The School Library Association are pleased to announce the 2024 shortlist for their Information Book Award (IBA). Sponsored by Hachette Children’s Group (HCG), and supported by Peters, the IBA aims to celebrate the importance of information books, highlight the wealth of impressive resources available and support school libraries to get the most out of them.

The award, now in its fourteenth year, is divided into three age categories, judged by a panel of educators. The judges have been astonished and delighted by the high number and quality of the books submitted this year, and have narrowed them down to a shortlist of twelve extraordinary titles. Prominent in this year’s shortlist are books which help children to find their place in the world by developing an understanding of the histories of society and culture, and their present-day relationships with others.

Chair of the judges, Margaret Pemberton, said, “It is exciting to see an expanding range of diverse themes and to have books which reinterpret the way we look at subjects such as nature and history.”

Pupils also have the chance to vote for their favourite titles to crown a Children’s Choice Winner in each of the three age categories. Voting helps children to engage with the shortlisted books and to build essential skills through teamwork and discussion. Children’s Choice voting opens now and will close on 15th October, with the winners announced in November. Schools can vote by visiting sla.org.uk/iba

Thanks to funding from the Authors Licensing and Copyright Society, we’re also delighted to be giving nearly 100 schools a free collection of the shortlisted titles through the IBA Book Club. The IBA Book Club offers pupils opportunities for positive engagement with information books, reading non-fiction for pleasure, book talk and reading as a social activity. All schools are invited to download the poster, use the learning resources and vote in the Children's Choice.

The shortlist for each age category is:

Age 0-7
Darwin’s Super-Pooping Worm Spectacular by Polly Owen, illustrated by Gwen Millward
Salat in Secret by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, illustrated by Hatem Aly
That’s Mathematics by Chris Smith (based on lyrics by Tom Lehrer), illustrated by Elīna Brasliņa
Welcome to Our Table: A Celebration of What Children Eat Everywhere by Laura Mucha & Ed Smith, illustrated by Harriet Lynas

Age 8-12
Hear Our Voices by Radhika Natarajan & Chao Tayiana, illustrated by Alexander Mostov
Human 2.0 by Patrick Kane, illustrated by Samuel Rodriguez 
Lessons From Our Ancestors by Raksha Dave, illustrated by Kimberlie Clinthorne-Wong
Unspoken by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Dare Coulter

Age 13-16
How to Love: A Guide to Feelings & Relationships for Everyone by Alex Norris, illustrated by Alex Norris
Lads by Alan Bissett
Story of Now, Shelina Janmohamed, illustrated by Laura Greenan
Welcome to the Arts: Dance by Alistair Spalding, illustrated by Jason Raish

The winners will be announced in November, at a ceremony hosted by Hachette Children's Group. 

For more information, please visit  www.sla.org.uk/iba

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