News
Sharing news from colleagues across the world and within the UK keeps our IBBY family connected. Contact us at web@ibby.org.uk if you would like to share news with members of IBBY.
IBBY UK Conference 2025 – Whose History?
Save the Date for the 2025 IBBY UK Conference!
Aidan Chambers obituary
Moving obituary in honor of Aidan Chambers by IBBY committee member, Ann Lazim.
2024 Arabic Book List
IBBY UK and IBBY Ireland were delighted to collaborate on the second iteration of the French list of children’s books in Arabic.
Around the World in Children’s Books – Books For and About Children with Disabilities
Round the World in Children’s Books focusing on books for and about children with disabilities.
4th June 7pm BST on Zoom
IBBY European Regional Conference 2025
IBBY European Regional Conference 2025 at Bologna Children’s Book Fair!
Palestine in Children’s Books – Fundraiser event
The first of a series of fundraising events that we will be holding to support IBBY Palestine will be held at Cafe Palestina (NW5 1AD) on Thursday 23rd Jan 2025 at 7 p.m.
2026 Hans Christian Andersen Award Jury
Discover the 2026 Hans Christian Andersen Jury!
Statement on the Escalation of War in the Middle-East
IBBY Statement on War in the Middle-East.
Evolution of the Eco-Warrior: Climate Change and the way children connect with Nature
Come and join IBBY UK at the Centre For Literacy In Primary Education (CLPE) for an exciting event looking at how authors and illustrators have responded to climate change in books for children.
Call for Papers -‘Eco-Warrior’ Conference
IBBY UK invite you to write a paper for our upcoming conference in November.
Invitation to Write a Blog Post for World Kid Lit
World Kid Lit invite you to write a blog post!
Upcoming Interview with Gita Wolf
Tara Books’ founder Gita Wolf interview by Holly Tonks of Harper Collins!
International Children’s Book Day 2024
International Children’s Book Day 2024 has been sponsored by Japan.
This years theme is “Cross the Seas on the Wing of your Imagination”
The World of Brian Wildsmith: A New Exhibition
Barnsley Museums pays homage to this extraordinary, Barnsley-born illustrator in Spring and Summer 2024 with a two-site exhibition of rarely seen artworks and objects.
Evolution of the Eco-Warrior: Climate Change and the way Children Connect with Nature
Join us at our upcoming conference on Saturday 9th November, 2024.
Round the World in Children’s Books – Zoom Event
See more information for our first event of 2024 – IBBY members and specially invited guests will be talking about books they’d like everyone to know about!
Navigating Diversity, Authenticity and Representation in Children’s Literature with Nadine Kaadan
Upcoming – Nadine Kaadan at Grand Junction’s Our Shared Heritage talks, celebrating the roles that Black, Arab, and Asian people and their cultures have played in London’s history.
Scouting, Translating, and Publishing Young Adult Literature from Latin America
Scouting, Translating, and Publishing Young Adult Literature from Latin America
Wednesday 28th February, 5.15pm-6.30pm UK time.
Michael Rosen to be a Keynote Speaker at the IBBY Congress in Trieste, Italy – 2024
Programme details are being confirmed – Michael Rosen has been announced as the opening keynote speaker for the 2024 IBBY Congress in Trieste.
IBBY Congress, Trieste, Italy 20 August – 1 September, 2024
Join the Revolution! Giving every child a good book.There is still just time to submit to the call for papers and full details of topics can be found here https://www.ibbycongress2024.org/call-for-papers/ Early bird registration is open until 31 March 2024...
Niki Daly obituary
We were sorry to learn of the death of Niki Daly. Here, Dianne Hofmeyr reflects on his life and work.
Books at War – The IBBY Ireland Annual Lecture and Symposium, presented in 2024 in memory of Michael O’Brien and Sue Miller.
DCU IoE, St Patrick’s Campus, Drumcondra
9-10 February 2024
IBBY Honour List 2024 Nominations
IBBY UK presents the nominations for three titles for its Honour List for 2024.
Pat Pinsent obituary
We were sorry to learn of the death of Pat Pinsent. Here, Lisa Sainsbury reflects on her life and work.
IBBY Conference 2023 Programme
Programme has been announced for the IBBY UK/NCRLC conference.
Kate Greenaway Award name change and petition
Petition requesting CILIP to reconsider Greenaway name change.
