos from the 2025 ceremony, which took place at London’s Cambridge Theatre, home of Matilda the Musical.
Moving away from the Carnegies and we have even more great interviews and features to enjoy. Jake Hope speaks to illustrators about how they are using their art to transform public and social spaces, helping to create bookish connections and reading spaces to engage young readers.
Jake also explores how books and characters can be an important tool to help looked-after children in care settings. Speaking to authors about portrayal and representation, he explains the value a good book can bring to young people’s lives. Jake also provides some practical tips on how to engage young readers, as well as offering a short reading list to help build empathy and understanding.
Laia Balmanya-Pons spoke to Eve Wersocki-Morris about her life in literature with a foot in two camps as an author and publicist. Eve explains how her own dyslexia has affected her journey as a writer (and reader).
We have a Q&A with Fidan Meikle, author of My Name is Samim, a look at how the Sora reading app can help engage readers of all abilities and new research on continued lack of representation in children’s books.
And don’t forget that we have hundreds of inclusive and representative titles in out free listings guide, starting on p39. And you can find our digital back issues at
www.cilip.org.uk/penandinc.
Autumn Winter 2025
PEN&INC. 3
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