2017 LONGLISTS FOR PRESTIGIOUS CILIP CARNEGIE AND KATE GREENAWAY MEDALS ANNOUNCED

80^th anniversary of the Carnegie Medal
60^th anniversary of the Kate Greenaway Medal

• “In turbulent times, we need children’s books to provide a safe space from which to help make sense of the world.” – Tricia Adams, Chair of 2017 Medals
• The late Mal Peet could posthumously win the Carnegie for his final book, Beck
• American author and illustrator Brian Selznick longlisted for both Medals for The Marvels

www.ckg.org.uk / #CKG17
Today (Thursday 16^th February), the longlists for the prestigious CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals, the UK’s oldest and most prestigious book awards for children and young people, are revealed.
The 20-strong longlist for the CILIP Carnegie Medal, now in its 80th year, sees the late Mal Peet’s final novel Beck (completed by Meg Rosoff) competing against debut authors M.G. Leonard and Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock and previous Carnegie Medal winners Philip Reeve and Frank Cottrell Boyce.
In the 60th anniversary CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal longlist, the only prize in the UK to solely reward distinguished illustration in children's books, Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell could win an historic fourth Medal just one year after winning the triple in 2016. He faces stiff competition from 19 others on the longlist, including fellow former Kate Greenaway Medal winners Levi Pinfold, William Grill and Emily Gravett.
In a rare double, writer and illustrator Brian Selznick’s The Marvels is in the running for both this year’s Medals. If he triumphs in both, he will be the first ever writer and illustrator to be awarded both Medals for the same book.
All of those longlisted will be vying to join the pantheon of past winners, from authors Philip Pullman, Richard Adams, Anne Fine, Sarah Crossan, Arthur Ransome and C.S Lewis in the Carnegie to illustrators Quentin Blake, Anthony Browne, Helen Oxenbury, Janet Ahlberg, Jon Klassen and Shirley Hughes in the Kate Greenaway. Uniquely, the Medals are judged by a panel of expert librarians and are known as the awards that children’s book authors and illustrators say they most want to win.

Tricia Adams, Chair, CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals judging panel, comments:

“It is truly a special privilege to be chairing the panel in this historic double anniversary year. Both longlists are outstanding, showcasing the huge range of storytelling to be found in this vibrant area of publishing (children’s books now make up almost a third of the books sold in the UK each year). The subject matter that emerges from the two lists – stories about refugees, our relationship with the natural world, and living with disability and loss – reflect the very real issues children have to deal with. In turbulent times, we need children’s books to provide a safe space from which to help make sense of the world.”

Kate Arnold, President of CILIP, adds:

“Over the past 80 years, the Carnegie and, latterly, the Kate Greenaway Medal have played a crucial role in highlighting excellence in children’s books. Just as librarians do every day in recommending books to readers at school and in public libraries, the Medals act as a guide to exciting new stories, storytellers and artists. The Medals celebrate the vital role librarians play in promoting education and knowledge for all.  This year’s longlists are exceptionally strong, with images and stories that will linger in the imagination long after the last page has been turned.”
The shortlists for both the CILIP Carnegie Medal and the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2017 will be announced on Thursday 16^th March, with the winners being announced on Monday 19^th June at a special daytime event at RIBA in central London. The winners will each receive £500 worth of books to donate to their local library, a specially commissioned golden medal and a £5,000 Colin Mears Award cash prize.
One title from each of the Medal shortlists will also be named the recipient of the Amnesty CILIP Honour, a new commendation for a book that most distinctively illuminates, upholds or celebrates freedoms. The Honour aims to increase awareness of how great children’s books encourage empathy and broaden horizons. The two titles receiving the commendation will be able to carry an Amnesty CILIP Honour logo. On shortlist announcement day, Thursday 16^th March, Amnesty will also host a drinks reception in London to celebrate the shortlists for both Medals.

2017 CILIP Carnegie Medal longlist (alphabetical by surname):

1. Aubrey and the Terrible Yoot by Horatio Clare (Firefly Press)
2. Sputnik’s Guide to Life on Earth by Frank Cottrell Boyce (Pan Macmillan)
3. Unbecoming by Jenny Downham (David Fickling Books)
4. The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon (Orion Children’s Books)
5. How Not to Disappear by Clare Furniss (Simon & Schuster)
6. The Smell of Other People’s Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock (Faber & Faber)
7. Whisper to Me by Nick Lake (Bloomsbury)
8. Beetle Boy by M.G. Leonard (Chicken House)
9. The Stars at Oktober Bend by Glenda Millard (Old Barn Books)
10. Pax by Sara Pennypacker (HarperCollins)
11. Railhead by Philip Reeve (Oxford University Press)
12. Beck by Mal Peet with Meg Rosoff (Walker Books)
13. Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt (Andersen Press)
14. The Marvels by Brian Selznick (Scholastic)
15. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys (Puffin)
16. Island by Nicky Singer (Caboodle Books)
17. Dreaming the Bear by Mimi Thebo (Oxford University Press)
18. Time Travelling with a Hamster by Ross Welford (HarperCollins)
19. Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk (Corgi)
20. The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner (Andersen Press)

2017 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal longlist (alphabetical by surname):

1. Alpha illustrated by Barroux and written by Bessora, translated by Sarah Ardizzone (The Bucket List)
2. Return illustrated and written by Aaron Becker (Walker Books)
3. Wild Animals of the North illustrated and written by Dieter Braun, translated by Jen Calleja (Flying Eye Books)
4. Bob the Artist illustrated and written by Marion Deuchars (Laurence King Publishing)
5. The Lion Inside illustrated by Jim Field, written by Rachel Bright (Orchard Books)
6. Perfect illustrated by Cathy Fisher, written by Nicola Davies (Graffeg)
7. Tidy illustrated and written by Emily Gravett (Two Hoots)
8. The Wolves of Currumpaw illustrated and written by William Grill (Flying Eye Books)
9. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone illustrated by Jim Kay, written by J.K. Rowling (Bloomsbury)
10. The Whale illustrated by Ethan Murrow, written by Vita Murrow (Templar)
11. Greenling illustrated and written by Levi Pinfold (Templar)
12. A Great Big Cuddle illustrated by Chris Riddell and written by Michael Rosen (Walker Books)
13. A Beginner’s Guide to Bear Spotting illustrated by David Roberts, written by Michelle Robinson (Bloomsbury)
14. The Journey illustrated and written by Francesca Sanna (Flying Eye Books)
15. The Marvels by Brian Selznick (Scholastic)
16. There is a Tribe of Kids illustrated and written by Lane Smith (Two Hoots)
17. Rain illustrated and written by Sam Usher (Templar)
18. Counting Lions written by Virginia McKenna and Katie Cotton and illustrated by Stephen Walton (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books)
19. Little One illustrated and written by Johanna Weaver (Hodder Children’s Books)
20. The Great Fire of London illustrated by James Weston Lewis, written by Emma Adams (Wren & Rook)