The longlists for the 2017 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals have been announced.

The Carnegie Medal is awarded by children’s librarians for an outstanding book written in English for children and young people. The Kate Greenaway Medal is awarded by children’s librarians for an outstanding book in terms of illustration for children and young people.

In 2017 the Carnegie Medal reaches its 80th year and the Kate Greenaway Medal its 60th.

Here are the longlisted books for the 2017 Carnegie Medal:

• Aubrey and the Terrible Yoot by Horatio Clare
• Sputnik’s Guide to Life on Earth by Frank Cottrell Boyce
• Unbecoming by Jenny Downham
• The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon
• How Not to Disappear by Clare Furniss
• The Smell of Other People’s Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock
• Whisper to Me by Nick Lake
• Beetle Boy by M.G. Leonard
• The Stars at Oktober Bend by Glenda Millard
• Pax by Sara Pennypacker
• Railhead by Philip Reeve
• Beck by Mal Peet with Meg Rosoff
• Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt
• The Marvels by Brian Selznick
• Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
• Island by Nicky Singer
• Dreaming the Bear by Mimi Thebo
• Time Travelling with a Hamster by Ross Welford
• Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk
• The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

Here are the longlisted books for the 2017 Kate Greenaway Medal:

• Alpha illustrated by Barroux (written by Bessora, translated by Sarah Ardizzone)
• Return illustrated and written by Aaron Becker
• Wild Animals of the North illustrated and written by Dieter Braun
• Bob the Artist illustrated and written by Marion Deuchars
• The Lion Inside illustrated by Jim Field (written by Rachel Bright)
• Perfect illustrated by Cathy Fisher (written by Nicola Davies)
• Tidy illustrated and written by Emily Gravett
• The Wolves of Currumpaw illustrated and written by William Grill
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone illustrated by Jim Kay (written by J.K. Rowling)
• The Whale illustrated by Ethan Murrow (written by Vita Murrow)
• Greenling illustrated and written by Levi Pinfold
• A Great Big Cuddle illustrated by Chris Riddell (written by Michael Rosen)
• A Beginner’s Guide to Bear Spotting illustrated by David Roberts (written by Michelle Robinson)
• The Journey illustrated and written by Francesca Sanna
• The Marvels illustrated and written by Brian Selznick
• There is a Tribe of Kids illustrated and written by Lane Smith
• Rain illustrated and written by Sam Usher
• Counting Lions illustrated by Stephen Walton (written by Virginia McKenna and Katie Cotton)
• Little One illustrated and written by Johanna Weaver
• The Great Fire of London illustrated by James Weston Lewis (written by Emma Adams)

Tricia Adams, Chair of the judging panels for both awards, said: ‘Both longlists are outstanding, showcasing the huge range of storytelling to be found in this vibrant area of publishing (children’s books now make up almost a third of the books sold in the UK each year). The subject matter that emerges from the two lists – stories about refugees, our relationship with the natural world, and living with disability and loss – reflect the very real issues children have to deal with. In turbulent times, we need children’s books to provide a safe space from which to help make sense of the world.’

The 2017 shortlists will be revealed on Thursday 16 March, with the winners to be announced on Monday 19 June.

Find out more about this year’s longlisted books for the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals here.