Joseph Coelho won the YOTO Carnegie Medal for Writing for his novel in verse The Boy Lost in the Maze, illustrated by Kate Milner. Aaron Becker took the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration for his wordless picture book The Tree and the River. The winners will each receive a specially commissioned golden medal and a £5,000 (about $6,340) Colin Mears Award cash prize.
Prize organizers described Coelho's win as "a fitting tribute to an award that is uniquely judged by librarians and to his outgoing tenure as Waterstones Children's Laureate (2022-2024) where he launched the 'library marathon' project--a personal mission which saw him visit and join a library in every region of the U.K., a total of 213 nationwide, to highlight their importance and show the support they provide to local communities."
Maura Farrelly, chair of judges for the Yoto Carnegies, said: "The Boy Lost in the Maze is an extraordinary novel told through poems about two boys searching for their fathers. It is multi-layered immersive read which is playful in its language and construction and is as architectural as the mythical maze itself. The Tree and the River is a beautiful visual narrative of the natural world and the impact of humankind which invites readers to become absorbed in the landscapes. The epic spreads are alive with intricate detail and gorgeous use of light and color. Both are ambitious and exciting books that inspire the imagination and empower young readers."
Becker also won the Yoto Carnegie Shadowers' Choice Medal for Illustration, while Yoto Carnegie Shadowers' Choice Medal for Writing went to Tia Fisher for Crossing the Line, her debut novel told in verse. The two winners receive a golden medal and, for the first time this year, £500 (about $635) worth of books to donate to a library of their choice.