The School Library Association has announced the shortlist for the Information Book Award 2022. Now in its twelfth year, the Information Book Award was set up to highlight the important role of non-fiction and to celebrate the high standard of children’s information books.

The Award is divided into three age categories and is judged by a panel of educators. Commenting on this year’s shortlist of 10 titles, Margaret Pemberton, IBA Chair, said: “This is once again a tremendous year for high quality, informative and enjoyable information books. The range of books is wide and they cover diverse and fascinating topics, in all of the age categories. Choosing the shortlist has been a strenuous but exhilarating challenge to the judges.”

Congratulations to all the shortlisted authors and illustrators!

Age 0-7 Shortlist

All About Diversity by Felicity Brooks, illustrated by Mar Ferrero (Usborne Publishing)

An Engineer Like Me by Dr. Shini Somara,  illustrated by Nadja Sarell (Wren & Rook)

Meet the Microbes by Dr Emily Grossman illustrated by Maggie Li (Wren & Rook)

What is Racism? by Katie Daynes & Jordan Akpojaro , illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat (Usborne Publishing)

Age 8-12 Shortlist

Black and British: An Illustrated History by David Olusoga illustrated by Jake Alexander & Melleny Taylor (Macmillan Children’s Books)

Making a Baby: An Inclusive Guide to How Every Family Begins by Rachel Greener, illustrated by Clare Owen (Nosy Crow)

Unleash Your Creative Monster: A Children’s Guide to Writing by Andy Jones , illustrated by Olaf Falafel (Walker Books)

Age 13-16 Shortlist

Black Artists Shaping the World by Sharna Jackson & Dr Zoé Whitely (Thames and Hudson)

Grown: The Black Girl’s Guide to Glowing Up by Melissa Cummings-Quarry & Natalie A. Carter, illustrated by Dorcas Magbadelo (Bloomsbury)

What’s the T? by Juno Dawson, illustrated by Soofiya (Wren & Rook)

To accompany the shortlist, the SLA have produced a free pack of activities that schools can use to explore the books with pupils and shadow the judging. Voting for the Children’s Choice in each of the three age categories, and for an overall Children’s Choice winner, is now open until November. Packs of the shortlisted titles are available at a discounted price from specialist school book supplier Peters.

The winners of the Information Book Award 2022 and the Children’s Choice will be announced at a ceremony during National Non-Fiction November. Look out for our winner announcement!