Our final judge Q&A is with Amazon UK’s Books Country Manager, Lisa de Meyer, who brings her expert eye to selecting the prize shortlist for a second year.
On the eve of announcing our tenth winner, please enjoy our final judge’s comments on her own reading journey, and find out what she was looking for in a winner. We wonder if it gives a clue about what the panel might have chosen? As ever, we give our judges enormous thanks and respect for making that difficult choice!
Lisa, for that and your answers below, thank you!
What is your earliest reading memory?
It was reading with my parents and grandparents. I remember vividly the picture books my grandparents would read me when I went to stay with them.
Who is (or was) your all-time favourite person to read picture books with?
I love reading with my daughter, who is nearly three years old, and introducing her to all the characters I used to read about, such as Peter Rabbit, Elmer and Paddington, as well as discovering new books together, our current favourites are the Luna loves… series by Joseph Coelho and illustrated by Fiona Lumbers. She loves ‘reading’ the books herself too, it is amazing to see her imagination make up a story as she uses the pictures at prompts!
Who or what do you consider to be the best picture book character ever, and why?
This is hard, but for nostalgic reasons, my favourite are Alfie & Annie-Rose from the books by Shirley Hughes.
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 was hoping to discover books which speak to a child’s imagination, humour and have a sense of fun! Last year’s winner Maybe, by Chris Haughton, did exactly that!
Chris Haughton and Maybe! at last year’s winner ceremony