Shortlisted Books

Please consult our group leader information for guidance on taking part in shadowing. Revelations around her Baba force Chiante to reassess her life and to dig deep into her family’s past.  There’s a clever parallel between what it means to belong as part of a family and what it means to feel part of one’s country. Intergenerational […]

Please consult our group leader information for guidance on taking part in shadowing. Told in reverse, there’s an emotional honesty to the story of Neon and Aria and the build up to their first time having sex.  Boys’ emotions are uncovered with candid honesty and warmth.  The importance of being thoughtful and true to yourself, as well as considering how one’s own actions impact on others are […]

Please consult our group leader information for guidance on taking part in shadowing. A simple heartfelt story drawing parallels between human and animal journeys and how these form part of a global story. The gentle, sketchbook-like quality creates intimacy and emotional resonance. Swallows are used as a constant visual reminder that migration occurs in all […]

Please consult our group leader information for guidance on taking part in shadowing. A witty, underwater exploration of why some narratives might be less believable than others. There’s visual humour on every page and a brilliant synergy between words and pictures with a real sense of drama. The clear line style lends impact to images.  It takes on […]

Please consult our group leader information for guidance on taking part in shadowing. A range of visual storytelling techniques culminate to tell the story of two children and their grandmother who struggle to survive following extensive flooding. There are a mix of diagrams and sketch-like journal entries. The combination of smaller panels and full spreads […]

Please consult our group leader information for guidance on taking part in shadowing. The child at the centre of the story is endeavouring to read, but the letters continually jump and jumble. Words and letters are used as building blocks for the illustrations creating playful and imaginative layers. The colour palette is striking throughout and there’s plenty […]

Please consult our group leader information for guidance on taking part in shadowing. There’s a dissonance between the story that the text tells and the illustrations.  A simple playdate between two young children and the mothers who facilitate this, provides a thought-provoking social commentary where inequality is at the fore. There’s a multi-layered nature to the illustrations which […]

Please consult our group leader information for guidance on taking part in shadowing. This strong, impactful graphic retelling has a cinematic quality.  The story of a group of boys trying to survive on an island as civilisation erodes into savagery is repellent at points but in the best possible way because of the prowess and power of the […]

Please consult our group leader information for guidance on taking part in shadowing. Life on the plantation is strict and harsh for Nemy. However, messages are woven into the braids of the characters whose strength and beauty are highlighted through radiant skin tones. There’s a strong sense of place throughout the book. Light and shadow is used to great […]

Please consult our group leader information for guidance on taking part in shadowing. An original style and superb worldbuilding combine to tell the story of Rene, a window cleaner, and Glumfoot an ogre. Illustrations are intricate and there’s an impressive cast of creatures, many of whom will be familiar to readers. Detailed illustrations and shifting perspectives mean this is a […]

Please consult our group leader information for guidance on taking part in shadowing. Although the windy season is over, Anya is surprised by the gusts of wind and is keen to find the cause of this, building a paper bridge to cross into the next village. There’s an exquisite quality to the way art is used […]

Please consult our group leader information for guidance on taking part in shadowing. Readers follow the story of the rabbit, Jacominus Gainsborough, who isn’t as large or as speedy as some of his peers and who has his own distinct interests and enjoyments. Filled with depth and detail, the illustrations have a photolike quality inviting readers to […]

Please consult our group leader information for guidance on taking part in shadowing. Led by the vividly portrayed Red, the story draws on the different tropes of Red Riding Hood as we know it and masterfully subverts them.  Readers are offered a window into her world and lived experience, and are offered insightful comments on the impact of […]

Please consult our group leader information for guidance on taking part in shadowing. The colours, diverse characters and commotion of a family journey on a night train are vividly brought to life in this vibrant tale.  Every character has a distinct identity and facial expressions.  The illustrations draw on rich cultural elements and challenge stereotypes.  […]

Please consult our group leader information for guidance on taking part in shadowing. A richly illustrated compendium of Celtic folklore and fairy tales with an eerie otherworldly quality.  From selkies, to shapeshifters, there’s an array of different fairy folk populating the pages.  There’s a darkness to the Celtic folklore which is reflected in the considered […]

Please consult our group leader information for guidance on taking part in shadowing. Told from a child’s-eye perspective, this follows the perilous journey from Vietnam, subtly referenced by colour palettes and increased military presence, to a journey to find safety.  Illustrations add weight, power and emotional depth to the story and provide cultural references to […]

Please consult our group leader information for guidance on taking part in shadowing. A celebration of love told across generations through the lilt of a lullaby.  There’s a childlike tone to many of the illustrations and soft, pastel colours evoke a cosy, dreamy quality.  These become more focused as the dreams transition from childhood to […]

Please consult our group leader information for guidance on taking part in shadowing. Imagining the origins of the Banshees of Irish folklore as babies or Bansheenies. Rather than being portents of doom, Beanie decides she wants to find a way to protect her person, Rose, and her family. Vivid visual storytelling, a limited colour palette, intertextual […]

Please consult our group leader information for guidance on taking part in shadowing. The importance of the sun as a life-giver and energy provider is brought vividly to life in this clever and accessible picture book.  Kaleidoscopic colours and collage show how energy is transferred across food chains across night and day. There’s a textural quality to illustrations […]

Please consult our group leader information for guidance on taking part in shadowing. A quiet, reflective story about finding wonder and solace in the world around us. Poppy and her mum are struggling to come to terms with the loss of their grandmother. There’s palpable emotion present on every page. Readers are visually drawn into the world and are invited to […]