Children's Literature: Prizewinning Children's Books

The Yoto Carnegies are the UK’s longest running and best-loved children’s book awards, recognising outstanding reading experiences created through writing and illustration in books for children and young people.

The Carnegie Medal for Writing is awarded by children’s librarians for an outstanding book written in English for children and young people.

The Carnegie Medal for Illustration is the only prize in the UK to solely reward outstanding illustration in a children’s book; it is awarded annually to a children’s book illustrator whose artwork creates an outstanding reading experience.

First awarded in May 2021, The Jhalak Children’s & YA Prize seeks to celebrate books by British/British resident BAME writers. The Jhalak Children’s and YA Prize accepts books for children and  teens and young adults including picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, poetry, non-fiction, and all other genres by writers of colour and aimed at young readers.

Waterstones Children's Book Prize has been running for over 15 years discovering and celebrating excellence in Children's books.

Scots Bairns’ Book o the Year is sponsored by the Scottish Government and is part of the Scots Language Awards which were launched in 2019.

The Bookbug Picture Book Prize celebrates Scottish picture books and encourages reading for pleasure. It is run by the Scottish Book Trust.

All Primary 1 pupils receive three shortlisted books, and can vote for their favourite in school or at home with their families.

The Scottish Teenage Book Prize celebrates the very best in Scottish teen fiction, and aims to encourage reading for pleasure amongst teenagers. Teenagers all over Scotland read all three books on the shortlist and decide the winner by voting for their favourite. This prize is run by the Scottish Book Trust.