“The Carnegie Awards are an integral part of introducing teachers to the best of new literature for children, and I’m so excited to be part of the judging team.”
CONNECTED caught up with Reading graduate and University Academic Liaison Librarian and Learning Hub Manager, Charlotte Dormer, who is currently nose-deep within the 119 books she is judging as one of the 2025 Carnegie Award judges.
Charlotte’s love for reading is one which began at a young age. She recalled: “I was just that child who fell in love with reading when I was tiny. I remember not being able to read, then being able to, and I don’t think I’ve ever stopped. I opened a book and realised I could be transported to another world – I could be so many other people and see so many other things – without leaving my chair, it was amazing.”
Charlotte’s passion for reading and literature has remained throughout her studies and career, culminating in the ultimate dream of becoming a Carnegie judge.
Outstanding reading experiences
The Carnegies are the UK’s longest running and best-loved children’s book awards, recognising outstanding reading experiences created through written and illustration books.
Charlotte shared: “If you were to read through the winning Carnegie books it would take you on a magical journey throughout British children’s literature, including books from His Dark Materials to Skellig.
“You know when you read a book and you come out of the story and feel like a different person? These awards are about finding the books that will give you that feeling.”
Charlotte was thrilled to recently be selected as the South East 2025 Carnegie Judge. The Carnegie Awards are unique in that they are judged solely by librarians, who are also members of CILIP (Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals), and have worked with children.
Charlotte said: “The fact that I’m a Carnegie judge is only just starting to sink in! I’ve read most of the winning books over my lifetime and now to be a judge – I can’t think of any greater honour.
“I was invited to the awards ceremony last year and the winner, the 2022-24 Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho, said that having his book chosen as the Carnegie winner – when it is possibly the most influential children’s book award in the UK, if not the world – was such a massive honour. So no pressure then!”
While being a Carnegie judge is a great honour, it’s certainly not an easy task. Charlotte explained: “There are 14 judges and each of us reads every single writing and illustration book, which can range from picture books to graphic novels – this year there is a total of 119 to read. We do the first read over the winter, create a longlist of 20 books, then narrow down to a shortlist. We then re-read them at least twice more before announcing the winner around July 2025.
“Previous judges all say how rewarding it is, but I know it’s going to be a very busy Christmas!”
A love of literacy
Throughout her studies and career, Charlotte has centred everything around her love of literacy, the magical, and history. This made the University of Reading’s history degree, with its magic modules, a perfect fit. She shared: “I’ve loved history since I was 12 and I had a great experience studying it at Reading. I also joined the Sci-Fi society whilst studying and really found my tribe. We’re all still in touch today and I also met my husband, who is from Sweden, at Reading in the Mondial Café!
“Aside from meeting all my friends and my husband, my stand-out memory from Reading has to be the time we built a giant snowball!
“It was a really cold winter in my first year and our group of friends began making a snowball in the morning, and throughout the day people added to it. It was massive in the end and even featured on the front page of The Spark student newspaper! It sadly met its end by melting in Whiteknights Lake.”
Since graduating from Reading Charlotte’s career has included working as a Secondary School Teaching Assistant; studying Viking and Medieval Scandinavian History in Sweden, whilst volunteering with an adult education college; working as a Primary School Librarian at a school local to the University; and joining the University of Reading as Academic Liaison Librarian and Learning Hub Manager.
Charlotte said: “All of these roles were extremely rewarding and nothing will ever beat those moments when you place the right book into a child’s hands at the exact minute they need it. That moment when they find themselves reflected in the pages and disappear into their book is utter magic.
The University’s Learning Hub is a resource base that primarily supports the work and study of staff and student teachers at the Institute of Education, although other visitors are also welcome. Charlotte fell in love with the Learning Hub at first sight and has now worked there for five years.
Charlotte explained:
“It’s an amazing place! Our resources are mostly used by trainee teachers who borrow items to take on placement. They also visit to gain inspiration for lesson plans or to have a play around with items and consider how they could be used in lessons.
“The Learning Hub also enables us to introduce trainee teachers to new books which they can then share with their classes. For example, a teacher may choose to read Roald Dahl books because they grew up with them, however there are so many excellent children’s books nowadays that are far more inclusive, so it’s important to expand the range of books going into classrooms. Children are like sponges – they absorb everything out of books, so we have an opportunity to ensure they are being exposed to a range of stories and characters, both modern and traditional.
“Inclusivity in books is something I’m passionate about and in fact, was a key element of my application to become a Carnegie judge. I believe it’s so important for a child not just to see themselves in books, but to also see children different to them as the hero, to increase their empathy.”
Find out more about the Carnegie Awards, or the University of Reading Learning Hub.
