In partnership with our sponsors, Hachette Children’s Group, and Peters, who support the award, we are pleased to announce our 2021 Information Book Award (IBA) shortlist.

Now in its eleventh year, the IBA aims to emphasise the importance of non-fiction by highlighting and celebrating the high standard of children’s information books. The awards are divided into three age categories, judged by a panel of educators. Children will also have the opportunity to vote for their favourites in each group, as well as their favourite overall, to determine four additional Children’s Choice winners.

The shortlist for each age category is as follows:

Building a Home     Polly Faber     Klas Fahlén      9781788006569     Nosy Crow 

How to Build an Orchestra     Mary Auld     Elisa Paganelli     9781526309839     Hachette

What Do Scientists Do All Day?     Jane Wilsher     Maggie Li     9780711249776     Wide Eyed Editions

Lift-the-Flap First Questions and Answers: Why Do Things Die?     Katie Daynes     Christine Pym     9781474979887     Usborne

Age 8 - 12

Big Ideas for Young Thinkers     Jamia Wilson     Andrea Pippins     9780711249202     Wide Eyed Editions

How Many Mice Make an Elephant?     Tracey Turner     Aaron Cushley     9780753445402     Pan Macmillan

I Am Not a Label     Cerrie Burnell     Lauren 'Emel' Baldo     9780711247444     Wide Eye Editions

Youthquake     Tom Adams     Sarah Walsh     9781788007634     Nosy Crow

Age 13 - 16

Fake News     Tom Jackson     Cristina Guitian     9780711250321     QED Publishing

Have Pride     Stella Caldwell & Sue Sanders     9781783125500     Welbeck Publishing 

This Book is Anti-Racist     Tiffany Jewell     Aurélia Durand     9780711245204     Frances Lincoln

Accompanying activities that can be easily implemented in a school library or classroom setting have also been released to help schools unlock the full potential of the shortlisted titles, which can be accessed here. The shortlist books will be available at a discounted price from Peters, by visiting www.peters.co.uk/sla.

The winners will be announced in a virtual ceremony to take place in November.

For more information on the award, click here.

Huge congratulations to all the brilliant authors, illustrators and publishers listed!