The Yoto Carnegies celebrate outstanding reading experiences in children’s writing and illustration respectively and are unique in being judged by librarians.
The Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing is awarded annually to a children’s book author whose writing creates an outstanding reading experience. It was established in 1936 in memory of the Scottish-born philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie, founder of more than 2800 libraries.
The Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration, formerly known as the Kate Greenaway Medal was established in 1955, and is awarded annually to a children’s book illustrator whose artwork creates an outstanding reading experience.
By uniting the Medals for Writing and Illustration under The Carnegies name, the awards are able to more strongly emphasise our library-led origins and champion the central role of libraries and librarians in the awards.
The associated shadowing scheme sees thousands of reading groups in schools and libraries in the UK and internationally get involved in the Awards each year. Children and young people share their views and creative responses to the shortlisted books, getting involved in reading related activity in groups, and having their voices heard by voting for their favourite books to win The Yoto Carnegie Shadowers’ Choice Awards.
