A celebration of World Book Day – by Princess Beatrice
We’re thrilled that our Patron, Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice, has written a blog to coincide with World Book Day all about reading during lockdown.
A Celebration of World Book Day
By HRH Princess Beatrice
Reading stories over this last year has been the best form of adventure from the safety of our own homes. It is amazing how in-between video calls and working through technology we have had more time in the day to enjoy reading and its shown how important is has been to step away from the screen and jump into worlds unknown through the help of books.
As you might already know I have dyslexia and as such reading has never been my strongest talent, however, having a little more time to take a moment to really get into stories has been a gift I am happy to have shared with lockdown life. I have found when things are a little uncertain, or if I am worried or scared of what the future might have in store, stepping in the worlds describes on the pages of literature has given me a sense of reassurance. It reminds me that challenges and quests have been dared throughout the ages and lessons learnt along the way make us stronger and more resilient.
This year, I had the great honour to become a stepmother, and have had the most remarkable time going back over some of my most favourite stories at bedtime. Together, we had such a special time reading through all the entries for Oscars Book Prize 2020. The winning book Tad by Benji Davis is a remarkable story of resilience told through the adventures of Tad the little tadpole who was one of the smallest but one of the bravest in the pond. The story reminds us that sometimes the biggest stories have the smallest beginnings. I can't wait to see what we will read for the Prize this year!
For me, stories shared together during this challenging time have been a great lesson. Reflecting on those seemingly small moments when you are laughing at a character or a very clever illustration remind us that even when things feel uncertain there is always an adventure to be had on the next page. My inspiration and love of reading has stemmed from an early age, my Mother being a children’s author instigated my love of reading and stories.
My stepson has been, as many children have, home schooling this term. Helping him to engage with stories is a great journey to inspire imagination, creativity, independence and humour. If you have not yet read the Oi Frog books by Kes Grey and Jim Field, they have fast become our favourite. We have all had to learn new ways to cope with the strangest of times. For our family, reading stories has been a great part of our journey to finding laughter and a little magic on the journey.
As Princess Beatrice mentions, discovering books to read together is a magical way to mark World Book Day.
To help you choose, why not look at some of our previous shortlisted books for inspiration?
Or, take a look at the next post (and/or on our social media channels by following @oscarsbookprize) to see which characters some of our current and past shortlist, judges and experts have suggested to read and dress up as together at home!
You can also find out more about World Book Day and some of the ways to celebrate it here: https://www.worldbookday.com/about-us/
Princess Beatrice is not the only person to reflect on reading during lockdown. The brilliant team at World Book Day, along with incredible partners including CLPE and NLT (who we are also proud to work with) have done some amazing research to give a complete picture of reading over the past year. You can read all about their findings here: https://www.worldbookday.com/2021/02/the-story-of-reading-during-lockdown
Meet the judges!
We thought it was about time we told you a bit more about his year’s intrepid Oscar’s Book Prize judges. TV and radio’s Angellica Bell joins queen of the breakfast show, Lorraine Kelly and illustrator extraordinaire Axel Scheffler to form our celebrity trio for Oscar’s Book Prize 2021 alongside regular judges, Viveka Alvestrand, who founded the £5,000 literary award in memory of her son, and Simon Johnson, Director of Amazon EU Books. You can read a little bit more about Viveka and Simon in their bios, but for now let’s find out more about our new judge’s and what they’ll be looking out for during this year’s prize cycle:
What is your earliest or best memory of reading a book as a young child?
Axel: I don't really have a first reading memory, but there is evidence that I enjoyed books - you can see a photo of me reading as a tiny child on my website!
Lorraine: I grew up in a house full of books. My mum and dad taught me to read and write before I went to primary school. They weren’t pushy, they just made it fun and the gift of loving books is one of the best they have ever given to me. My first books were Dr Seuss and The Golden Treasury of Faith Tales, then I got into Just William books and Enid Blyton.
Angellica: I wasn't surrounded by books growing up but once I was old enough, I would go to the library every Saturday and spend the morning there reading books in the children's section. I remember loving the Judy Blume books and had a light attached to my bottom bunk and read well into the night. I used books for escapism and to see the world differently.
Who was your favourite person to read with as a child? Who do you read picture books with now?
Axel: I think my Mum read some Grimm fairy tales to me when I was a child which I liked. I've read every night to my daughter since she was little, and we've enjoyed all sorts of different books together. But now she is 13 and too old for picture books. I do read them when I do school visits though ...
Lorraine: My mum read to me as a child and it was something I really enjoyed doing with my daughter Rosie when she was little. Each Peach Pear Plum was a favourite and I read her all my old books which I’d kept and still have. I can’t throw out a book as they are too precious. My house is full of books of all kinds.
Angellica: Everyone's experience of reading is different and not everyone has the idyllic start with books, it came later for me and something I had to instil in myself. I truly understand the benefits now and every night one of us would read a picture book to the little ones even when they were babies. I have also read for Cbeebies bedtime stories and am often asked to record books for children. I just love it. Picture books allow the development of thought. ideas and confidence and a way for children to be able to articulate what they see.
What was your favourite picture book as a child, and/or of all time?
Axel: I had a picture book called Hirsch Heinrich by Fred Rodrian and Werner Klemke which I really liked, and that I've still got. Now I like anything by William Steig - I don't have one favourite book.
Lorraine: My favourite picture book was One Fish Two Fish by Dr Seuss but my grandmother gave me a copy of Struwelpeter which is a pretty macabre book for kids full of terrible stories about what happens to you if you are a naughty child. It scared the living daylights out of me.
Angellica: I love picture books and have so many at home which I'm keeping just in case! The ones that stand out in my head at this moment are The Lorax, I Want my Hat Back and The Day the Crayons Quit! I've had fun reading them over the years.
What sort of books are you hoping to discover when reading for the Prize?
Axel: Well obviously an exciting text with amazing pictures!
Lorraine: I’m hoping to discover stories that really understand children and don’t talk down to them or patronise them in any way. Kids are very smart and they know what they like, and more importantly what they don’t like, and they can spot when an author doesn’t “get” them.
Obviously interesting, exciting stories that spark their imagination and make them want to read even more books, and also that parents can use to tell their own stories.
Angellica: I'm hoping to discover books that are new, exciting, and imaginative. I want them to make me think too. There needs to be some great art as well as memorable text that can be translated well when read out. That's what I'll be looking out for in the winning book.
What do you think the best thing about picture books are?
Axel: I think picture books are very important in helping children get to know and understand the world around them. They can learn about other places and people that might not be in their life experience, and understand how life can be represented in images. Reading books together helps to create a bond between parents and their children, cuddling up together to read a book is calming and reassuring for both.
Lorraine: The best thing is using the story to teach children without it being a chore and to see their imaginations fly. The best picture books never gets dull no matter how many times you read them to your children because there’s something new to discover.
Angellica: Picture books are fantastic as they allow a connection to develop between the child and reader. When I've gone into schools to read to children, I love how picture books spark conversations and thought processes which can be explored. I also believe it helps children to work out how to express themselves and learn basic words. It's just so much fun for both the adult and child. It breaks down barriers and they end up asking you all sorts of questions!
What motivated you to be involved in the Prize this year?
Axel: It's always a nice experience to discuss picture books with other judges and I do hope it can happen in person and not online. I also think prizes are important to raise awareness of picture books (- though I'm not quite sure how much they get noticed beyond the industry).
Lorraine: I just want children to have the chance to discover the joy of reading and if we can get them to do that at an early age they will be able to open a door to a world of wonders. Reading is one if the great joys of life and if we can capture children’s imaginations when they are still tiny we will be giving them a wonderful gift.
Angellica: I guess having worked in Children's television at the start of my career and having friends with little ones and a family of my own, I understand the benefits of books and the importance of getting children into good reading habits from day one.
Angellica Bell Joins Judging Panel for Oscar's Book Prize 2021
LONDON, 15th February 2020 – TV and radio presenter Angellica Bell joins Lorraine Kelly and Axel Scheffler as a celebrity judge of Oscar’s Book Prize 2021. Bell, twice nominated for a Children’s BAFTA and the face of Children's BBC between 2000 - 2006 will help choose the winner of the £5,000 prize, now in its eighth year.
Angellica Bell joins Lorraine Kelly and Axel Scheffler on the judging panel of Oscar’s Book Prize 2021. Viveka Alvestrand, co-founder of the Prize and Oscar’s mother, and Simon Johnson, Director of Amazon EU Books, complete the line up.
Completing the panel is Viveka Alvestrand, who founded the £5,000 literary award in memory of her son, and Simon Johnson, Director of Amazon EU Books.
Commenting on her new role, Angellica Bell said: “Encouraging children to read is vital to give them the best start and I wish I had read more as a child, hence why I jumped at the chance to be a judge for this year's Oscar’s Book Prize. I’m looking forward to joining the panel and reading the amazing entries.”
Bell won the 2017 series of Celebrity Masterchef and in 2019 published her first cookery book aimed at children titled, Fantastic Eats and How to Cook Them!
Oscar's Book Prize is supported by Amazon, the Evening Standard and the National Literacy Trust and counts HRH Princess Beatrice as its patron. The prize’s organisers distribute donated shortlisted books to schools and nurseries across the UK, whilst surplus entered stories are shared with UK hospitals via the charity, Read for Good.
Previous winners of the Prize include two-time winner Benji Davies, most recently for Tad in 2020, and Ed Vere in 2019 for his picture book How to be a Lion.
More information on the prize can be found at www.oscarsbookprize.co.uk. The shortlist will be revealed on Monday, April 12th, and the winner of the £5,000 prize will be announced on Thursday, May 13th, 2021.
Lorraine Kelly and Axel Scheffler first judges to be announced for Oscar's Book Prize 2021
TV presenter Lorraine Kelly and award-winning illustrator Axel Scheffler – best known for his work on children’s classic The Gruffalo – are the first celebrity judges to be announced for Oscar's Book Prize 2021, with more to be revealed in the new year.
Now in its eighth year, Oscar’s Book Prize celebrates the best new books for under-fives – a vital time for children to fall in love with reading. James Ashton and Viveka Alvestrand created the prize in memory of their son, Oscar Ashton, who loved stories.
Commenting on her new role, Lorraine Kelly said:
“Some of my favourite memories as a parent include reading bedtime stories to my daughter Rosie and I cannot wait to see what colourful characters, adventures and stories appear in this year’s entries. I wish everyone entering the very best of luck.”
Axel Scheffler said:
“I know how much work goes into creating a book for under-fives age and the impact it can have, so I am delighted to be on the judging panel for Oscar’s Book Prize this year and look forward to championing the work of some great children’s illustrators and authors.”
Oscar's Book Prize is supported by Amazon, the Evening Standard and the National Literacy Trust and its patron is HRH Princess Beatrice. The prize’s organisers distribute donated shortlisted books to schools and nurseries across the UK.
Prize chairman James Ashton said:
“I'm delighted to welcome all our judges and supporters who will make our eighth annual contest the most thorough search yet for the picture book that will capture the imagination of young readers all over the UK."
Previous winners of the Prize include two-time winner Benji Davies, most recently for Tad in 2020, and Ed Vere in 2019 for his picture book How to be a Lion.
The prize is now open for entries and publishers can submit their chosen books at www.oscarsbookprize.co.uk until 5pm on Monday, January 25th, 2021. The shortlist will be revealed on Monday, April 12th, and the winner of the £5,000 prize will be announced on Thursday, May 12th, 2021.
About Oscar’s Book Prize
Oscar’s Book Prize is an annual prize for the best under-fives book of the year. It champions magical storytelling by authors and illustrators, best shared between young children and their parents.
It is awarded in memory of book-loving Oscar Ashton, who died in 2012 of an undiagnosed heart condition aged three and a half.
Founded by his parents and supported by Amazon, the Evening Standard and the National Literacy Trust, the Prize has been running since 2014.
For news and all other information please visit www.oscarsbookprize.co.uk or follow @oscarsbookprize on Instagram or Twitter
About Amazon.co.uk
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalised recommendations, Prime, Fulfilment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.co.uk/about and follow @AmazonNewsUK
About Axel Scheffler
Axel was born in Hamburg, Germany in 1957. He studied history of art in Hamburg, before moving to the United Kingdom to study illustration at Bath Academy of Art in 1982. Since then he has worked as a freelance illustrator in London. He is best known for the children's books he has illustrated through his partnership with author, Julia Donaldson. Together they created The Gruffalo, which has sold over 17 million copies in over 80 countries throughout the world. He lives in London.
Axel Scheffler by Liam Jackson
About Lorraine Kelly
Lorraine OBE is an award winning TV presenter and journalist, hosting her own ITV show 'Lorraine'. Born in Glasgow, Lorraine joined her local weekly newspaper The East Kilbride News aged seventeen. In 1983, she joined BBC Scotland as a researcher, and a year later she became TVam's Scottish correspondent covering stories like the Piper Alpha disaster and the Lockerbie bombing. She went on to co-host TVam and GMTV. In 2012, Lorraine was awarded the OBE by HM The Queen for services to charity and the armed forces at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh. She is a patron of Help For Heroes. Lorraine lives in Buckinghamshire with her husband Steve, daughter Rosie and their dog Angus.
Lorraine Kelly
Halloween Reading for Half Term!
If you’re looking for something spooky to do with your little monster this Halloween (and over half term) then please look no further than these frighteningly good books to read together…
We hope you enjoy sharing one of these brilliant stories that truly put the BOO in book….
Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler (Macmillan Children’s Books)
This classic story of an unlucky witch and her ever-growing bunch of companions attempting to fly in very autumnal conditions has a winning combination of magic and adventure, with lovely rhymes, nail-biting action, and gorgeous drawings of the characters exploring their stormy world…
Funny Bones by Janet and Allan Ahlberg (Puffin)
These skeletons might be the least scary monsters ever, but what they lack in being fearsome they make up for with being funny. So join Big Skeleton, Little Skeleton and Dog Skeleton on their dark, dark street and immerse yourself in a classic story from this series.
Ten Little Monsters by Mike Brownlow and Simon Rickerty (Orchard Books)
Trick or Treating is off this year, but not for the ten little monsters. They set out to scare others, but instead encounter all sorts of ghouls, ghosts….and robots. Will they make it through the gauntlet to the Halloween party? You can rhyme, count and chuckle your way through together to find out!
Bedtime for Monsters by Ed Vere (Puffin)
Feel the thrill of excitement as the monster in search of a bedtime feast comes closer and closer to you – but what does he want in the end? Enjoy the giggles and tummy rumbles as you enjoy this story together, with its lovely twist. This is a brilliant story from our 2019 winner Ed Vere.
Ten Minutes to Bed Little Monster by Rhiannon Fielding and Chris Chatterton (Ladybird)
Continuing the bedtime trope is this seasonally themed bedtime read from the Ten Minutes to Bed series. Lovely illustrations and highly recognisable pre-bedtime situations make this an entertaining story as the reader and Belch count down to what’s hopefully a nightmare-free sleep…
Meg and Mog by Helen Nicoll and Jan Pienkowski (Puffin)
Not that this wonderfully ghoulish pair should only be read at Halloween, but the adventures of Meg and Mog really are a perfect match for children wanting to get into the spooky spirit. It is Halloween in the story, and Meg and Mog are heading out to a party to make their yearly spell. What could possibly go wrong?
So there you have it, some (mildly) scary stories guaranteed to please your little ghouls over the Halloween half term!
Books for Schools - Flash Giveaway!
Exciting newsflash!
It is almost time to roll up our sleeves and get started on a whole new year of OBP – and we can’t wait!.
However, before we move on to OBP21, we still have one commitment remaining from OBP20 that we need to fulfil.
As part of the prize’s Terms and Conditions, each shortlisted publisher agrees to supply copies of their shortlisted book to give away to schools and nurseries. This means that a whopping 50 schools or nurseries now have the chance to get their hands on the full set of the shortlist - AKA these fantastic titles:
A Mouse Called Julian by Joe Todd Stanton (Flying Eye Books)
Alphonse, There’s Mud on the Ceiling by Daisy Hirst (Walker)
I Am A Tiger by Karl Newson and Ross Collins (Macmillan Children’s Books)
The Runaway Pea by Kjartan Poskitt and Alex Willlmore (Simon & Schuster)
The Suitcase by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros (Nosy Crow)
Tad by Benji Davies (HarperCollins)
These special books are great to read together, whether at home or in an educational setting. To highlight how to get the best out of them, the wonderful team at CLPE have produced a fantastic pack of teaching resources for each shortlisted title, which you can download or read here:
About CLPE:
The Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) is an independent UK charity dedicated to raising the literacy achievement of children by putting quality children's literature at the heart of all learning. It is a charity with a national and international reputation for excellent literacy training and resources. Visit www.clpe.org.uk for further information.
How to Enter:
Please email laura@oscarsbookprize.co.uk (or direct message @oscarsbookprize on Twitter or Instagram) to request a set for your school, remembering to include the head teacher’s name and contact email and the school’s full address. For preschools or nurseries please include the nursery manager’s name as well as the address.
The smallprint:
We can only provide one full set per school.
We will allocate the fifty sets at random, once we have enough schools to choose from.
We will confirm that your school/setting has been chosen in writing. Please note that due to COVID-19 there may be a short delay in receiving the books. Each set will arrive in an OBP stickered package to allow you to quarantine the books if you wish.
A Q&A with the wonderful charity Read for Good
As anyone who has submitted to the prize will know, the books that aren’t longlisted by our expert team of pre-schoolers and their carers are donated to charity.
If we could, we would showcase each and every book we are sent, as the submissions are always so full of talent and wonder. While in reality this isn’t possible, it’s great to know that those books can still delight readers via the excellent work of Read for Good, who like us are staunch believers in just how far the magic of a book and story can go.
This year, Read for Good have done even more than take on the mantle of the 2020 OBP cardboard box fort (and the amazing book treasure within it). As we announced last month, this year they are helping us put the money that would have gone into the physical prize-giving ceremony to good use, by using it instead to send a set of the shortlisted books to 150 hospitals (and that many settings can only be reached due to the generosity and support of the amazing publishers of the 2020 shortlist).
As such, we thought it was high time to share more details about this amazing charity and the special work they do. Their impressive roster includes a whopping 35 years of the Readathon, and almost a decade of their books to hospitals programme, which is specifically where the Oscar’s Book Prize books go. This essential project puts books into the hands of children that really need them, giving comfort, reassurance, entertainment and delight to children at a time when they need it most.
Lottie, Bristol Hospital
But enough from us. Here’s Read for Good’s excellent Fundraising and Digital Officer Jo Jeffery, who will explain more…
Jo Jeffery, Fundraising and Digital Officer, Read for Good
Hi Jo, you’re Read for Good’s Fundraising and Digital Officer – please could you tell us a little bit about what you do?
As a busy working Mum I have three wonderful days in the Read for Good office, which is always a hive of activity and ideas! I split my time between making applications to Trusts and Foundations to support our hospital programme in getting books, storytellers and bookcases to 30 children’s hospitals nationwide and curating our social media presence on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
What is your favourite part of your job?
Oh my gosh, so much of it! I love to see schools participating in their Readathons and sharing their successes with the social media world - this is amplified during World Book Day and during our Citywide Readathons where hundreds of schools set the literacy world alight with their mountains of books, activities and general book excitement! Getting feedback about our storytellers is just wonderful too, they bring such joy to children and their families, who are having a very tough time in hospital. The photos we receive remind us that even in the darkest of times joy is possible!
All of Read for Good’s work stems from a key belief in the power and importance of reading for pleasure in children’s lives. Could you tell us more about why that is?
Ironically, somehow the words ‘reading for pleasure’ are a really inadequate way to describe one of the richest, most powerful experiences in life. Picking up a book, or being read to is transformative in so many ways. So many. Profound things can happen just by reading - building empathy and understanding, experiencing the impossible, travelling to places beyond your imagination, meeting people from all walks of life and getting insight into what makes them tick. For children, well for all of us, these moments are enriching, empowering and rewarding. But best of all, they’re all wrapped up in a great story that makes you want to turn the page. That all this can happen curled up on a sofa with some words on a page is pretty powerful!
Read for Good has some excellent methods to motivate children to read, such as helping others in the Schools project. Do you have any tips for beginning to engage children in reading – even before they can read themselves?
The Read for Good team are the biggest trumpet-blowing, shout-it-from-the-rooftop advocates of children reading for pleasure, whether it be comics or classics, cereal boxes or cake recipes; you name it, we want you to read it … just because it is fun!
The premise of Read for Good is to allow children to choose the books they want to read, rather than the books we want them to read! Now this can be any book, comic, audiobook, recipe book, poetry - anything goes! As you mention children really are motivated by helping other children too - many might have been in hospital themselves, or have a friend who has been in hospital. It is relatable to them and acts as such a positive mechanism for engagement.
As a parent to two children, the daily bedtime book has always been a part of our routine, just 10 minutes at the end of the day can be everything to instil a joy of reading. And I have books everywhere in my house. My son has always been quite a reluctant reader despite loving books, I wanted him to be surrounded by books so we have book piles and shelves everywhere sparking the literacy love! Also things such as CBeebies Bedtime Stories are a great way to engage children with stories in a playful way. My son has loved hearing stories from actors such as Eddie Redmayne.
During lockdown, the outpouring of creativity to find ways to get children listening and loving books and stories has been inspiring - what better way to explore the world when stuck inside our own four walls.
How valuable do you find picture books donated by Oscar’s Book Prize and others? Are there any age range or genres of books that work particularly well?
Receiving Oscar’s Book Prize books is like getting the biggest Christmas present! Honestly, it is always so exciting to see the variety of books, their themes, colours and illustrations. They are often so very tactile too. We send a huge variety of books to children in hospital - from newborn to sixteen year olds! Often families arrive in hospitals with little with them - when rushing out the house in a panic the last thing you pick up is a book. But the feedback we receive reveals that books like those from OBP - brilliant stories, well told, brimming with colour really do lift the spirits of the children and their families who find themselves in hospital.
As you know, each year we box up an extensive number of fabulous picture books to be sent to Read for Good HQ. Along with other donations from publishers, trusts and grants, they then wend their way to bookcases in hospitals across the UK. Could you take us through the likely steps of their journey? How do you decide which books go where?
It’s always a great moment when your delivery arrives - the whole team is so excited to see the wonderful array of books and stories of offer. We have a committed team of fantastic volunteers who will carefully bookplate each of the books, so that a child in hospital knows the book comes with kindness, and they are sorted into 30 piles, packaged and sent to each one of our 30 hospitals.
When the book parcel arrives in the hospital, we know that all the grown-ups in the room are drawn to see what’s inside. The books are thoughtfully put on Read for Good’s mobile bookcase, which then travels around the wards, right up to a child’s bedside. Books are facing out so that it’s really easy for a child’s eye to be drawn to their book. Our bookcase acts as a library, with children being able to read and book and then choose another one. But children are also able to keep the book.
Sharing a story in hospital is so important - bringing families together and giving them a chance to focus on something other than the situation they are in. The books provide entertainment and distraction for sure, but they also soothe, provide relief, reassurance and comfort. The ripple effects of those books go far and wide.
The hospital programme you run is the ultimate home for the OBP books – please could you tell us about the amazing impact the books have? How many children and hospitals do you reach with this scheme?
Last year we reached over 190,000 children in our main hospital programme. Our service runs in thirty hospitals nationwide from Truro to Aberdeen and including Belfast. We sent out over 30,000 books, reaching not only the children in hospital but their siblings too - who are often overlooked and are equally as anxious. One Mum shared such an amazing story with us that I want to pass it on - her son, who is only 6 years old, has had multiple admissions; over 20 operations to be exact. For every operation undergone, her son received a Read for Good book, scribed with the operation number and a little reminder of just how brave he is. These are stored, on his return home, in his Read for Good library - how amazing is that? OBP books really do reach the far corners of a child’s life.
As if your standard hospital programme wasn’t brilliant enough, we’re also thrilled to learn that OBP also directly helps support your new book box scheme, which places brand new books beyond hospitals to a variety of different children's medical settings, including mental health units and hospices. How many settings and children do you reach with this? And what feedback have you had from the children so far?
This was such an exciting bonus and we were over the moon to be able to roll this programme out. We have reached an additional 4,000 children in over 60 settings nationwide. The feedback from healthcare professionals about the scheme was overwhelmingly positive and had me in tears!
“Treatment is long and uncomfortable: these books will be appreciated and enjoyed in what is a difficult time for children and their families. Children receiving proton and radiation therapy relish the opportunity to escape the regulated discomfort and anxiety they experience. We believe that education and personal development through reading can offer a bridge back to normal living, and life on the other side of cancer.“
- Proton Beam Centre, Manchester
The OBP donation was fundamental to this scheme being successful and we have secured funding to roll out this programme further.
How do you choose the hospitals and other settings involved? If someone who works in one is reading this and wants to get involved, what are the steps they can take? Can a hospital or other setting ask to join the scheme? How can someone volunteer?