IBBY Statement on the situation in Israel and Palestine
IBBY International is deeply concerned about the current situation of war in Israel and Palestine.
IBBY UK Conference: 11 November 2023
IBBY UK is resuming its popular one-day conference for the first time since 2019. The conference will be held at CLPE in London on 11 November 2023. This year’s conference is titled Pages for Power and Protest: Politics and Children’s Literature. Please sign up on Eventbrite and join us!
In Memory of Dr. Pat Pinsent
IBBY UK committee and friends are very saddened to hear the news of the death of Pat Pinsent on 8 September. Known to many from her time teaching at Roehampton and for her many books and articles, she was pivotal in supporting many through their undergraduate and postgraduate studies. She was always a great supporter of IBBY and did much to promote IBBY’s work in the UK.
ESEA Authors LitFest 2023
In celebration of September as East and Southeast Asian Heritage Month, ESEA authors and artists will gather to talk about British-ESEA literature, postcolonial writing, the diaspora, and all the people and places we call home. Come join our celebration of new, exciting ESEA novels in the UK, from children’s and YA fiction to adult fiction.
IBBY Conference 2023 — Call for Papers
The Call for Papers is now open for the IBBY Conference 2023. The theme for the 2023 conference is: Pages for Power and Protest: Children’s Literature and Politics
IBBY UK’s Becky Butler to give fundraising talk on disability and children’s books
The 2023 selection of Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities.
Twelve titles selected and submitted by IBBY UK.
Children’s literature and Translation: Reading University and Outside In World
The Centre for Book Cultures and Publishing, Reading University, in partnership with Outside in World – the organisation dedicated to promoting and exploring world literature and children’s books in translation – are delighted to announce the latest event in their seminar series on translation for children.
Little Rebels Award 2023 Shortlist
The 2023 Little Rebels Award Shortlist: celebrating the best in radical children’s fiction. Children’s resistance and activism take over the 2023 shortlist for the Little Rebels Award for Radical Children’s Fiction.
Sheikh Zayed Book Award 17th Ed Shortlist
The Sheikh Zayed Book Award (SZBA), which is organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre under the auspices of the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, has announced the shortlists for its 17th edition, featuring 20 authors and organisations from 9 different countries.
The Klaus Flugge Award 2023 Shortlist
The shortlist for the Klaus Flugge Prize is announced Wednesday 17 May 2023. It is awarded to the most promising and exciting newcomer to children’s picture book illustration. Themes of community, adventure, real life experiences, and the Tate Modern’s cat Mildred inspire the year’s most talented new picture book illustrators.
IBBY UK AGM 2023
The 2023 IBBY AGM date has been confirmed for 6:30 p.m., 20 June 2023 at City University in London.
Hans Christian Andersen Awards 2024
IBBY UK is delighted to announce the nomination of John Agard, author category, and Jackie Morris, illustrator category, for the Hans Christian Andersen Award 2024.
IBBY UK Conference 2023
The 2023 IBBY UK Conference date has been confirmed for 11 November 2023 at the CLPE in London.
Yoto Carnegie Shortlists for 2023 include authors and illustrators supported by IBBY UK
IBBY UK are delighted to see authors and illustrators on the Yoto Carnegie shortlist who have been award winners or nominees of the various IBBY awards in the past.
39th IBBY Congress 2024 to be held in Trieste, Italy from 30 August to 1 September
39th IBBY Congress 2024 to be held in Trieste, Italy from 30 August to 1 September.
IBBY Honour List 2022
IBBY UK has selected three titles for its Honour List for 2022.
IBBY UK Annual General Meeting
The IBBY UK Annual General Meeting will take place on 28th June on Zoom
IBBY Silent Books 10th Anniversary Camp, Lampedusa, 22-29 October 2022
Join the IBBY camp on Lampedusa as a volunteer to discuss the role of books in promoting peace
IBBY UK Disability Selection 2023 Press Release
The 2023 selection of Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities.
Twelve titles selected and submitted by IBBY UK.
IBBY Announces its New Executive Director
I am delighted to announce that IBBY has appointed Carolina Ballester as successor to our beloved, long standing Executive Director, Liz Page.
