{"id":305573,"date":"2025-11-20T06:45:56","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T06:45:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/childrens-literature-news-november-2025\/"},"modified":"2025-11-20T06:45:56","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T06:45:56","slug":"childrens-literature-news-november-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=305573","title":{"rendered":"Children’s Literature News November 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"


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If you teach reading, October and November have not been quiet months.<\/p>\n

The Royal Society Young People\u2019s Book Prize<\/em><\/a> shortlist for 2025 has set a clear marker for science books for under-14s. Six titles have been named, ranging from Green: The Story of Plant Life on Our Planet<\/em> and Patience<\/em> to The Animal Body Book<\/em>, The History of Information<\/em>, The Rocks Book<\/em> and The Wild Life of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals<\/em>. The list has been chosen by a panel that includes a dinosaur expert, a children\u2019s author and illustrator, a brain scientist, a primary teacher and a volcano specialist, and copies now go out to over 600 schools, youth groups and reading clubs, which will choose the eventual winner.<\/p>\n

\"Royal\"Royal<\/p>\n

For teachers, the judges\u2019 comments read like planning notes. One judge calls Patience<\/em> \u201cthe type of book that every teacher should have access to and be able to pick up throughout the year\u201d, while another picks out Green<\/em> as \u201ca rich opportunity to share the science of plants and a deeper understanding of ecology with younger children\u201d. The panel chair links the prize directly to current concerns, warning that \u201cthe proportion of children who report reading for enjoyment is at its lowest in 20 years in the UK\u201d and arguing that science non-fiction can tempt in those who are \u201creluctant to engage with other genres\u201d.<\/p>\n

Representation has stayed near the top of the agenda. The eighth Reflecting Realities<\/em><\/a> survey from the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education reports that 24% of children\u2019s books for three to eleven-year-olds published in 2024 have featured racially minoritised characters, up from 17% in 2023, though still below the 30% reported in 2022. Of the 4,009 eligible titles, 952 have included racially minoritised characters, and 24% of those titles have centred a racially minoritised main character, up from 7% the previous year. The study notes that 98% of these main cast characters have influenced the narrative through thought, voice or action.<\/p>\n

\"Reflecting\"Reflecting<\/p>\n

The picture-book figures may give early years staff pause. Representation in picture books has dropped from 55% to 38%, the lowest percentage since the third survey, even though picture books still hold the highest proportion of presence across text types. The report notes that \u201cit is both disappointing to observe a decrease of output of representative picture books and concerning to be reporting a decrease of this scale\u201d, and flags the lower volume of representative literature for younger readers. Its core recommendation is blunt: \u201cMake the principle of inclusion integral to every stage of the publishing process.\u201d<\/p>\n

Inclusive Books for Children has set out its stall for the 2026 IBC Awards<\/em><\/a>. The judging panel combines writer and academic Pragya Agarwal, illustrator and author Mei Matsuoka, librarian and children\u2019s literature academic Phyllis Ramage and disability consultant and content creator Nina Tame. The awards, worth \u00a330,000 across three age categories, recognise UK children\u2019s authors and illustrators whose books \u201cauthentically reflect the diverse backgrounds and experiences of today\u2019s young readers\u201d. Agarwal notes that her research shows \u201cchildren learn biases and prejudices from a young age, and books can play a big role in teaching children the values of equality, inclusivity and empathy\u201d. The winners will be announced at London\u2019s Southbank Centre on 25 February 2026, after shortlists in January.<\/p>\n

\"IBC\"IBC<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, the IBBY UK committee<\/a> has named its 2026 Honour Books, and for the first time has nominated titles in Welsh as well as English. In writing in English, the choice is What the World Doesn\u2019t See<\/em> by Mel Darbon, a YA novel that uses a dual narrative to challenge myths about people with disabilities. In writing in Welsh, Jac a\u2019r Angel<\/em> by Daf James offers a \u201ccoming of age\u201d story about a boy who uses imagination to manage grief. Illustration honours go to The Star Whale<\/em>, illustrated by Petr Hor\u00e1\u010dek and written by Nicola Davies, while translation into English is represented by The Secret of Helmersbruk Manor. A Christmas Mystery<\/em> and translation into Welsh by Curiad Coll: Cyfrol 1<\/em> (Heartstopper: Book 1<\/em>). These books will join the 2026 IBBY Honour List<\/em> collection that travels to conferences and book fairs worldwide and will be highlighted at the IBBY Congress in Ottawa.<\/p>\n

School libraries have also had their moment on stage. The School Librarian of the Year Award<\/em><\/a> has gone to Julie Broadbent of Northampton International Academy for work that has built \u201ca culture of positivity\u201d around reading and developed the library as a safe space with a diverse collection. Judges note partnerships with the local public library and the University of Northampton and activity that reaches beyond the library walls. At primary level, Mangotsfield C of E Primary School in Bristol has been named winner of the Peter Usborne Primary School Library of the Year Award<\/em>, with librarian Verity Robinson leading a library described by judges as an example of what can happen when senior leaders and the wider school back a dedicated librarian.<\/p>\n

Both librarians use their speeches to underline the stakes. Broadbent says, \u201cEvery child should have access to books, no matter where they are from, because we know the power of those books,\u201d while Robinson thanks \u201cthe quietest children who don\u2019t yet know they are readers\u201d alongside her keen student librarians. The awards, founded in 2005 by Aidan Chambers, now sit alongside the SLA Enterprise of the Year Award<\/em>, which this year has gone to Thomas A\u2019Becket Infant School for its renovated library The Shore, created in memory of a teaching assistant. At the ceremony at CLPE on 6 November, Anthony Horowitz presents the prizes and speaks about the importance of celebrating school libraries.<\/p>\n

\"Klaus\"Klaus<\/p>\n

Illustration is in the spotlight too. The Klaus Flugge Prize<\/em> for 2026<\/a> has opened for submissions, with a deadline of midnight on 14 January 2026 and a \u00a35,000 award for a debut picture-book illustrator. The judging panel includes recent winner Emma Farrarons, Rob Biddulph, course director Shelley Jackson and bookseller Vanessa Lewis. Farrarons notes that recognition \u201cshines a spotlight on your work, gives a confidence boost, and can open doors to new opportunities\u201d. Chair Julia Eccleshare links the prize to the National Year of Reading 2026<\/em>, arguing that it feels \u201cmore important than ever to be celebrating picture book illustrators and their role in sparking that all-important first love of books and reading\u201d.<\/p>\n

The Carnegies<\/em> have also published their 2026 nominations<\/a>. There are 125 titles across the Carnegie Medal for Writing<\/em> and the Carnegie Medal for Illustration<\/em>, including Tosh\u2019s Island<\/em> and Fia and the Last Snow Deer<\/em>, which appear in both lists. Nominations come from CILIP members and nine external bodies, including BookTrust, CLPE, the National Literacy Trust and The Reading Agency. Fourteen librarians from CILIP\u2019s Youth Libraries Group now read all the nominated books. Through the Carnegie Shadowing Scheme<\/em>, children and young people can read, review and respond, with a new age-inclusive longlist shadowing offer planned for the National Year of Reading 2026<\/em>. Longlists will be announced on 10 February, shortlists on 10 March and winners on 23 June.<\/p>\n