Children’s author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler will receive a major award at the Oxford Literary Festival in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The pair will be presented with the Bodley Medal on Thursday, 26 March 2026 at 6pm to celebrate their long career making books for young readers.
The award is the highest honour given by the Bodleian Libraries for outstanding work in literature, science, and communication. This marks the first time the library has given the medal to a writer and an artist together as a team. The duo has worked together for over 30 years, starting with their first book, A Squash and a Squeeze, in 1993.
The ceremony will take place at the Sheldonian Theatre, a historic hall designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the 17th century. Richard Ovenden, the head librarian at the university, will present the medal and lead a talk with the winners. Their most famous book, The Gruffalo, has sold more than 13.5 million copies and won several prizes.
According to the Bodleian Libraries, the medal is awarded to people who have made a big difference to the world of books. Previous winners of this specific honour include the scientist Stephen Hawking and the author Philip Pullman. The pair’s latest book, Jonty Gentoo, was also named a winner at the British Book Awards in 2025.
The event is a highlight of the city’s literary festival, which runs from 21 March to 29 March 2026. This year, the festival organizers expect around 15,000 people to attend more than 100 different events across the city. Residents can purchase tickets to see the presentation and hear the creators discuss their famous characters.
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