Davies and Stowell make School Library Association Information Book Award shortlist

The School Library Association (SLA) has unveiled the 2023 shortlist for the Information Book Award (IBA), which aims to celebrate the importance of information books, highlight the wealth of impressive resources available and support school libraries to get the most out of them.

Sponsored by Hachette Children’s Group and now in its 13th year, the award is divided into three age categories (0-7, 8-12, 13-18), judged by a panel of educators. After whittling down almost 200 different titles to a longlist of 31, the shortlists are as follows: in the 0-7 category, ABC Pride by Dr Elly Barnes MBE and Louie Stowell, illustrated by Amy Phelps (DK Children); Do Bears Poop in the Woods? by Huw Lewis Jones, illustrated by Sam Caldwell (Thames & Hudson) and A Mathematician Like Me by Dr Shini Somara, illustrated by Nadja Sarell (Wren & Rook).

In the 8-12 category are: The Big Book of Mysteries by Tom Adams, illustrated by Yas Imamura (Nosy Crow); Lands of Belonging: A History of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Britain by Donna and Vikesh Amey Bhatt, illustrated by Salini Perera (Nosy Crow); Talking History by Joan Haig and Joan Lennon, illustrated by André Ducci (Templar Publishing) and A World Full of Journeys and Migrations by Martin Howard, illustrated by Christopher Corr (The Quarto Group).

Shortlisted in the 13-18 category are: Choose Love by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Petr Horáček (Graffeg); An Illustrated History of Ghosts by Adam Allsuch Boardman (Nobrow); Masterpieces in Pieces by Ingrid Swenson and Mary Auld (Wayland) and Medicine: A Magnificently Illustrated History by Briony Hudson, illustrated by Nick Taylor (Big Picture Press).

As well as the judges’ choices, pupils have the chance to vote for their favourite titles to crown a Children’s Choice Winner in each of the three age categories. Schools can vote here. Funding from the Foyle Foundation also means more than 100 schools have been given a free collection of the shortlisted titles.

Chair of the judges, Margaret Pemberton said: “The standard of books that are put forward for this award just keeps getting better. This year, the judges have had a wonderful range of subjects to read and the quality of writing, illustration and information has made this a really difficult and yet fascinating experience. Congratulations to all of the people involved, in publishing and the SLA, which has such a strong commitment to providing such high-quality books for young people.”

The winner will be announced in November at a ceremony hosted by Hachette Children’s Group. The shortlisted books are available at a discounted price from Peters.