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Shadowing

Join the Journey with the 2025 Carnegie Medals

Registration for the 2025 awards opens in November 2024.
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What is shadowing?

Engaging, inspiring and free to join!

Every spring, CILIP invites reading groups from schools, libraries, and homes to join the exciting process of shadowing the Carnegie Medals. This experience gives young readers the chance to follow along with the official judging process as ‘shadowers.’

From mid-March, shadowers read, discuss, and review books from two separate shortlists—one for writing and one for illustration. Each shortlist features up to 8 books, and groups can choose to shadow one or both shortlists.

Shadowers share their thoughts online and vote for their favorites in the Shadowers’ Choice Awards. The winners of both the judges’ and shadowers’ medals are revealed in a livestreamed ceremony in mid-June.

With thousands of groups participating in the UK and around the world, shadowing engages tens of thousands of young readers, sparking a love for literature and critical thinking.

How does shadowing work?

The shadowing process begins in mid-March, following the shortlist announcement.

The shortlisted books can be easily ordered from our official book supplier Scholastic. Pre-orders of the 2025 shortlists will open in January.

Participating groups receive free access to:

  • Posters, bookmarks, and stickers to enhance the experience*.
  • Exclusive video interviews with the shortlisted authors and illustrators.
  • High-quality resources for each shortlisted book, with discussion prompts, activities and more.
  • Interactive book pages on our website where shadowers can:
    • Write reviews of the shortlisted books.
    • Upload artwork inspired by the stories and characters.
    • Vote in the Shadowers Choice Awards from May.
  • Livestreamed awards ceremony in mid-June.

*Free materials can be ordered when registering for shadowing before February 2025.

Check out our Shadowing Group Leader FAQs for more info!

Hear from 2024 shadowing groups: