Meet the shortlist 2025: Polly Noakes

The penultimate shortlisted book we’re spotlighting is Just The Two Of Us by Polly Noakes - a touching story of friendship and hope. Polly attended Cambridge School of Art, and graduated in 2015 with an MA in Children's Book Illustration. She has illustrated a number of books, using various techniques such as monoprint, watercolour, gouache and collage. Polly lives in rural North Yorkshire with her family.

Polly Noakes answers:

Who or what do you think Stella’s favourite picture book character would be and why? 

Whilst not strictly a picture book,  Pippi Longstocking, is a character with autonomy and freedom to be herself and who Stella would love!

My fav picture book of all time and who would I read it with -

Mr Magnolia by Quintin Blake.

I used to read this to my children who  absolutely loved it, even as adults they remember the words. This is the power of a good book! 

How did you come up with the idea for writing this story?

The majority of my ideas come from my own childhood, which I am lucky enough to remember.  I played with imaginary friends, as did my daughter and I think both of us found comfort in them. Initially the story was told from Stella’s point of view, until I  started wondering where do imaginary friends go when they are no longer needed? And the story just flowed from there.