Our primary programme serves all thirty major children’s hospitals in the UK. We are aware that so many other children’s medical settings would benefit from books. While we cannot promise anything, if someone is interested in a book donation they should register their interest by clicking here (https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/YNB2PDK). If they meet the criteria we will consider their application when we have books available.
Unfortunately we cannot take volunteers on in hospitals ourselves - that is a process and decision managed by each individual hospital. If someone would like to support our charity, there are lots of ways to help here.
Since Read for Good’s work is so focused on schools and hospitals, how have you been affected by the current pandemic? Is there anything we can do to support the charity’s work?
Things are unrecognisable at the moment. Read for Good is a well governed charity, and the prudent decision was taken in April to furlough most of the team. We are definitely still open as far as schools and hospitals are concerned, but of course, they are busy focusing on other things at this time, quite rightly.
Much of our funding for the hospital programme comes from schools running Readathon, and whilst some are doing it remotely, it is not the ideal time to be asking schools and families for donations. We will have to see what the long term impact is. However, we are an optimistic bunch and the nation’s response to the pandemic has been so uplifting. We’re exploring ways to adapt our programmes to meet the coming need.
It is our belief that reading for pleasure will play a really important role in helping our young people to recover from the unquantified impact that Coronavirus is having on their education, social development, mental health and well-being. We hope that Readathon may help school communities come together in the new academic year, united in a common purpose supporting children in hospital, which at the same aids their own pupils' recovery.
And finally, on a personal note, you’re a parent of young children in the lockdown – do you have any book-related tips for entertaining them in these uncharted times?
My son, Harry who is 9, really enjoyed the book scavenger hunt I organised for him! Choosing books with animals in the title, with a name in the title, with a colour in the title, a book of facts - the list was endless! Although be prepared for the tidy up afterwards.
We have also taken advantage of the amazing array of authors and illustrators who have been rallying the troops with reading of their books, daily illustrations classes and general loveliness! I think we ALL need stories right now. The power of escapism a book brings has never been as important as it is now - in all its forms.
Also books make great yoga blocks for Mamas too.
Thanks so much to Jo for taking the time to talk to us, and to all at Read for Good for the wonderful work you do. You can read more about Read for Good’s work www.readforgood.org and their impact https://readforgood.org/impact/.
Tad wins Oscar's Book Prize 2020
Benji Davies becomes first person in the seven-year history of Oscar’s Book Prize to win the award for a second time, with Tad, the story of a tadpole who grows up. His victory was announced by HRH Princess Beatrice, the award's patron. The winner was selected from a shortlist by a judging panel including TV and radio presenter Dermot O'Leary and Francesca Simon, writer of the Horrid Henry series. Their thoughts on the winning book can be found here.
Benji is the first person ever to win Oscar’s Book Prize a second time, with his picture story book, Tad. The £5,000 literary award, supported by Amazon and the National Literacy Trust, recognises great storytelling in books for children under five which have been published within the past year. Hear his acceptance speech here.
As both the author and illustrator Benji tells a story of growing up, and his tale follows Tad, the smallest tadpole in a big pond. Worried about being left behind by her brothers and sisters, Tad one day takes a big leap into an adventurous future. See the judges and other Oscar’s Book Prize supporters read the story here. Tad and the other five books on the 2020 shortlist will also be distributed to 150 children’s wards across the UK.
Speaking about his book, Benji Davies said: “Tad’s story is about taking your time to grow up, even though you are the smallest, slowest tadpole in the pond, or if you always feel like you’re at the back. Don’t worry because you will always get there in the end.”
HRH Princess Beatrice, the award’s patron since 2017, announced this year’s winner on the Oscar’s Book Prize website, in a video filmed from her home. The announcement also included endorsements from fellow judges Dermot O’Leary, broadcaster and children’s book author, Francesca Simon, creator of the Horrid Henry children’s book series, Jake Hope, Youth Libraries Group chair, Simon Johnson, Director, Amazon EU Books and Viveka Alvestrand and James Ashton, founders of the award and Oscar’s parents.
Speaking about his win, Benji Davies said:
“To win Oscar’s Book Prize in 2014 with The Storm Whale was an incredible feeling and I am very pleased to have won the Prize for a second time with Tad - I really can’t believe it. When I wrote the story, I wanted it to help small children navigate life in those early years. I couldn’t be prouder.”
Praise for the winning book:
Dermot O’Leary said:
“A wonderful coming of age tale of adventure, and nature.”
Francesca Simon said:
“An absolutely magical picture book, beautifully written, with a subtle message about embracing change and the unknown.”
Jake Hope said:
“The deliciously-named ‘Big Blub’ provides just enough menace to tantalise and tempt readers to turn the page. Readers feel like they have really hopped along on a journey alongside Tad.”
Simon Johnson said:
“Tad has all the qualities of a great book for under-fives. Beautiful artwork, a loveable hero character and a narrative we can all relate to.”
Viveka Alvestrand said:
“This is a story about the inevitability of change and the unknown, and how these can feel scary but also ultimately lead to new adventures. Beautifully told in words and pictures that transport you into the book, so you become a part of the story.”
James Ashton said:
“This beautifully-drawn story of growing up and gaining confidence is full of poetic language.”
So congratulations to Benji once again and to everyone on this year’s amazing shortlist. We hope you enjoy reading them as much as we did!
Oscar’s Book Prize Shortlist Gift for Children in Hospital
OUR annual Oscar’s Book Prize event is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the best in early-years literature and the magic of reading. In the last six years we have brought together talented authors, illustrators, publishers, reading charities, educators, celebrities, family and friends from across the UK in memorable locations such as St James’s Palace.
This year is different because of the Covid-19 outbreak, as every event organiser knows.
We took an early decision to announce our winner on the OBP website and via social media, even though our friends at the May Fair Hotel in central London were ready to host again as soon as lockdown ended. The big reveal is not far off now: Monday, May 25 at 12 noon.
The shift online left us with one more decision to make: what to do with the funds we had earmarked for our party?
Oscar’s Book Prize has evolved a lot since we first picked the best pre-school book of the year in 2014 in commemoration of our boy. We want to celebrate the best books in this vibrant category, but also inspire parents to spend vital book time with their children wherever that may be.
Thanks to the generosity of publishers, over several years we have been able to distribute books to children in schools and hospitals in collaboration with Read for Good, a brilliant charity whose professional storytellers encourage children to develop a love of reading.
As usual this year, we will offer 50 schools and nurseries the chance to receive our shortlisted books, but we’ll wait until autumn to do so.
In the meantime, we can go one better than before to get some fantastic books into kids’ hands just when they need something bright and imaginative to distract them from everyday life.
We are delighted that our decision to spend the event budget on our favourite books of the year has been met with the kind offer of even more free and discounted copies from the publishers of our six shortlisted titles - HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Flying Eye Books, Macmillan Children’s Books, Walker Books and Nosy Crow – plus many helping hands at Read for Good.
It means our Oscar’s Book Prize 2020 final six will be distributed to 150 children’s wards across the UK, just as soon as hospitals and delivery networks get back to something approaching normal.
Of course, this is a small gesture compared to some of the extraordinary acts of generosity we have witnessed in the last two months. But we hope every little helps, especially as books have such power to cheer and enthrall. One positive from lockdown is that there has never been a better time to read together.
James Ashton and Viveka Alvestrand
Oscar’s Book Prize
May 2020
Shortlist Spotlight: A Mouse Called Julian by Joe Todd Stanton
Between now and the winner announcement on 25th May we will be looking at each of our fabulous shortlisted books and their authors and illustrators in turn (although in no particular order).
We can’t believe it’s already time to take a closer look at our final shortlisted book: A Mouse Called Julian by Joe Todd Stanton!
It’s Joe’s second time on the Oscar’s Book Prize shortlist – he was also shortlisted in 2018 for The Secret of Black Rock. Will it be his first as a winner? Please read on for more information about this magical book and its author - and at the end please follow the links to our YouTube channel to watch Joe very patiently answer all of our Q&A questions! Thanks, Joe!
What’s the Story?
Julian is a mouse who is perfectly happy avoiding other animals. They seem to just get in the way, and sometimes even try to eat him! But one day, Julian has an unexpected dinner guest... When the fox tries to sneak into Julian's burrow for a tasty bite of mouse, it finds itself stuck headfirst in Julian's front door! At first alarmed and wary, they soon find themselves having a lovely dinner together, and it's not long before each realises that they have found in the other a lifelong friend.
What the Judges said:
‘Intricate illustrations of the natural world are a glorious backdrop to a story of enemies that become friends’ – James Ashton
About the Author
Joe Todd-Stanton grew up in Brighton and was taught to draw by his mother, who is also an illustrator. He studied at UWE Bristol, receiving a First Class Honours in Illustration. Todd-Stanton has been commissioned to work for clients such as Oxford University Press, Usborne Publishing and Aquila magazine. His second picture book, The Secret of Black Rock, won the Waterstone’s Children's Book Prize for Best Illustrated Book in 2018.
And finally….
Please check out Joe’s brilliant answers to our Q&A here - including his favourite picture books as a child, whether he prefers writing or drawing, and how he came up with the idea for Julian! Thanks so much, Joe.
Does Joe prefer writing or Drawing: https://youtu.be/bkSXfnsPyVY
What lockdown reading would he recommend? https://youtu.be/hj82sBRBVVs
What was his own favourite children’s book? https://youtu.be/ZdrftyNraEU
Find out more on our Oscar’s Book Prize YouTube channel!
Shortlist Spotlight: I Am A Tiger by Karl Newson and Ross Collins
Between now and the winner announcement on 25th May we will be looking at each of our fabulous shortlisted books and their authors and illustrators in turn (although in no particular order).
Our fifth shortlisted story is I Am A Tiger by Karl Newson and Ross Collins (Macmillan Children’s Books).
Please see below for everything and anything you might want to know about this fantastic story and its creators - and as a real treat, at the end is a link to a Roar-some reading by the authors, as well as some excellent answers to our very nosy Q&A! We are also in awe of the amazing #OBP20 drawing from Ross as above - a huge thank you from us!
What’s the Story?
A witty and clever story about a little mouse with very big ideas – she believes she is a tiger!
She manages to convince a raccoon, a fox, a snake and a bird that she is a tiger, and that they are not what they think they are! But when a real tiger turns up, can the persuasive little rodent manage to persuade the tiger that he is a mouse!
With vibrant artwork by award-winning illustrator Ross Collins, and delightful characters created by rising star Karl Newson, I am a Tiger is a story that will amuse and entertain everyone, from the smallest mouse to the biggest tiger. This story has already won the Leicester Our Best Picture Book Award, and the West Sussex Picture Book Award - will it be third time lucky with us?
What the Judges said:
‘This book made me laugh and laugh. I adored the swagger and confidence of the irrepressible mouse, and the glorious theme of not letting others tell you who or what you are. A surprising and unexpected story - I loved it.’ – Francesca Simon
About the Author and Illustrator:
Karl Newson is a children’s book writer and illustrator, living in London who grew up in Norfolk. He enjoys writing stories on a variety of topics, from quiet bedtime reads, to wild, imaginative, wondrous tales. The sometimes writer of short poems, Karl enjoys reading adventure stories, watching science fiction films, and listening to music from the 1960s. He loves to gaze at the stars and wonder why… and always gets his best ideas just before bed. Karl is the author of Here Comes the Sun, Fum, Little Grey's Birthday Surprise and A Bear is a Bear. I am a Tiger is one of three picture books he has with Macmillan, who have teamed him with award-winning illustrator Ross Collins. http://karlnewson.com/about
Ross Collins was born in Glasgow, Scotland. Growing up he was particularly fond of drawing the bionic man and precariously swinging backwards on chairs. He went on to study illustration at the Glasgow School of Art, graduating in 1994 and in the same year he won the Macmillan Children’s Book Prize for The Sea Hole. Since then he has gone on to illustrate over 100 books and has written several too. His picture book The Elephantom was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal and has now been staged at London's Royal National Theatre by the creative team behind Warhorse and in 2016 This Zoo is Not for You won the inaugural Amnesty CILIP Honour. When Ross is not creating children’s books he enjoys working on character development for animation studios such as Laika and Disney. He lives with his partner Jacqui, his young son, and his dog Hugo, in Scotland.
Author and Illustrator Q & A:
What was your own favourite picture book as a child?
Karl: I can only remember one picture book: Panda and the Snow by Oda Taro. I don't remember much about it other than the cover, sadly, but it's stuck with me all these years and always forms the answer to this question! It's my picture book go-to of my yesterdays :)
Ross: Too many to count but I did love Sendak’s creatures in Where the Wild Things Are and was quite obsessed with pouring over Richard Scarry’s amazing townscapes.
