Meet the Judges: Lisa de Meyer

It’s time to meet our third judge! Introducing Lisa de Meyer of Amazon.co.uk, who gives us her expert industry opinion on all things picture books.

Find out which stories Lisa used to recreate, who she is discovering picture books with now, and what she thinks it is that the very best books for young children offer.

Thanks so much, Lisa.

What is your earliest or best memory of reading a book as a young child?

I loved reading as a child and I was one of those children who would always have their head in a book. When I was very young, I vividly remember reading Shirley Hughes’ Alfie and Annie Rose books with my parents. I could recite parts off by heart and, with my younger sister, would recreate Alfie and Annie Rose’s adventures at home. 

Reading The Night Before Christmas and The Jolly Christmas Postman were also magical memories in the run up to Christmas.

The Big Alfie and Annie Rose Storybook by Shirley Hughes (Red Fox)

Who was your favourite person to read with as a child? Who do you read picture books with now?

My parents and grandparents. I love reading with my daughter, who is nearly two 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. The Paper Dolls by Julia Donaldson and The Girls, by Lauren Ace are her current favourites.

The Girls by Lauren Ace and Jenny Lovlie (Caterpillar Books)

What was your favourite picture book as a child, and/or of all time?

The Alfie and Annie Rose Books are my nostalgic favourites. The Tiger Who Came to Tea, by Judith Kerr is also fantastic. 

What sort of books are you hoping to discover when reading for the Prize? What are you looking for in a winner?

I am looking for characters who can capture a child’s imagination. I am also looking for recognisable illustrations that engage children, as I love hearing my daughter as she points out things she notices from real-life: Apples, clocks and kites are some of her current favourites. Finally, I think some of the best books have great pace and rhythm.

What do you think the best thing about picture books are?

In my view, the best thing about picture books is that they can offer so much to little ones who are learning their first words and about their emotions. As a parent, it’s wonderful having time to share the experience of reading them together.  

What motivated you to be involved in the Prize this year? 

I have recently moved into a new role in the Books team at Amazon and I jumped at the chance to be part of the judging panel for the Oscars Book Prize as I am passionate encouraging children to enjoy Books. I can’t wait to receive the shortlist and get started.

Meet the Judges: Janet Ellis

Our second ‘Meet the Judges’ Q&A is with the multi-talented actress, presenter and author Janet Ellis! Read on to find out which small people she loves reading with now, and why books have always been so special to her.

Thank you so much for answering our questions, Janet!

What is your earliest or best memory of reading a book as a young child?

The House at Pooh Corner. My mother reading it to me,  doing all the voices and sharing the illustrations- even today, those black and white E. H. Shepard pictures are evocative and take me straight back to that time.

The House at Pooh Corner, written by A.A. Milne, illustrated by E.H. Shepard (Egmont)

Who was your favourite person to read with as a child? Who do you read picture books with now?

I loved being read to and I didn’t mind who was reading! Cosy at home with Ma or sitting in a classroom (Mr Wain in particular was a great reader), I didn’t mind. But reading with small people now - my grandsons, mostly - is a huge pleasure. I read a story on Jackanory a few years ago and it was such a joy to imagine all those children watching and listening.

 

What was your favourite picture book as a child, and/or of all time?

I loved Babar, I had a wonderful picture edition of Peer Gynt (I know!) and I remember Harry the Dirty Dog very fondly. But I think it’s the Orlando the Marmalade Cat series - especially the holiday story.

Orlando the Marmalade Cat by Kathleen Hale (Warne)

What sort of books are you hoping to discover when reading for the Prize? What are you looking for in a winner?

The best pre-school books ought to appeal to us grown-ups, too, so I definitely want to love our winner as much as I know children will. They have to bear repetition, of course, but the best ones get even better with familiarity.  When I reach for a much-loved book to share with my grandsons, we’re all instantly full of happy anticipation.

What do you think the best thing about picture books are?

When I think back to the picture books from my childhood- or my own three children’s bookshelves -  they’re full of memories. They were the start of my finding out about the world. They fired my imagination, introduced me to stories and inspired me to tell my own. Those early words and pictures are just as vivid, just as special and just as comforting to me as they ever were. 

Sharing a picture book with a little one is the beginning of a magical journey.

That shared experience starts with the book’s cover and lasts well beyond the final page.

What motivated you to be involved in the Prize this year?

