Judges Announced: Oscar's Book Prize 2023

 We’re absolutely thrilled to announce our TENTH judging panel! Please see below for the very official press release, which has been publicly shared today.

We can’t wait to see what this outstanding panel picks…

Read more about our judges here - or on our social channels - in the coming days!

Cressida Cowell joins Oscar’s Book Prize judging panel to find the breakout picturebook of 2023

London, UK, 2 March 2023: Cressida Cowell, the celebrated former Children’s Laureate and author of the best-selling children’s book series How To Train Your Dragon is joining the judging panel for Oscar’s Book Prize 2023.

Alongside Cowell, selecting the best picturebook of the year will be The British Book Awards ‘Illustrator of the Year 2022’ Dapo Adeola and author and two-time winner of Oscar’s Book Prize, Benji Davies. Completing the panel is Viveka Alvestrand, who co-founded the literary award in memory of her son, and Lisa de Meyer, the UK Books Country Manager at Amazon.co.uk.

 Now celebrating its tenth year, the £10,000 prize seeks to find the best illustrated book for young children and was set up by James Ashton and Viveka Alvestrand to celebrate magical stories for children in memory of their son Oscar, who was three-and-a-half when he died from a heart condition in December 2012.

 Cressida Cowell said: “Being so passionate about children’s literature and the excitement and inspiration it can bring to children, I am so looking forward to unearthing some new magic while we choose the next breakout picturebook. I know all too well the hard work and dedication it takes to create a great picturebook, which look deceptively simple, but capturing the imagination and excitement of children and their families takes enormous skill.”

 Oscar's Book Prize is supported by Amazon Books and the Evening Standard. Its patron is HRH Princess Beatrice. Submissions closed in January and the shortlist will be revealed in April, before the winner is announced in May 2023.

 James Ashton, the prize's chairman and co-founder, said: “If I think about how simply our prize began, reaching ten years is a milestone of which everyone involved should be proud. We couldn’t have got this far without the support of authors, illustrators, publishers, sponsors and judges and I hope for 2023 we can showcase another brilliant book for parents to share with their children.”

 Lisa de Meyer, Country Manager for Amazon UK Books, said: “We always look forward to this time of year where we get to support Oscar’s Book Prize in championing the creative talent behind books for children. Some of my most precious times with my 2-year-old have revolved around reading, especially at bedtime, and I am thrilled to be part of this very special judging panel. For young children (and parents, too), picturebooks are a pathway into adventure, learning and creativity, and Amazon is proud to support the search for the nation’s next favourite bedtime story.” 

 Previous winners of the prize include:

2022: Maybe… by Chris Haughton (Walker Books)

2021: The Littlest Yak by Lu Fraser and Kate Hindley (Simon & Schuster)

2020: Tad by Benji Davies (HarperCollins)

2019: How To Be a Lion by Ed Vere (Puffin)

2018: There’s a Pig Up My Nose by John Dougherty and Laura Hughes (Egmont)

2017: The Koala Who Could by Rachel Bright and Jim Field (Orchard Books)

2016: The Cow Who Climbed A Tree by Gemma Merino (Macmillan Children’s Books)

2015: The Queen’s Hat by Steve Antony (Hodder Children’s Books)

2014: The Storm Whale by Benji Davies (Simon & Schuster)

 

For more information about Oscar’s Book Prize, please visit www.oscarsbookprize.co.uk.

 ENDS<