The Kate Greenaway Medal was founded in 1955 and named for the nineteenth-century English artist whose drawings of children shaped Victorian picture-book design. Like its sister award for writing, it is run by CILIP with the Youth Libraries Group and judged entirely by children's librarians, and it recognizes an outstanding book in terms of illustration, first published in the UK or Ireland.
CILIP renamed the medal the Carnegie Medal for Illustration in 2022 as part of a rebrand, over objections from illustrators and others who wanted Greenaway's name kept, so every winner before that year is catalogued under the Greenaway name. Because the judges are librarians rather than designers or booksellers, the shortlists favor books that survive repeat reading aloud, and they stretch from wordless picture books to graphic novels. For an American reader it is one of the better routes into British picture-book illustration that never got a large US release. Since 2019 the school and library groups that shadow the award have also voted a Shadowers' Choice medal, which does not always match the judges' pick.
Information from CILIP.
Discover the surprising intelligence of crows in this eye-opening tale.
Discover the surprising intelligence of crows in this eye-opening tale.
A tree witnesses humanity's rise and nature's transformation.
A young conservationist must return her beloved sun bear to the wild, facing the ultimate test of friendship and courage.
A child offers guidance to a lost friend navigating the overwhelming city.
Rediscover nature's magic as lost words return to enchant and inspire.
A boy's seaside day contrasts with his father's life in the dark mines.
A boy's journey with penguins and stars explores childhood's wonders.
Explore Shackleton's Antarctic adventure through vivid illustrations and detailed drawings.
A character steals a hat from a big fish and tries to hide in a dense plant area.
A family cowers from a growing black dog, but a brave child confronts it.
A boy confronts an ancient monster demanding a dangerous truth.
A boy inherits his father's dream to fly after a tragic loss.
A timid mouse confronts her fears, discovering courage within.
A rabbit discovers unsettling truths about wolves from a library book.
A forbidden ball, a cruel stepmother, and a chance for dreams to come true.
A squabble over soup stirs trouble among friends. Can they reunite?
A young girl faces heartbreak as she leaves her grandmother for a new life in America.
A woodcarver is commissioned to create a set of Christmas figures for a widow and her son, leading to a transformation in his life.
Discover whimsical letters from fairy tale characters in a festive postman's journey.
A child's wartime memories unfold on England's coast.
A sleepless bear learns the dark isn't so scary after all.
A clever chameleon outsmarts predators.
Snow White faces the Queen of the Underworld in 1920s NYC.
A girl's birthday wish for a gorilla adventure comes true.
