Carnegie Medal for Writing

The Carnegie Medal for Writing is the United Kingdom's oldest and most prestigious children's book award, established in 1936 by the Library Association to mark the centenary of philanthropist Andrew Carnegie's birth. Administered by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP), it recognises outstanding English-language books for children and young adults first published in the UK during the preceding school year. The award is named in honour of Carnegie's legacy of founding over 2,800 libraries worldwide. A judging panel of twelve children's librarians, all CILIP members affiliated with the Youth Libraries Group, selects a longlist in February and a shortlist in March, with the winner announced in June. The panel considers literary qualities including plot, characterisation, and style, seeking books that deliver both surface pleasure and a deeper, lasting emotional experience. Until 2022 the award was simply called the Carnegie Medal; it was renamed the Carnegie Medal for Writing when a companion Carnegie Medal for Illustration was formally established. The winner receives a gold medal and £500 worth of books donated to their chosen library, plus a £5,000 cash prize from the Colin Mears bequest established in 2016. Past winners include Philip Pullman's Northern Lights, Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book, and Patrick Ness's A Monster Calls, cementing the award's reputation for championing bold, challenging fiction for young readers. The award has been sponsored by Yoto (2022–2024) and by Scholastic and the Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society from 2025.