The White Ravens: A Selection of International Children’s and Youth Literature

Congratulations to the creators of the four Australian titles selected for inclusion in the prestigious 2026 White Ravens catalogue, featuring brief annotations of more than 200 notable new children’s and young adult books from about 50 countries and regions and over 40 languages.

The books are selected by the International Youth Library’s children’s literature experts from the large number of review and donation copies the library receives in the course of one year.

The team focuses on titles that might be of interest to an international audience because of their literary and pictorial quality and/or the topics they address.

It is a rich selection indeed and well worth exploring. Each entry shows the book’s cover, gives a summary of the story with a commentary. Themes covered are listed below the bibliographic details and show the wide variety and scope of subjects covered in children’s literature.

The four Australian titles chosen this year are:

How to Get Rid of a Princess by Alison McLennan & Mel Pearce

Alison McLennan’s deliberately factual tongue-in-cheek text reads (almost) like a proper knightly manual, as Mel Pearce’s scratchy, vibrant, comical illustrations reveal just how catastrophically things go wrong….A wonderfully fantastical and joyful story that offers a glimpse into the ups and downs of sibling dynamics. (Age: 4+) [CS] Read the StoryLinks review.

Drift by Pip Harry

Award winning author Pip Harry’s quiet verse novel, told in alternating chapters from both friends’ perspectives, tackles a number of challenging topics without ever feeling preachy or overloaded. Her heartfelt verse, which includes expressive visual elements, gives insight into the young protagonists’ thoughts and anxieties, while ultimately creating an atmosphere of hope and healing. (Age: 12+) [CS]

Good Young Menby Gary Lonesborough

Spanning several months, the three first-person narrations reveal how the boys rebuild connections, fall in love, fight against racist bullying, and move towards a brighter future. An intriguing and insightful YA novel that will stay in readers’ minds for a long time! (Age: 13+) [CS] Read StoryLinks review.

When the Mountain Wakes by Matt Shanks

The sparse lyrical text leaves ample room for readers to embellish the tales alluded to by the expressive illustrations, alternating between sequential snapshots in small panels and single larger images. The reduced colour palette in the middle of the book signals the oppressive silence of a dead world, highlighting the contrast to the colourful Earth nursed back to health at the end. A beautiful and impactful read. (Age: 8+) [CS] Read StoryLinks review.

Cataglogues from previous years are also worth exploring.