Here's the shortlist for the Yoto Kate Greenaway Medal, the UK's longest running book awards for children and young people. In the judges’ words this shortlist “showcases how friendship can help young people find the strength to navigate challenging times” and “celebrates the power of pictures to create empathy, connection and hope”.

Unique in that they are judged solely by librarians, the roll-call of past winners includes: Arthur Ransome, C.S. Lewis, Terry Pratchett, Philip Pullman, Noel Streatfeild, Sally Gardner and Elizabeth Acevedo for the Carnegie; and Raymond Briggs, Shirley Hughes, Janet Ahlberg, and Children’s Laureates Quentin Blake, Anthony Browne, Chris Riddell and Lauren Child for the Kate Greenaway.

My personal favourite is Peter Van Den Ende’s The Wanderer, a wordless picture book following the journey of a paper boat through a dreamy landscape with breathtaking black and white illustrations.

The winners of the 2022 awards were October, October by Katya Balen, "a captivating story featuring exquisite descriptions of the natural world and relationships that develop and heal." And Long Way Down, illustrated by Danica Novgorodoff, "a brilliant, innovative adaptation of the novel by Jason Reynolds. It uses stunning watercolour to powerfully portray the tragedy of gun violence and the emotional impact it has on young people’s lives."