Candy Gourlay and Ambassador Antonio M. Lagdameo proudly hold copies of the books nominated for the 2019 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals. Photo by Stacy Garcia

05 November 2018 LONDON—Two books by award-winning Filipino author Candy Gourlay have been nominated for the 2019 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals. The list of nominees was published on 05 November, in the official website of the award giving body. The CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals are the United Kingdom’s oldest children’s book awards which recognise outstanding writing and illustration in books for children and young people.

“So honoured to find both Bone Talk and Is It a Mermaid (for Francesca Chessa's amazing illustrations!) on this year's nominations lists for the Greenaway and Carnegie Medals! Thank you, to the librarians who nominated our books. Thank you to our publishers, David Fickling Books and Otter-Barry Books,” said Gourlay in a Facebook post.

Bone Talk joins a list of 137 books nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal, which recognises outstanding books written in English for children and young adults, while Is It a Mermaid? is one of 117 books nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal for “distinguished illustration.”

“The nomination of Candy’s books in one of the UK’s most prestigious awards for children’s and young adults’ books is another moment of pride for all Filipinos,” said Ambassador Antonio M. Lagdameo. “Candy has done an excellent job in using her literary magic to share Philippine values and culture to young people in the UK.”

Winners of the medals will be announced on 17 June 2019 after a rigid judging and selection process conducted by a panel of 14 children's and youth librarians representing all regions of CILIP's Youth Libraries Group − who volunteer their time as judges.

Since her debut novel Tall Story (2010), Gourlay has reaped several awards in recognition of her engaging writing style. In 2012, Tall Story won the National Children’s Book Award of the Philippines and the Crystal Kite Award for Europe in 2011. Tall Story was also shortlisted for 13 prizes such as the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, the Branford Boase Award, the Blue Peter Book Award, and the UKLA Children’s Book Prize. Her second novel, Shine, was longlisted for the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize and won the Crystal Kit Award for the British Isles in 2014.

Prior to moving to the UK, Gourlay worked as a journalist in the Philippines, particularly for the weekly tabloid, Mr. & Ms. Special Edition. Gourlay hails from Davao City, Philippines. END