The shortlists for the 2026 Carnegie Medals for illustration and writing in books for young people have been announced. Here are the shortlisted titles for these UK awards:
ILLUSTRATION
The Endless Sea illustrated by Linh Dao, written by Chi Thai (available in US)
Freedom Braids illustrated by Oboh Moses, written by Monique Duncan (available in US)
This book is from the future, where many things are different from current life. The sun and the moon have swapped names, so have morning and night. Bananas are called apples and apples don’t exist any more. Many people are now named Charlie Cheese Face. Animals have different names, but dogs are still called dogs. The way you say goodbye has changed too. And instead of saying thank you, you put a fish on the person’s head.
Silly as can be, this book has a marvelous nonsensical pay off as all the elements come together into a chaotic few pages using the future way of saying things. The humor is silly and will have children giggling at the nonsense of it all. Barnett’s playing with language is masterful as is his timing for this read aloud. The illustrations by Harris are bold and marvelously retro as we look to the future.
A funny book that must be shared. Appropriate for ages 4-7.
My Tiger by Joy Cowley, illustrated by David Barrow
Publisher: Gecko Press
Publication Date: March 3, 2026
Reviewed from library copy
ISBN: 9798765683200
A boy takes his pet tiger to the local bakery because the tiger loves to eat cake. The baker is a little worried, but the tiger only eats cake. But too much cake can lead to a bad tooth. Now the tiger has to be taken to the dentist. He doesn’t want to go and has to be convinced to get into the dentist chair. His tooth gets fixed but the boy is warned not to let his tiger eat cake anymore or other teeth will get damaged. So what’s a tiger to eat then?
This picture book has minimal words and moves along at a brisk pace, making it a great pick for antsy listeners at a program. Children surprised by the cake-eating tiger will see their own hesitancy about going to the dentist for a cavity. The twist at the end is a delight though more gentle-hearted youngsters might be shocked. The illustrations tell much of the story, like getting the tiger into the dental chair and the depth of the tiger’s love of cake.
A funny and sweet look at dentists and hungry tigers.
It’s time for bed for the young green blob, even though they aren’t quite done playing yet. The parental Blog points out that everyone is heading for bed too, even the Dark Lord, the Unspeakable Horror and the Yeti. Each are getting ready for bed in their own way. Rooms have been tidied with Skeleton putting her bones in the closet and little Mummy getting wrapped up tight in their bandages. Faces are washed, fangs are brushed, and silky PJs and warm milk have been used. Soon everyone is getting sleepy, even the little Blob.
Aaron leans hard into the humor in this monster-filled picture book. The mix of bedtime story and horror creatures is a delight with far more creatures included than anyone might expect on their first read. I guarantee this is one that monster-loving children will want to hear again and again. This picture book was included in the Carnegie Illustration longlist for 2026, and the illustrations don’t disappoint. They are merrily filled with monsters in jammies and getting ready for bed. The details are marvelous, each one just right for the character, including pink fuzzy monster slippers for Frankenstein, the Minotaur reading a book of mazes in bed, and the Witch asleep on her broomstick.
Don’t save this one for Halloween, it’s a great bedtime read any time of year. Appropriate for ages 3-6.
Alder and Flynt have grown up in a family that quests and goes on adventures. Their grandparents, Grammy and Baba, were once famous but are now retired spending time baking and reading. But the family business isn’t going well for the next generation, so when a new contract comes in that will pay more, they quickly agree to take it. When their parents don’t return from the job, the boys head out on their own to rescue them. Their grandparents rescue them before they can end up in too much trouble and they all set off to find out what happened to the boys’ parents. Along the way, the boys meet many of their grandparents’ previous foes who are now friends. When they find their parents, a secret is revealed that will change their family forever.
This middle grade graphic novel has a Dungeons & Dragons flair about it. With diverse characters, including some with green skin or pointed ears, the book has an interesting and surprising cast. Readers will love the action scenes just as much as the moments of laughter and warmth as they come right after another thanks to the brisk pace. The twist at the end is a great reveal that is incredibly satisfying.
Grab your sword and head out on this adventure. Appropriate for ages 8-12.
The Inclusive Book Awards recognize the best UK-published inclusive children’s books for ages 1-9. Winners share a £30,000 prize fund. Awards are given for different ages as well as including a children’s choice award. Here are the 2026 winners:
WINNERS
BABY AND TODDLER
Let’s Play by Alex Strick, Annie Kubler and Sarah Dellow
Sister was born and didn’t have a name until the teller arrived. She was an older woman and counted the hours and minutes of Sister’s first day. Then she listened to the family’s hopes and dreams for Sister. The teller said that five spirits would visit and Sister would have a name after that. Fire spirit offered passion and grace filled with train rumbles and fireworks. Earth spirit offered honesty and stability with warm dirt, dog hair and potato snacks. Gold spirit gave clinking coins and a chain, offering strength and ambition. Water came that night with soup and bubbles, offering brightness and wisdom. Finally, Wood spirit arrived with papaya and leaves, offering creativity and prosperity. Out of those gifts, a name was formed in Chinese characters, one you will have to read the book to discover.