What do you think the best thing is about picture books?
Karl: EVERYTHING about picture books is the best thing! The words and the pictures working together to create something so short and yet so full of story is nothing short of magic. There is always more than meets the eye and always something to take away with you. For me, as a writer, the best thing is seeing my words brought to life by an illustrator when I get to see the characters for the first time. And then, when the book is published and out in the wilds of a bookshop, the best thing is seeing it being enjoyed by someone else. To know that little idea I had isn't mine anymore - it belongs to everyone who wants it, is wonderful. There's something amazing in that, I think.
Ross: Simply getting kids interested in reading, stories, drawing, imagination, quiet time with someone they love, words, pictures – how long have you got?
What is your favourite thing about illustrating?
Ross: It’s either when very occasionally I make myself laugh with something I’ve drawn or more often when I just slightly change the way a character is standing or looking and it alters the whole tone of the piece – it’s amazing what you can do with a little line.
What is your favourite thing about writing for children?
Karl: My favourite thing about writing is that I can make up the rules to my stories! There's no right or wrong, so if I want to say 'my best friend is a blue polar bear called Victor who lives under my bed and only eats biscuits' then that's what it'll be. I like having fun, and breaking the rules. Stories can be anything we can think of. It's brilliant!
Tell us the best thing about this book.
Karl: For me, the best thing about this book is the character of Mouse. Not just the way she handles a situation, but in that to me 'Mouse' is a she, but to Ross, Mouse is a he, and to readers Mouse can be anything they want him/her/them to be. Just as in the book, Mouse says "I am a tiger!" this story is about being who you want to be, and making it fit for you.
Ross: It’s Karl’s funny writing. The second I heard the voice of the mouse in my head I thought – I want to illustrate this hilarious annoying rodent.
What was your inspiration for the story?
Karl: The idea for it came when I thought about how silly it could be for something to confidently declare it was something else - something that it clearly wasn't! I started small, with a mouse, and I knew that for it to work Mouse had to believe she was something much bigger and louder in colour and voice and character... and a tiger seemed to tick all those boxes. I knew there'd be some other animals disputing Mouse's claim, and I knew at some point a tiger would have to turn up, and that mouse would handle each of these scenarios with simple but effective and convincing (or not!) responses that always meant 'I said I am, so I am, and that's that'. I knew it had to end on a new direction that meant it's OK to change your mind... It was such a simple idea that fell into my notebook and pretty much wrote itself. I think Mouse wrote it, really.
What are you writing/drawing next?
Karl: I'm currently working on a ship-shaped chapter book idea (and a couple more ideas for Mouse to explore!)
Ross: I’m currently drawing Sherlock Holmes – as a Penguin. People pay me to do this you know…
OBP – like everything else - is slightly altered due to the lockdown. We’ve been enjoying seeing all the wonderful and inventive things that authors and illustrators have provided for children at home. What has yours been?
Karl: I've really enjoyed watching author and illustrator videos. It's something I hope sticks around in the long run. I've made my own book club, too - The Mudwaffler Club! We read stories and make things and have lots of fun. It's been nice to try something different and escape my desk for a while.
Ross: I produced a little piece on social distancing and the NHS with my characters from There’s a Bear on My Chair. I wanted to do something to thank all the amazing teachers, librarians and carers out there who have asked to read my books to their kids while at home.
And finally, what book would you recommend to read to entertain young children during the lockdown?
Karl: I'm going to be greedy and suggest two! A picture book: This Book Can Read Your Mind by Susannah Lloyd and Jacob Grant is fantastic fun and will have you full of giggles. And a chapter book: The Dragon in the Library (and its sequel) by Louie Stowell (illustrated by Davide Ortu) is wildly imaginative and takes you away on a magic adventure.
Ross: There’s a book by Tony Fucile called Let’s Do Nothing which is a really funny look at imagination and the inability of kids to sit still for five minutes. I think it might speak well to the times we are currently in!
Thanks so much, Karl and Ross!
To watch Karl and Ross read I Am A Tiger please follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwL8rVi3LXM&feature=youtu.be
Shortlist Spotlight: Tad by Benji Davies
Between now and the winner announcement on 25th May we will be looking at each of our fabulous shortlisted books and their authors and illustrators in turn (although in no particular order).
Our second shortlisted story is Tad by Benji Davies, published by HarperCollins. We’re thrilled to have Benji back on the shortlist for the second time – he went on to win OBP in 2014 with The Storm Whale. Not long to wait now to find out if he will become OBP’s first double winner…
What’s the Story?
Meet Tad.
She’s the smallest tadpole in a big pond, and lives there with all her tadbrothers and tadsisters.
Although something else lives there too… BIG BLUB! And when everyone else starts to disappear, Tad starts to wonder if Big Blub will get her too…
Or is everyone else going somewhere else; somewhere better? And if so, will Tad ever get there too?
A big story about a tiny tadpole – about growing up, branching out, and taking a leap into life.
About the Author:
Benji Davies was born and raised in Peterborough. After studying animation at university he spread his creative wings, working on a variety of illustration and animation projects. His picture books have won numerous awards, including Oscar’s Book Prize, an AOI World Illustration Prize and the Sainsbury’s Children’s Book Prize. He lives and works in London.
What the Judges said:
‘A wonderful coming of age tale of adventure, and nature’ – Dermot O’Leary
As if this wasn’t enough, Benji has kindly made the following video for us, telling us all about the book! Please follow the link below to listen - it gives a fantastic insight to a very plucky tadpole, and the brain of her amazing creator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0TAWW1arNc&feature=youtu.be
Shortlist Spotlight: The Runaway Pea by Kjartan Poskitt and Alex Willmore
Between now and the winner announcement on 25th May we will be looking at each of our fabulous shortlisted books and their authors and illustrators in turn (although in no particular order).
Our third shortlisted story is The Runaway Pea by author Kjartan Poskitt and illustrator Alex Willmore (Simon & Schuster).
What’s the Story?
It's time for tea, but one pesky pea has decided to ping himself off the plate in search of a party!
The rogue pea shoots, flings and bounces across the kitchen as he embarks on his perilous adventure - but will he find the fun he is looking for or is the kitchen a scarier place than he thought?
This quirky caper will show you just what can happen when you take your eye off your dinner for a second!
