Thomas Hardy, Dickens and Tolstoy all figure in the list, alongside books for very young children like The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson, and Eric Carle's early years counting book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

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In the picture book category, Rebecca Cobb - who has illustrated books by The Gruffalo creator, Julia Donaldson - has been shortlisted for Lunchtime, while Chris Haughton features for a second year running with Oh No George, about a dog who tries very hard to be well-behaved.

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