Cheng’s text invites readers to experience a playful look at how Chinese names are created with the help of a fortune teller. While families may not actually be visited by spirits who resemble tortoises, dragons and tigers, they do participate in a longer ritual to decide Chinese names and how they are written. This picture book is filled with the joy of a new baby and the beauty of deciding on a fitting name. Diao’s illustrations capture the family’s awe at the spirits, the gifts they bring, and offer a dynamic look at the various elements at play.
A creative approach to Chinese naming rituals that all readers will love. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
A little girl helps her father deliver takeout from their family restaurant. The entire car steams up and smells like sauces. Baba drives while she looks up addresses and uses a map to navigate. They make their way through the rainy night. First they stop at a regular customer, an older woman who needs her food cooked soft. Baba offers her oil for her pain as well as the food. At the next house, a girl her age is waiting, but she doesn’t want to interact and show her face. It’s weird being out at night delivering food. Baba notices and shares a story of a night of his childhood where he was selected as the one person in the family who could travel to New York City. As his journey years ago shadows theirs today, the deliveries are all made. Finally they can go home to their family and eat together, the night navigated once more.
Leung perfectly depicts the fear of a child of being strange due to their family expectations and needs. Told in the first person, this picture book draws readers into the car along with the father and daughter. The tale is drawn from the author’s childhood and is resonant with empathy for children of immigrants navigating their own paths. The illustrations take a rainy night and make it both beautiful and haunting. The car becomes their own small world, the windows marked and lit with the water.
A powerful look at families, language and the roles of children. Appropriate for ages 4-7.
The shortlists for the 2026 British Book Awards Books of the Year have been announced. There are two specifically children’s categories, but the new Graphic Novels category has several children’s books in it and Illustrator of the Year is entirely children’s illustrators. Children’s author AF Steadman also represents in the shortlist for Author of the Year.
Bartleby is a little bear in a bowler hat who refuses to do things a lot. He says “I prefer not to” when asked to share what he did over the weekend with the class. He says it when the rest of the class plays the giant xylophone and sings silly songs. He says it during play time and spends it all alone. When his teacher asks the class to do self-portraits, Bartleby whispers his idea to her. Soon Bartleby has contributed just the right thing to complete their portraits and seems like he’d like to join in more tomorrow.
As a shy child myself, I immediately recognized the quiet use of a polite phrase to turn others away. Phelan captures this with empathy and shows how isolating it can be to have so many defences up. I appreciated that Bartleby figures out the solution on his own, speaks to his teacher and shares his idea with the class. The illustrations in this charmer of the picture book use color to show how separate Bartleby becomes with his stand-offish approach. Bartleby is unique in his class in more ways than one thanks to his more formal clothing too.
A book about shyness that offers space and opportunity for growth. Appropriate for ages 3-6.
Topsy the Opossum has brought all the equipment and supplies to make a Welcome Spring meal for her friend LouAnn. LouAnn the Bear will wake soon from her hibernation and pancakes are just the right thing for a hungry bear in spring. Soon the table is set and five perfect pancakes are set out. When Topsy turns her back though, there is a “CLUNK!” and the pancakes are gone. Topsy makes five more pancakes, but once again they disappear. Could it be squirrels or birds? Over and over again Topsy makes pancakes and they are gone. Topsy is worried about running out of ingredients and the time is getting closer and closer to LouAnn waking up. More forest friends come to help make pancakes and soon they have plenty of them for one hungry bear. But how about for one mama bear and her new cubs?
Written with a merry frenzy of pancake flipping, hot griddles and fast-moving cubs, this picture book reads aloud brilliantly. The text is welcoming and invites readers right into the action. The illustrations are a delight as readers will soon glimpse the pancake thieves and realize what is happening while the text only shares Topsy’s point of view. The noises of each theft changes, making the book all the more dynamic.
Pancake lovers will flip for this one. Appropriate for ages 3-6.
The weather is warm and the flowers are out, but Bear is still sleeping. His animal friends decide to check on him, but they have to be careful since Bear gets very grumpy if they wake him up. At first he sneezes from the dust, but goes back to sleep. While the friends wait for him to wake, they gather flowers, open the curtains and even paint Bear’s toenails. Bear wakes up on his own, roaring and rather grumpy. But he sees his friends, tastes some berries and realizes that it’s spring. Time to play!
Stein’s book about Bear is a merry look at a grumpy waking process. The love the friends have for Bear and their patience as he wakes himself adds to the warmth of this springtime read. The decoration of Bear in flowers and painted toenails results in something whimsical and charming rather than what readers might anticipate. The art is done in deep colors with bear chocolate on the page and the spring flowers a tropical cornucopia. The blues of Bear’s deep sleep add to the contrast.
A friendly look at a bear in springtime. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
Waking Brain Cells 