The winners of the School Library Association’s Information Book Award 2025 were announced on 27th November at a ceremony hosted by author, historian and podcast host Greg Jenner.

The Information Book Award was established to highlight the important role of non-fiction as part of young people’s reading experience and to celebrate the high standard of information books for young people. There are three award categories: Ages 0-7, Ages 8-12, and Ages 13-16.

A panel of judges made up of experts from the school library sector selected winners for each of the three age categories. From these, an Overall Winner was chosen. However, young people across the UK also had the opportunity to have their say by voting in the Children’s Choice Award.

For their Overall Winner, the adult judges chose Inside Story: How the News Works written by Jane Marlow for ITN Productions and illustrated by Terri Po (Templar Books). Described by the judges as a fantastic deep dive into the nuts and bolts of news and a powerful tool for information literacy, Inside Story: How the News Works also won the Ages 8-12 category.

Chair of Judges Helen Cleaves said: ‘From ancient philosophy to artificial intelligence, the IBA showcases the fantastic breadth of information books being written for children today and offers a compelling glimpse into what matters to us right now.

…The judges were particularly impressed by the rich detail, bold illustrations and diversity of roles behind the scenes showcased in How the New Works, which combined to highlight the scale of the news machine and hopefully serve as a much-needed antidote to fake news and clickbait. 

What I love about judging this award is seeing the skill with which these vital topics are brought to life for the next generation. I’ve been delighted, shocked, amazed: as the design and artwork combine to deliver an unforgettable reading experience, showing what an impact the best information books can have.’

This year over 1600 pupils took part in the Information Book Award Book Club to vote in the Children’s Choice Award – the highest level of participation in the award’s history. For their Overall Winner, the young judges chose Amazing Asia by Rashmi Sirdeshpandi, illustrated by Jason Lyon (Quarto). This stunningly-illustrated and fact-filled exploration of the vast continent of Asia also won the Children’s Choice Ages 8-12 category.

While adult and young judges may have differed in their choice of Overall Winner, there was consensus across the other two age categories, with This Book Will Make You an Artist by Ruth Millington, illustrated by Ellen Surrey (Nosy Crow) and Black History for Every Day of the Year by David, Yinka and Kemi Olusoga (Macmillan Children’s Books) winning the Ages 0-7 and Ages 13-16 categories respectively.

Commenting on this year’s award, Victoria Dilly, CEO of the School Library Association, said: ‘The Information Book Award celebrates the quality, diversity and creativity of children’s publishing, as evidenced by our brilliant shortlist and deserved winners. We know that information books offer a powerful route into reading for many young readers – giving them an opportunity to build on their natural curiosity and interest in the world around them…

What makes this award particularly special is the pupil book club. By participating in the book club discussions and voting process, children and young people aren’t just choosing their favourite books, they’re also developing essential critical thinking skills. They’re learning to share their opinions, listen to different perspectives, and to engage in meaningful debate with their peers. These are the stepping stones to becoming responsible citizens and we are delighted to provide a framework to embed these skills through the school library, with over 1600 children taking part in this year’s vote. There is a real accolade to gaining a Children’s Choice title and I was thrilled to see Amazing Asia receive the overall winner award from this year’s book club pupils.’

Judges’ Choice Category Winners

Ages 0-7: This Book Will Make You an Artist written by Ruth Millington and illustrated by Ellen Surrey (Nosy Crow)

Ages 8-12: Inside Story: How the News Works by ITN Productions and illustrated by Terri Po (Templar Books)

Ages 13-16: Black History for Every Day of the Year by David, Yinka and Kemi Olusoga (Macmillan Children’s Books)

Children’s Choice Category Winners

Ages 0-7: This Book Will Make You an Artist written by Ruth Millington and illustrated by Ellen Surrey (Nosy Crow)

Ages 8-12: Amazing Asia written by Rashmi Sirdeshpande, illustrated by Jason Lyon (Quarto)

Ages 13-16: Black History for Every Day of the Year by David, Yinka and Kemi Olusoga (Macmillan Children’s Books)

Find out more about the IBA Book Club and how your pupils can get involved with the Children’s Choice Award next year.