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)

Lord of the Flies: The Graphic Novel illustrated by Aimée de Jongh, written by Golding William

The Paper Bridge illustrated by Seng Soun Ratanavanh, written by Joelle Veyrenc (available in US)

The Sleeper Train illustrated by Baljinder Kaur, written by Mick Jackson (available in US)

Wiggling Words by Kate Rolfe

Wildful by Kengo Kurimoto (available in US)

WRITING

Birdie by J. P. Rose

The Boy I Love by William Hussey

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody by Patrick Ness, illustrated by Tim Miller (available in US)

Ghostlines by Katya Balen

Not Going to Plan by Tia Fisher

Popcorn by Rob Harrell (available in US)

Twenty-Four Seconds from Now by Jason Reynolds (available in US)

Wolf Siren by Beth O’Brien