Round the World in Children’s Books: Focus on Arabic Children’s Literature – Event on 9th June
IBBY is hosting its 3rd Round the World event on 9th June, where experts in Arabic children’s books will each recommend 2 titles they think should be better known.
2022 IBBY Appeal for Funds to support Books for Ukrainian Children in Poland
As we watch the atrocities unfolding in Ukraine, we feel quite helpless as we try to find a way to help the millions of refugees – more than half are children – as they settle in foreign countries and wait to go home.
Shortlist for 16th Sheikh Zayed Book Award announced
The shortlist for the Sheikh Zayed Book Award has been announced!
Jan Pienkowski obituary
We were sorry to learn of the death of Jan Pienkowski, an inspiration to all of us and an honorary IBBY member. Here, Nicholas Tucker reflects on his life and work.
Shirley Hughes obituary
IBBY UK laments the loss of Shirley Hughes C.B.E, our honorary, and much honoured, member who died aged 94 in February. Here, Clive Barnes pays tribute to her life and work.
IBBY Statement on the Ukraine Conflict
IBBY International is deeply concerned about the current invasion by the Russian military into the sovereign state of Ukraine.
IBBY Silent Book Collection
Take the opportunity to view and handle 79 wordless picture books, from 52 different countries at this exhibition at Goldsmiths, University of London.
Round the World Book Tour: Wednesday, 23 February
Round the World Book Tour with IBBY UK committee members and special guests translator Daniel Hahn and editor Sarah Odedina. The panel will present an exciting introduction to recent books from around the world, including many in translation.
Call for Papers: 38th IBBY World Congress
The 38th IBBY World Congress will be held in Putrajaya, Malaysia on 5-8 September 2022. The call for paper and poster presentations is open until 15 March 2022.
Thinking about children’s literature in a multilingual context
IBBY UK invites you to attend a talk by Dr Christine Hélot on thinking about children’s literature in a multilingual context.
IBBY Seminar on Hans Christian Andersen Award 30 November 18.30 – 19.30 Zoom
The first of the IBBY UK seminar events to replace the 2021 annual conference on Children’s literature in a multilingual world.
International Youth Library annual catalogue White Ravens 2021 published
2021 White Ravens selection announced
A Study Day on Non-fiction Children’s Books
The Children’s Books Society invites you to a Study Day on Non-fiction Children’s Books.
IBBY World Congress 2021
Registration for the IBBY World Congress (10-12 September 2021) in Moscow, Russia, is now open.
Translation grants for Spanish literature
Translation grants available for Spanish children's books! Spanish IBBY writes: Dear friends, as you may be aware, Spain will be Guest of Honour at Frankfurter Buchmesse 2022. In order to increase links with European publishers and raise awareness of Spanish...
Bookbird: A Flight Through Time
‘Bookbird: A Flight through Time’ is IBBY’s new book telling the story of its international journal Bookbird and gives an informative history of children’s literature internationally.
BIB (Bratislava Illustration Biennale) 2021 Nominees
UK nominees for Bratislava Biennale for 2021 announced
2021 Jhalak Children’s and YA prize
Congratulations to Patrice Lawrence for being awarded the 2021 Jhalak Prize for her book, Eight Pieces of Silva, published by Hodder Children’s Books!
IBBY Press Conference 2021
Watch IBBY’s annual press conference at Bologna Children’s Book Fair.
Bookbird search for editors
Exciting opportunity to join the Bookbird team
Openings at IBBY
IBBY invites applications for the position of Executive Director
IBBY Appeal for Gaza 2021
Help us rebuild the two IBBY children’s libraries in Gaza
2021 Outstanding Books
The official catalogue of the 2021 IBBY Selection of Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities is now available!
Raymond Briggs: A Retrospective
The Gallery at Winchester Discovery Centre hosts Raymond Briggs retrospective.
Donation to the IBBY Children in Crisis Fund by Otter-Barry Books
IBBY UK are delighted to announce a significant donation by Otter-Barry Books to the IBBY Children in Crisis Fund.
Wordless book nominations for Silent Books: Destination Lampedusa
Silent Books: Destination Lampedusa has asked for IBBY sections to submit wordless books to be included in a children’s library on the island of Lampedusa
Bologna goes digital only
Bologna Children’s Book Fair moves to a digital-only event in June due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Free Online Panel: Translation Outreach in Schools and the Move Online
The Centre for Book Cultures and Publishing and Centre for Literacy and Multilingualism at the University of Reading, in partnership with Outside in World will be hosting an online panel event on translation outreach in schools.
