Media Releases

CLASH OF THE TITANS -
FORMER CARNEGIE WINNERS ALMOND, BURGESS AND PULLMAN IN THE RUNNING FOR THE UK’S MOST COVETED CHILDREN’S LITERATURE PRIZE

Carnegie and Greenaway shortlists highlight the best in children’s reading

“This year’s shortlists are incredibly strong.”  says Sarah Wilkie, Chair of The Library Association’s Carnegie and Greenaway Medal judges, announcing the shortlists for the two prizes. 

“The Carnegie shortlist exemplifies the range and quality of reading for young people in this country.  This year sees an unprecedented array of proven talent with every one of the eight authors on the Carnegie shortlist having already won or been shortlisted for a children’s book prize.  This is the first time we have had three former winners on the list competing for the medal.”

The range of work on this year’s list encompasses an eighteenth century adventure involving infanticide; the skilful weaving of Greek Myths with contemporary computer technology; a sympathetic treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (a subject rarely tackled for adults let alone children); and a story of asylum seekers that tackles issues of political injustice and racism in contemporary Britain.

The Library Association Carnegie Medal shortlist:

David Almond - Heaven Eyes, age range 10+; Hodder Children’s Books
Melvin Burgess - The Ghost Behind the Wall, age range 9+; Andersen Press
Sharon Creech - The Wanderer, age range 11+; Macmillan Children's Books
Jamila Gavin - Coram Boy, age range 12+; Mammoth
Adele Geras – Troy, age range 14+; Scholastic David Fickling Books
Alan Gibbons - Shadow of the Minotaur, age range 10+; Orion
Beverley Naidoo - The Other Side of Truth, age range 10+; Puffin Books
Philip Pullman - The Amber Spyglass, age range 10+; Scholastic David Fickling Books

The Carnegie Medal is Britain’s oldest and most prestigious children’s book award.  It was first won by Arthur Ransome in 1936 and is awarded annually by The Library Association for “outstanding writing in a children's book”.

Its sister award, the Kate Greenaway Medal, is awarded for “outstanding illustration in a children’s book” and was instituted in 1956.  In 2000 the linked Colin Mears Award was introduced:  a sum of £5000 that is awarded annually to the Greenaway winner.

The winners of both medals will be announced at a special ceremony at The British Library on Friday 13 July.  Both the shortlists and winners are decided by a panel of twelve children’s librarians from The Library Association's Youth Libraries Group.  They work in public and school libraries and this year’s panel has a cumulative 214 years professional experience of children's books.

The Library Association Kate Greenaway Medal Shortlist:

Ron Brooks – Fox, age range 7+; Cats Whiskers: Franklin Watts
Anthony Browne - Willy's Pictures, age range 7+; Walker Books
Ruth Brown - Snail Trail, age range 2+; Andersen Press
Lauren Child - Beware of the Storybook Wolves, age range 5+; Hodder Children’s Books
Lauren Child - I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato, age range 4+; Orchard Books
Ted Dewan - Crispin:  The Pig Who Had It All, age range 4+; Doubleday: Transworld
Jane Ray - Fairy Tales, age range 7+; Walker Books

“The Greenaway shortlist encompasses both classic and contemporary styles of illustration,” says Sarah Wilkie, Chair of the judges.  “The range includes something for the very young, through to illustrated books for the older independent reader.  In our multi-media society no-one should underestimate the important role of top quality illustrated books in the development of children’s visual literacy skills.”

This year’s shortlist includes a classic illustrated collection of fairy tales; a humorous whirlwind tour of art history; two titles that use mixed media, photography, collage and drawing; and two very different interpretations of friendship.

Thousands of children wait for shortlist announcement

Over 10,000 children across the UK are expected to take part in ‘shadowing’ the judging process for the two medals.  Now in its fifth year, the scheme is used by library based reading groups and schools to support young people’s reading and literacy.  The groups will be reading and working on the shortlisted books, and deciding who they think should win.  See The Library Association Web site for more details.

Notes

• These are the 2000 Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Awards, announced in 2001.  Books published in the UK between 01/01/00 and 31/12/00 are eligible.
• The Colin Mears Award of £5000 to the Greenaway winner has been made possible by a generous bequest from Colin Mears, a collector of children's books.  Mears, a Worthing based accountant, had a long-standing interest in children's illustration and was a keen collector of works by Kate Greenaway and Edward Ardizzone. The bulk of his collection has been left to the Worthing Museum and Art Gallery.

Further information for the media only from:

Becca Wyatt, Carnegie / Greenaway Media Officer
Tel: 020 7603 1776    Fax: 020 7371 1750
E-mail: 106077.3102@compuserve.com

Julie Clare, Carnegie / Greenaway Media Officer
Tel: 020 8806 1936    Fax: 020 8806 4817
E-mail: aviva65@aol.com

27 April 2001