CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals
7 Ridgmount St, London WC1E 7AE.
Tel: 020 7255 0500 Textphone: 020 7255 0505 Fax: 020 7255 0501 Email: [log in to unmask]
News from CILIP
Friday 30 April 2004
For immediate release (Please copy to online discussion lists)
THE CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL SHORTLIST
Shortlist for the UK's Premier Children's Book Award announced
"There are good books which are only for adults... but there are no good books only for children" WH Auden
The six books on the 2003 Carnegie Medal shortlist will appeal not just to children and young people, but to the whole family. Each of the titles selected offers outstanding and immensely satisfying reading for anyone of 10 years and over, blurring the distinction between the traditionally separate genres of adult and children's books.
"This year's shortlist showcases writing that is as enjoyable for adults as it is for children and young people," says Chair of the Judges, Colin Brabazon. "The recent surge in "cross-over publishing", has alerted adult readers to the sophistication of books for children and young people. All six books dig deep into human relationships, particularly those within families, exploring how children relate both to adults and to their peers. They are as intense and illuminating as the best adult fiction can be"
It is an exceptionally strong year. Former CILIP Carnegie winner, and this year's Whitbread Children's Book of the Year winner David Almond, joins Whitbread Book of the Year winner Mark Haddon on the shortlist. Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo, and American first time novelist Jennifer Donnelly are also in the running, along with Elizabeth Laird and Linda Newbery, both of whom have been on the CILIP Carnegie shortlist in recent years.
The CILIP Carnegie Medal has been in existence for almost 70 years and is Britain's oldest and most prestigious children's book award. The process of selection and judging is unique. No submissions are sought from publishers, no votes cast by the public; rather the selection process is rooted in the professional expertise of librarians across the country who nominate titles for the long list. To be eligible the books must be published between 1 January and 31 December 2003.
The judging panel, which comprises 12 highly experienced children's and school librarians from CILIP's Youth Libraries Group then meets to shortlist up to eight titles. They are unique in combining their knowledge of books with the daily experience of working with young people and their reading. This year they have chosen six titles from 38 nominations.
The Carnegie Medal and its sister award, the Kate Greenaway Medal, are awarded annually by CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the British Library on Friday 9 July 2004. For more information about the awards visit www.ckg.org.uk.
THE CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL SHORTLIST
DAVID ALMOND, The Fire Eaters
Hodder Children's Books, Age range: 10+ ISBN: 0340773820
JENNIFER DONNELLY, A Gathering Light
Bloomsbury, Age range: 12+ ISBN: 0747563047
MARK HADDON, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
David Fickling Books, Age range: 13+ ISBN: 0099456761
ELIZABETH LAIRD, The Garbage King
Macmillan, Age range:10+ ISBN: 0330415026
MICHAEL MORPURGO, Private Peaceful
Collins, Age range:10+ ISBN: 0007150067
LINDA NEWBERY, Sisterland
David Fickling Books, Age range: 13+ ISBN: 038560470X
NB - the age ranges have been suggested by the judging panel.
Contact: Louisa Myatt, CILIP Marketing Manager
Tel: 020 7255 0650 Email: [log in to unmask]
Notes for Editors
* This is the shortlist for the 2003 CILIP Carnegie Medal, announced in 2004. Books published between 01/01/03 and 31/12/03 are eligible. More information is available at www.ckg.org.uk
* Over 1600 reading groups in schools and public libraries have registered to take part in the shadowing scheme for the awards, involving over 30,000 children and young people. For further information visit www.ckg.org.uk/shadowing
* CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals is the leading professional body for Librarians and Information Managers. It was formed in April 2002 by the unification of The Library Association and the Institute of Information Scientists. It has around 23,000 Members, most of whom are personal Members whose working environments include libraries in higher and further education, industrial and commercial organisations, the health sector, professional and learned societies, government departments and agencies, schools, voluntary organisations and national and public libraries.
* The Youth Libraries Group (YLG) is a Special Interest Group of CILIP. It works in a "pressure group" role, independently and with other professional organisations, to preserve and influence the provision of quality literature and library services for children and young people, both in public libraries and school library services.
* WH Auden quote from 'Aspects of Alice'.
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