Children’s Literature in Translation: A window into the cultural changes of ’68
Public lecture on impact of the protest movements of 1968 on children’s literature, cultural exchange and translation.
Two UK titles selected for 2021 IBBY Collection of Books for Young People with Disabilities
Two UK nominations are included in the 2021 IBBY Collection of Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities.
Roger Mello designs ICBD poster for 2021
Download USBBY’s poster for International Children’s Book Day 2021
10 Stories to Make a Difference
Celebrate Pop Up’s 10th birthday by supporting 10 Stories to Make a Difference
Centre for New Chinese Writing at Leeds University
13 year old wins Chinese / English translation prize
Book Aid International support IBBY appeal for Lebanon with 10,000 books
10,000 books sent to support the reconstruction of libraries in Lebanon.
BIB (Bratislava Illustration Biennale) 2021
Nominations needed for the UK entries to the 2021 Bratislava Illustration Biennale
Author Marcus Sedgwick and illustrator David McKee are IBBY UK nominees for Hans Christian Andersen Award 2022
McKee and Sedgwick receive IBBY UK’s highest honour
Reflecting Realities – call for action
Representation in children’s books still not reflective of society, says BookTrust and CLPE
New callout for the IBBY Silent Books and announcement of new Books on Board
IBBY and IBBY Italia Silent Book projects continues to adapt and grow
Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award publishes list of nominees for the 2021 award
Nominees for ALMA Award 2021
IBBY’s 2020 Christmas Card design
The design for IBBY’s 2020 Christmas card features an illustration by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros, and is now available for purchase from the shop.
IBBY 2020 Honour List published
IBBY 2020 Honour List published.
International Youth Library annual catalogue White Ravens 2020 published
2020 White Ravens selection announced
IBBY Executive Board for 2020-2022
IBBY announces its new officers for the term 2020-2022
Virtual IBBY – 37th General Assembly
Updates from IBBY’s 2020 Annual General Assembly
Hans Christian Andersen illustrators design scarves for IBBY fundraiser
Ten of the world’s greatest children’s book illustrators design scarves to support for IBBY’s work around the world
Books for Keeps Appeal
Books for Keeps is in need of urgent financial support. Donate now through their Givey appeal. This journal is incredibly important and useful for all of our members so please support them where you can.
The 2020 Little Rebels Book Award Shortlist
IBBY UK welcomes this exciting shortlist reflecting publishers, themes and writers which tie in with our mission.
IBBY AGM 2020 on Zoom
IBBY 2020 Annual General Meeting will take place on Thursday, 2nd July, followed by a streaming conversation between Mini Grey and Karenanne Knight that is not to be missed. See inside for registration details.
A sad goodbye to Wendy Cooling, Bookstart founder and IBBY Honorary Member
Bookstart founder and children’s book pioneer Wendy Cooling has died, leaving behind a legacy in the world of children’s books.
International Centre for Picture Book in Society (ICPBS) new project, Sea Change, launched
Following on the extremely successful international project, Migrations, ICPBS have launched a new project along the same lines. SEA CHANGE has a new focus on the environment, and in particular oceans and sea life.
Call out for crowd-sourced postcards from illustrators.
Margaret Meek Spencer obituary
We were sorry to learn of the death of Margaret Meek Spencer, an inspiration to all of us and an honorary IBBY member. Here, Clive Barnes and Pat Pinsent reflect on her life and work.
Winners of the 2020 Hans Christian Andersen Award
On 4th May, IBBY International announced the winners of the 2020 Hans Christian Andersen Award: Jacqueline Woodson of the USA as Author and Albertine of Switzerland as Illustrator.
Winners of the 2020 IBBY-iRead Outstanding Reading Promoter Award
On 4th May, IBBY International announced the winners of the 2020 IBBY-iRead Outstanding Reading Promoter Award: Marit Törnqvist from the Netherlands and Zhu Yongxin from China.
Winners of the 2020 IBBY-Asahi Reading Promotion Award
On 4th May, IBBY International announced the winners of the 2020 IBBY-Asahi Reading Promotion Award: Casa Cuna Cuenteros of Buenos Aires, Argentina.