Long Lists Announced for the School Library Association’s Information Book Award 2020

by Chris Routh

This is the tenth year of the School Library Association’s Information Book Award and my fourth year as a member of the panel of judges. The number of books submitted for the award keeps growing, with almost 150 received this year! Copies of all the titles were sent to each of the five judges for consideration. The panel, chaired by Margaret Pemberton, is made up of Lucy Forrester from Peters Library Services, two new members, Charlie Taylor-Smith and Helen Cleaves and me. Our first task was to select our top ten books for each of the three categories – 7 and under, 8 to 12 and 13 to 16. Under normal circumstances, we would have met in London at the sponsor Hachette’s offices to agree on the long lists, but this year our first judgely huddle had to take place virtually! Fortunately, our discussion went without a hitch and we are delighted to be able to reveal the three fantastic long lists below. The books reflect both current trends in publishing and the issues children are concerned with. The short lists will be announced during the week commencing 18^th May and the winners will be revealed in November, fortuitously coinciding with National Non-Fiction November. We will be explaining how children & young people can get involved in the Children’s Choice Award in a future blog. In the meantime, and for more information about the books, visit the School Library Association’s website.

Up to 7

All About Feelings by Felicity Brooks and Frankie Allen , Mar Ferrero. Usborne (9781474937115)

Counting on Catherine by Helaine Becker, Dow Phumiruk. Macmillan Children’s (9781529005592)

Goodnight Ocean by Becky Davies, Carmen Saldaña. Little Tiger (9781912756148)

Heroes Who Help Us From Around the World by Liz Gogerly, Ryan Wheatcroft. Franklin Watts (9781445165677)

How Far Can a Kangaroo Jump? By Alison Limentani. Boxer Books (9871910716809)

Hummingbird by Nicola Davies, Jane Ray. Walker (9781406379273)

Planet Full of Plastic by Neal Layton. Wren & Rook (9781526361769)

Together by Isabel Otter, Clover Robin. Little Tiger (9781848578661)

The Usborne Book of the Moon by Laura Cowan, Diana Toledano. Usborne (9781474950848)

8 to 12

Africa, Amazing Africa by Atinuke, Mouni Feddag. Walker (9781406376586)

Ask a Scientist by Robert Winston. Dorling Kindersley (9780241379240)

Big Book of the UK by Imogen Russell Williams, Louise Lockhart. Penguin Random House (9780241382608)

The Curious Book of Lists by Tracey Turner, Caroline Selmes. Kingfisher (9780753444870)

Dictionary of Difficult Words by Jane Solomon, Louise Lockhart. Frances Lincoln (9781786038104)

Gut Garden by Katie Brosnan, Cicada Books (9781908714725)

Heroes by Jonny Marx, Gerhard van Wyk. Little Tiger (9781848578739)

Kids Fight Plastic by Martin Dorey, Tim Wesson. Walker (9781406390650)

Teen Pioneers by Ben Hubbard. Franklin Watts (9781445163680)

The Usborne Book of Planet Earth by Megan Cullis & Matthew Oldham, Stephanie Fizer Coleman. Usborne (9781474936620)

13 to 16

Body Brilliant by Nicola Morgan. Wayland (9781445167367)

Black History Matters by Robin Walker. Franklin Watts (9781445166896)

Feminism is … Foreward by Gemma Cairney. Dorling Kindersley (9780241228029)

Forced to Flee by UNHCR. Franklin Watts (9781445166285)

Hidden Planet by Ben Rothery. Penguin Random House (9780241361009)

The Stonewall Riots: Coming Out in the Streets by Gayle Pitman. Abrams Books (9781419737206)

What is Masculinity? Why Does It Matter? And Other Big Questions by Jeffrey Boakye & Darren Chetty. Wayland (9781526308146)

What’s the Issue: Future Humans by Tom Jackson, Cristina Guitian. QED (9780711244542)

You’re Crushing It by Lex Croucher. Bloomsbury Children’s (9781408892473)