Scheduled for Tuesday 23rd April, the Yoto Carnegies Book Town Takeover is made possible through a partnership with Sedbergh School, Sedbergh Prep School, and Pen&Inc magazine, a champion of diversity and inclusion in children’s literature.

The festival's daytime programme will cater to school groups, featuring sessions with the 2024 Yoto Carnegies shortlisted illustrators, renowned children’s authors, publishing experts specialising in material for young readers, and experienced group leaders for the Carnegies Shadowing Scheme. This national reading initiative involves groups reading the shortlisted books and voting for their favourites. Additionally, there will be a dedicated session for educators and librarians to explore shadowing as an avenue to foster a love for reading and engage with diverse book collections.

The evening session, set on World Book Night, will be open to the public and will feature a headline appearance by Anne Fine, a two-time recipient of the Carnegie Medal for Writing. Notably, Fine authored 'Madame Doubtfire,' later adapted into the blockbuster film starring Robin Williams. Anne Fine was the first novelist to be honoured as the UK Children's Laureate (2001-2003) and has contributed to various genres, including picture books, chapter books, middle-grade fiction, young adult fiction, and adult novels.

Anne Fine said, “Winning the Carnegie Medal is the highlight of any children’s writer’s career, (may I boast that I’ve done it twice?), and such is this prize’s importance that it’s fitting that this year there’s a partnership between the Yoto Carnegies and Sedbergh, England's Book Town. I very much look forward to speaking at this day long festival, which will promote books and reading for children and young people.”

To register your interest to attend the Yoto Carnegies Book Town Takeover on 23rd April 2024 in Sedbergh, England’s Book Town, please contact carnegies@sedberghschool.org.

The shortlists for the 2024 Yoto Carnegies will be announced at a panel event at London Book Fair beginning at 9.15am on Wednesday 13 March. The winners’ ceremony will be hosted live and streamed online on Thursday 20 June.

Pen&Inc magazine and the Yoto Carnegies are partnered in their mission to create a

better, more inclusive world through reading for pleasure, and are both a part of CILIP, the Library and Information Association.

Yoto, the innovative screen-free audio platform for children, proudly headlines the Awards as the main sponsor. The Yoto Carnegies also receive support from ALCS, with Scholastic serving as the official book supplier and First News as the official media partner.