The shortlist for the 2012 Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medal have just been announced and they both include some amazing books.  I’d both love and hate to be a judge of these awards because I love the books they choose and would find it really hard to pick just one.

The Carnegie Medal is awarded annually to the writer of an outstanding book for children. This year’s shortlist includes:

• My Name is Mina by David Almond
• Small Change for Stuart by Lissa Evans
• The Midnight Zoo by Sonya Hartnett
• Everybody Jam by Ali Lewis
• Trash by Andy Mulligan
• A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
• My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher
• Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

The Kate Greenaway Medal is awarded annualy for distinguished illustration in a book for children.  This year’s shortlist includes:

• Wolf Won’t Bite by Emily Gravett
• Peter Puffin by Peter Horacek
• A Monster Calls illustrated by Jim Kay
• Slog’s Dad illustrated by Dave McKean
• Soloman Crocodile by Catherine Rayner
• The Gift illustrated by Rob Ryan
• There Are NO Cats In This Book by Viviane Schwarz
• Can We Save the Tiger illustrated by Vicky White

SO many great books!  I’ve read (and LOVE!) quite a few of them and will try and read the others before the winners are announced. 

Which ones are your favourites?