Experience of a life-time, judging this year’s Yoto Carnegie Medals!

Michelle Morgan, Librarian from St Paul's High School Bessbrook, tells CILIP Ireland about her experience of judging the 2024 Yoto Carnegie awards!

This year I was honoured to be chosen as the Northern Ireland Judge for the Yoto Carnegie Medals for both Writing and Illustration 2024. It was a unique, exciting, and fulfilling role and as it is a two-year tenure, I get to do it all over again in 2025!

I have been the librarian at St Paul’s High School in Bessbrook, Co Armagh, for the past 25 years. I studied Library and Information Studies with English at Queen’s University, Belfast, with a keen interest in the Children’s Literature and Media Studies modules. After graduating, I moved to London and worked for 12 years as a media librarian and researcher for LWT and the BBC. My time in Light Entertainment and News and Current Affairs honed my research, networking, and communication skills. I returned home to Newry in 1998 and worked at BBC NI for a year before taking up the post in St Paul’s. I am secretary of the Southern Region Librarians Group and a member of CILIP and the School Library Association.

I endeavour to instil in every student, a love of reading, with vibrant library classes, author visits, book clubs, Book Buzz, World Book Day, BBC Young Reporter and by celebrating other important dates on the literary calendar. Keeping up to date with what is happening in the magical world of young adult fiction is extremely important to me, as is the voice of authors who include themes of diversity and inclusion in their work.

I had previously shadowed the Carnegie Medals with groups of enthusiastic pupils in St Paul’s, and it suited me this year to apply, as I had an empty nest and could dedicate the time needed to read/critique all 139 nominated books. Fitting in the extra reading, while holding down a full-time library post is challenging but I would encourage anyone to apply to be a judge because it is such a rewarding experience. I would encourage school librarians to shadow the awards and get involved in the process. I would also be happy to visit or connect via Zoom to explain the shadowing process and the benefits of reading for pleasure.

Once I was chosen as NI Judge, the awards process is carefully choreographed by the remarkable Jake Hope as the Awards Executive. We were also delighted to welcome Maura Farrelly, Librarian at Victoria College in Belfast, as our Chair of Judges this year. Having Maura at the helm insured the smooth running of each meeting and her knowledge and unwavering support, made the process seamless and so much fun.

I met the other regional judges, first on Zoom for the initial longlisting and shortlisting meetings, and then finally in person for the final judging day in Central London. As a supportive community we were able to discuss each book on its merits in a respectful and considerate environment. Heated and passionate discussions are also all part of the Carnegie judge’s journey!

The Yoto Carnegie Medal nominated books are judged against a comprehensive list of criteria, for both Writing and Illustration. The result of this regulated process produces winning books that embody the criteria and will be future classics for children and young people to read. Past winners of the Carnegie Medals are books such as A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, One by Sarah Crossan, and Where The World Ends by Geraldine McCaughrean. The awards have been going since 1936 and three of my favourite past winners from my childhood are C.S. Lewis for The Last Battle (1956), Mary Norton for The Borrowers (1952) and Phillipa Pearce for Tom’s Midnight Garden (1958). All have stood the test of time and remain as classics for readers today. Trying to choose a winning book from so many wonderful, nominated books is always going to be a daunting challenge.

This year’s ceremony venue was particularly special, the home of the stage musical, Matilda, at the Cambridge Theatre in London. The children’s shadowing groups with their teachers and librarians, were all invited to attend the ceremony and the atmosphere was electric. We even had a visit from Mrs Phelps, the librarian in the musical and the enthusiastic audience of young people cheered when she appeared on stage.

The Carnegie Medal for Writing went to the UK Children’s Laureate, Joseph Coelho for The Boy Lost in the Maze. The Children’s Choice Award went to Tia Fisher for Crossing the Line.

The Carnegie Medal for Illustration and the Children’s Choice Award went to Aaron Becker for The Tree and the River. This double award doesn’t happen very often in the history of the awards, so it is very special when the judges and the children vote for the same book!

As the Carnegie Awards are judged solely by librarians, I would encourage any librarian with a passion for children’s literature and the time to dedicate to this wonderful process, to apply to become a regional judge. You are able to keep all the many diverse books that are sent by publishing houses and this for me was also a great incentive as they now adorn the shelves in my school library. CILIP will also pay expenses for travel and accommodation (up to a certain amount) for the final judging meeting and the ceremony in London.

For me, being the Northern Ireland Judge, has been the highlight of a career spent reading and encouraging children to read for pleasure.