What the Judges said:
“The Runaway Pea was beautifully illustrated and made me (and my sons) laugh out loud. I particularly enjoyed the naughty fruit hiding under the fridge.” – Judge Simon Johnson, Amazon Director of EU Books
About the author and illustrator:
Kjartan Poskitt is the well-loved author of many hilarious books for children including Agatha Parrot and the Murderous Maths series, translated into over 30 languages. With a background in children's television, he is a tireless and brilliant performer. He was born and lives in York.
Alex Willmore is an illustrator and designer from Northampton whose passion lies in character design. A love of animals and picture books have inspired Alex and led to a career in illustration, and he has gone on to produce illustrations for a number of publishers, creating puzzles, surface pattern for kidswear, greeting cards and picture books.
Please fllow the links below for some AWESOME answers to our Q&A from Kjartan and Alex - what an amazing pair!
Kjartan – https://youtu.be/DUEl8eDpGOM
Alex – https://youtu.be/24V0kiHJLhs
(And please see above for a fantastic celebratory pea courtesy of Alex!)
Shortlist Spotlight: Alphonse, There's Mud On The Ceiling! by Daisy Hirst
Between now and the winner announcement on 25th May we will be looking at each of our fabulous shortlisted books and their authors and illustrators in turn (although in no particular order).
Our second shortlisted story is Alphonse, There's Mud On The Ceiling! by Daisy Hirst
What’s the Story?
This is the third adventure for mischievous monster siblings Alphonse and Natalie. Normally they love living up on thier flat on the 7th floor but one day they think up a new game - wriggly worms in the jungle. Things are going to get messy because that’s no game for indoors! This fantastic frolic around their little flat is sure to inspire families to explore outside and to keep the muddy fun off the upholstery!
What the Judges said:
“A terrifically zany sense of energy and joyous abandon are created by the quirky, free-form illustration and hand-lettering. It is impossible not to feel captivated by the boundless creativity of Natalie and Alphonse which abounds through their imagination and play and is perfectly evoked both through text and illustration.” - Jake Hope
About the author
Daisy Hirst studied English and Creative Writing at Warwick University and Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art before becoming an author-illustrator. She is the creator of Hilda and the Runaway Baby; Alphonse, That Is Not OK to Do!, which has been translated into nine different languages worldwide; I Do Not Like Books Anymore! and The Girl with the Parrot on Her Head, which was awarded an Ezra Jack Keats Honor, shortlisted for the Klaus Flugge Prize, and selected as The Times' Children's Book of the Week. Daisy lives in Cambridge. Find her online at daisyhirst.com and on Twitter and Instagram as @Deenface.
Daisy’s Q&A
What was your own favourite picture book as a child?
Quentin Blake’s Angelo was one of my favourites. The picture of Angelo’s family (of travelling musicians and acrobats) around their campfire might be my favourite picture book illustration.
What do you think the best thing is about picture books?
By having the pictures do so much of the storytelling they give small children power, because they have this very immediate access to the story.
Do you prefer writing or drawing?
That’s so hard! I find drawing less angsty, but I wouldn’t like to do without either. When I’m making up picture books I doodle words and pictures all muddled up together.
Tell us the best thing about this book
It contains many of the things I like best: stars, sticks, tents and campfires – even though, apart from a short trip to the park, everything happens within the small flat (and its balcony) where little monsters Natalie and Alphonse live. It also contains the word “squoze.”
What was your inspiration for the story?
This is my third book about Natalie and Alphonse and when I was first coming up with it I actually wanted them to go off on a big adventure – a camping trip, or at least a visit to a friend’s wild, jungly garden. I think I felt a bit cramped by the thought of making another book set in their home. My editor and art director helped me find out that this cramped feeling was the very thing that needed exploring. It’s taken me ages to realize you don’t need a grand stage to tell a story that means something to small children, who are just getting to grips with their own little bit of world.
There’s a lot of my brother and me in all the Natalie and Alphonse books and, in this one especially, there’s a lot of my nieces too.
What are you writing next?
A few different things, but one is ANOTHER Natalie and Alphonse book. I’m also thinking about monster baby books (my first two are coming out later this year and I’m hoping I’ll get to make some more).
OBP – like everything else - is slightly altered due to the lockdown. We’ve been enjoying seeing all the wonderful and inventive things that authors and illustrators have provided for children at home. What has yours been?
I love seeing the responses to Carson Ellis’ Drawing prompts on instagram (good for children and adults) and Chris Haughton has all manner of storytime videos, animations and activities on his facebook page. I’ve got some free activity sheets at www.daisyhirst.com/freestuff (including one called Naming the Pigeons, based on one of Natalie and Alphonse’s favourite things to do).
And finally, what book would you recommend to read to entertain young children during the lockdown?
Maybe Scritch Scratch Scraww Plop by Kitty Crowther – it’s about a little frog called Jeremy who’s frightened by strange noises he hears in the night, and how his dad helps him feel better. The illustrations are quietly glorious, the frogs are one of my favourite literary families and I love their watery home too.
Shortlist Spotlight: The Suitcase by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros
Between now and the winner announcement on 25th May we will be looking at each of our fabulous shortlisted books and their authors and illustrators in turn (although in no particular order).
First up is The Suitcase by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros, published by Nosy Crow.
What’s the Story?
When a strange-looking animal arrives pulling a big suitcase, the other animals are curious. What on earth could be inside that suitcase? A teacup? Maybe. A table and chair? Perhaps. A whole home and hillside with trees? This stranger must be fibbing! But when the animals break into the suitcase and discover a very special photograph, they begin to understand what the strange creature has been through, and together they create a very special welcome present…
About the Author:
Chris Naylor-Ballesteros is originally from Bradford and studied illustration and graphic design at Bradford College of Art. In 2000 he moved to France where, amongst other things, he was an English teacher before working in newspaper layout and design. When his children were small he realised he loved the picture books he read to them, sometimes even more than his children did – the Picture Book Bug had truly bitten. Chris has since written and illustrated several books and is currently thinking about the next one, probably with a cuppa in hand at home near Limoges. He likes listening to and making music, wandering around the countryside, a bit of running and riding a bike. His favourite season is autumn and his favourite colour is green.
What the Judges said:
Viveka Alvestrand: “This book touched my heart. It has a beautiful melancholy about it. The illustrations are wonderfully simple and emotive and – crucially – the sad beginning leads to a happy ending!”
