Announcement of the 2022 Information Book Award Winners

During its 12 years’ history, the School Library Association’s Information Book Award ceremony (IBA) has become a highlight of National Non-Fiction November. As well as shining a spotlight on some of the best non-fiction publishing of the year, it also gives young readers their own voice by providing an opportunity to read, discuss and vote for the Children’s Choice category. Thanks to the generous support of the Foyle Foundation, 100 schools received sets of the shortlisted books as part of the expanded IBA Book Club scheme which, combined with additional participating schools, resulted in over 2,300 children’s involvement this year!

The School Library Association’s CEO (SLA) Alison Tarrant commented that the application forms for the IBA Book Club revealed a range of reasons for wanting to be part of the scheme. These included ‘financial restrictions, to the joy so many pupils have for information books, to the disregard for information books amongst other Awards. The clearest though was the bias towards fiction amongst parents and teachers. One applicant wrote ‘information books are often dismissed as either ‘for lessons’ or ‘not proper reading’. Another said ‘over the past few years I have discovered children’s information books through my students, who seem unable to get enough of them!’’

It is no coincidence that this imbalanced representation of non-fiction publishing and reading was the driving force behind Adam Lancaster’s idea to set up a National Non-Fiction Day, which after a few years developed into a full-blown month of celebrations of all things factual – now known as National Non-Fiction November, run by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups.

At the IBA ceremony Alison talked about the importance and impact of information books and school library staff together:

‘Together, creating wonder, feeding curiosity, building a sense of place in the world.

Together, recognizing an individual and showing them that they are not alone – that other people have those interests, passions, quirks.

Through individual recommendation or the brilliant work of book groups, information books create an opportunity for discussion and exploration unlike any other.

The IBA seeks to close the circle – to celebrate the best of the UK’s information books and highlight the impact of that book finding its readership.’

It is always very interesting to compare the Children’s Choices with those of the adult Judges. Young readers are just as discerning, often making different choices, but sometimes making the same choice as the adult judges:

2022 winners

0-7

Judges’ winner:

Meet the Microbes by Dr Emily Grossman, illustrated byMaggie Li (Wren & Rook)

Children’s Choice winner:

What is Racism by Katie Daynes and Jordan Akpojaro, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat (Usborne)

8-12

Judges’ winner:

Making a Baby: An Inclusive Guide to How Every Family Begins by Rachel Greener, illustrated by Clare Owen (Nosy Crow)

Children’s Choice:

Black and British: An Illustrated History by David Olusoga, illustrated by Jake Alexander and Melleny Taylor (Macmillan Children’s Books)

13-16

Judges’ winner:

Black Artists shaping the World by Sharna Jackson and Dr Zoé Whitley (Thames and Hudson)

Children’s winner:

Black Artists Shaping the World by Sharna Jackson and Dr Zoé Whitley (Thames and Hudson)

Judges’ overall winner:

Black Artists Shaping the World by Sharna Jackson and Dr Zoé Whitley (Thames and Hudson)

Children’s Choice Overall winner:

Black and British: An Illustrated History by David Olusoga, illustrated by Jake Alexander and Melleny Taylor (Macmillan Children’s Books)

The evening also saw the announcement of the Hachette Children’s Group Award for Outstanding Contribution to Information Books which went to Owen Davey.

We would like to thank Alison Tarrant for allowing us to quote from her speech which was delivered at the offices of Hachette Children’s Group on 22nd November 2022 during the 2022 Information Book Award ceremony.