School Library Association Announces Winners of 2026 Information Book Award

In early July, the School Library Association announced the winners of the 2026 Information Book Award, with school pupils aged six to fourteen presenting the Children’s Choice Awards.

The School Library Association's Information Book Award is an annual celebration of information books, it is sponsored by DK and supported by the Authors’ Licensing and Collection Society and Peters.

This year’s shortlist saw twelve titles recognised, with five books claiming category wins at the award ceremony. The celebratory event was held in London and hosted by children’s author and legendary bookseller, Tamara MacFarlane.

Welcome speeches were given by Victoria Dilly, CEO of the School Library Association, Sarah Larter, Managing Director at DK, and Richard Coombes, Deputy CEO of ALCS, which makes the IBA Book Club possible through generous support - enabling thousands of school children to shadow the Information Book Award.

In her opening address, host Tamara MacFarlane highlighted the many ways in which different types of information books can delight and empower children, and celebrated school librarians:

“We have the great joy of being here to celebrate those books packed with facts so astonishing that children are physically incapable of keeping them to themselves… and those equally wonderful information books that answer a different kind of question, possibly the kind of question that a child may not want, or be able, to ask out loud. Maybe it is about their body, or what is happening in their family, or in the world.

What they find, and the voice of who put it there, whose innate values it carries, what is included and what is left out, is what we are here to explore and celebrate tonight.”

“We are also here to celebrate school librarians. A school librarian who puts the right book in the right child’s hands at the right moment is doing something no algorithm can replicate, no curriculum can mandate, no government policy can engineer.”

The 2026 winner of SLA Information Book Award is Owning It

A panel of judges, made up of authors, school librarians and other figures from children’s publishing crowned Owning It: Our disabled childhoods in our own words, edited by James Catchpole, Lucy Catchpole and Jen Campbell, and illustrated by Sophie Kamlish their 13-16 age category and overall winner. Books about evolution and recycling were awarded prizes in the other age categories.

The judges described Owning It as perfectly encapsulating how books can be both a window and mirror: “For those who can relate, this book is a much-needed reflection, shining a light on experience that is largely unseen; for those who can’t, it provides much-needed insight.

With humour, heart and striking illustrations by Sophie Kamlish, these inspiring stories will illuminate, bring comfort and boost empathy. From blatant to inadvertent othering, to coming to terms with a disabled ‘identity’ and finding community, this book is honest about pain, fear and heartache. Crucially though, as the title suggests, Owning It offers hope, connection and shows how it is possible to take control of one’s life whatever the challenge: a vital message for every teenager.”

The Judges' Choice winners were:

Under 7: Recycling Day: What happens to the things we throw away?, Polly Faber, illustrated by Klas Fahlén

Age 8-12: Choose Your Own Evolution, Jules Howard, illustrated by Gordy Wright

Age 13-16: Owning It: Our disabled childhoods in our own words, James Catchpole, Lucy Catchpole and Jen Campbell, illustrated by Sophie Kamlish

Overall winner: Owning It: Our disabled childhoods in our own words, James Catchpole, Lucy Catchpole and Jen Campbell, illustrated by Sophie Kamlish

Children from across the country came together and selected their best information books from the shortlist too. This year saw over 1100 school children participate in the Information Book Award Book Club, which is supported by the Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society.

Pupils from three schools also joined the ceremony to present the Children’s Choice awards in person, adding even more warmth and humour to the celebration.

The overall Children's Choice winner was Choose Your Own Evolution, written by Jules Howard and illustrated by Gordy Wright. This inventive, interactive adventure turns readers into active participants in the story of evolution, blending solid science with an engaging, game-like structure.

The Children's Choice winners were:

Under 7: Frog: A Story of Life on Earth, Isabel Thomas, illustrated by Daniel Egneus

Age 8-12: Choose Your Own Evolution, Jules Howard, illustrated by Gordy Wright

Age 13-16: It's a Brave Young World, Anu Adebogun, illustrated by Soofiya and Lila Cruz

Overall winner: Choose Your Own Evolution, Jules Howard, illustrated by Gordy Wright

Chair of the judges, Helen Cleaves, said: “At a time when we are so quick to outsource thinking, knowledge and expertise, it is books like this years' Information Book Award winners that will ignite curiosity, fuse connections and build empathy; the vital front-line defence for maintaining progress and the fundamentals that make us human.”

Victoria Dilly, CEO of the School Library Association said: “This year’s Information Book Award continues to celebrate the incredible creativity of children's publishing, as evidenced by our brilliant shortlist and deserved winners - titles which capture the artistry and high quality the best of information books can bring. I congratulate everyone involved with their production.

Each book offers a route to discovering more about the world and the amazing people and animals who live in it, their cultures and history. From feminism to frogs, from encounters with grief to evolution – the 2026 shortlist covers everything about the human experience and more.”

Sarah Larter, Managing Director at DK said: “We are thrilled to champion outstanding work that the School Library Association do by sponsoring the Information Book Award. Huge congratulations to all the shortlisted and winning authors and illustrators!”

To discover more about the Information Book Award, or register for future updates, visit www.sla.org.uk/iba or follow on their social media pages below:

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