Meet the Judges 2023: Benji Davies

We’re lucky enough to have a stellar line up of judges here at OBP this year, who are all putting their expertise to the test by taking on the near-impossible task of judging our fantastic entries!

However, not only are they immensely talented, diligent and fair - they are generous enough to emerge briefly from their reading to answer our questions!

First up is the amazing Benji Davies - who counts among his many awards the very rare accolade of being the only two-time winner of Oscar’s Book Prize (and the very first winner, now that we mention it). We can’t think of a better person to have on the panel for our tenth year to bring things full circle.

Please read all about Benji below. Benji - thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions!

What is your earliest reading memory?

Sitting with my mum reading at bedtime.

Who is (or was) your all-time favourite person to read picture books with?

 My daughter. I love to read to her and she loves to be read to - it’s as simple as that.

There is so much joy to be had reading to a picture book to a child, looking at the pictures together and listening to the rhythm of the words.

Who or what do you consider to be the best picture book character ever, and why?

For me it’s the tiger from The Tiger Who Came To Tea by Judith Kerr. He gets to eat all the cakes and drink all the water in the tap. And who could resist that big grin? 

Oscar's Book Prize celebrates the very best picture books. What sort of stories are you hoping to discover while judging this year's shortlist?

I’m hoping to see a diverse range of stories and illustrative styles, there is so much out there. I’d also like to see picture books that appeal to the very youngest children - stories that don’t need to be fully understood to entertain and enchant. Especially I’d like to see the work of authors who dare to be different. 

About Benji Davies:

Benji Davies is an illustrator, author and animation director.

Benji studied animation at university where he learnt how to tell stories with pictures, from short films and music videos, to title sequences and picture books. In his work he aims to capture how it feels to be a child.

His first self-penned picture book The Storm Whale won the inaugural Oscar’s Book Prize and was Dutch Picture Book Of The Year 2017. His second, Grandad’s Island, won the children’s book category of the AOI World Illustration Awards and was crowned Children’s Book of the Year at the Sainsbury’s Children’s Book Awards. Both books have since been adapted for the stage.

He is the illustrator of Nosy Crow’s internationally bestselling board book series, Bizzy Bear.

Benji’s books can been read in over thirty-five languages and have sold over 6 million copies around the world.

He has given talks for and proudly supports the work of CLPE, The Children’s Bookshow, Pathways, SCBWI, Artillery and The Guardian amongst many others, and makes regular appearances at literary festivals and bookshops around the UK and beyond.

Benji lives in east London with his wife and daughter.