My love of books, which started very young and a huge sense of excitement about what the writers and illustrators will reveal.  The Prize is a fantastic, annual opportunity to shine a light on an often neglected area. The young readers of these books probably won’t write fan letters but their creators are national treasures! When the Prize was launched , I was immensely moved that Oscar’s parents chose such a generous, warm and lovely way to remember and honour him.

About Janet:

Janet Ellis trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Her first appearance on TV was in a Jackanory Playhouse, opposite Frank Thornton. She has appeared in theatres up and down the country and on TV everything from Doctor Who and The Sweeney to Jigsaw. She presented Blue Peter for four years in the Eighties, where, amongst many other exploits, she remade the iconic parachuting films that John Noakes had made before and held the Civilian Freefall (female) record for some time. Since leaving, she has worked as an actress, presenter, broadcaster and writer. She recently appeared in Makes, Bakes and Outtakes, a play celebrating Blue Peter’s sixtieth birthday, at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Her first novel, The Butcher’s Hook, was published by Two Roads in 2016. Her second, How It Was, also published by Two Roads, came out in August 2019. She is currently writing a third novel and presenting a podcast about children’s literature called Twice Upon A Time.

She has three children, including the singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor, five grandchildren, and an Italian Spinone dog called Angela.

Meet the Judges 2022: Ben Bailey Smith

It’s time for our 2022 edition of Meet the Judges!

Our panel have very kindly answered our Q&A all about reading, what they love best about picture books, and what they’d like to discover judging for Oscar’s Book Prize this year.

First up this week is the inimitable Ben Bailey Smith - please read on to find out more about him, and to find out - among other things - what he blew him away about a certain ‘rule breaking’ picture book!

Thanks so much, Ben!

What is your earliest or best memory of reading a book as a young child?

I really remember being blown away by the holes in the pages of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. I was overjoyed by what seemed like a huge rule breaker: bite holes in the paper??? That was crazy to me. I loved it so much and don’t remember ever tiring of it. 

Who was your favourite person to read with as a child? Who do you read picture books with now?

Probably my dad when I was little because he would do silly voices and sing and tickle me whilst reading. The cosy nature of those bedtime stories is so special and I couldn’t wait to have it with my own kids… mine are teenagers now so sadly the picture book days are long gone! But I sometimes get the chance to read with my little godsons which I really look forward to. 

What was your favourite picture book as a child, and/or of all time?

My favourite of all time is Not Now, Bernard by David McKee. Pretty sure I loved it first time round as well! 

What sort of books are you hoping to discover when reading for the Prize? What are you looking for in a winner?

I’m looking for humour, insight and imagination. There’s no limit to the creative minds of young readers so I’m really looking for books that tap into that and push the boundaries of creativity.

What do you think the best thing about picture books are?

To me the best thing about picture books is the shared experience. The truly great ones entertain adults and children alike, and provide a real intimacy that encourages familial bonds that can last forever!

 

What motivated you to be involved in the Prize this year?

To celebrate Oscar’s life and discover some great new books! I’m always on the look out. 

About Ben Bailey Smith:

Once an underground rapper (known as Doc Brown), Ben Bailey Smith has turned a penchant for cadence into a medium connecting with a diverse audience of children. It is a journey that can be traced back to 2010 when he created the double BAFTA winning CBBC television series 4 o’Clock Club, which filmed its ninth season in the summer of 2018. 

Combing razor-sharp rhymes and laugh-out-loud comedy, Smith developed the tools required to reach children on a new and exciting level - and his three Blue Peter badges are a testament to his graft.  He has appeared on Blue Peter as both a performer and as contributor to their reviews of children’s literature and has made three appearances in the lauded spot of storyteller on Cbeebies’ Bedtime Stories. In 2016 he contributed to Sky’s countdown of the nation’s favourite Roald Dahl books and in 2017 made a cameo in the Sky One adaptation of the David Walliams bestselling children’s novel Ratburger. 

Also in 2016, Smith began his career as an author of children’s books. He released his first children’s book for 2-6 year olds, I Am Bear (Walker/Candlewick), which was followed by Bear Moves in February 2019. He is also the author of the comic story Get a Move On! (Bloomsbury First Readers), aimed at 5-8 year olds, as well as Something I Said (Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2021), which is aimed at 9-11 year olds. His latest book, The Last Word, also published by Bloomsbury and a World Book Day 2022 title, will be available in February.

Smith is currently writing a YA play for the National Theatre’s Connections program and continues to develop new ideas for children and young people.

Submissions have closed!

Oscar’s Book Prize 2022 closed for entries at 5pm on Friday 21st January 2022!

Thanks so much to everyone who has entered this year – we’re beyond impressed at the quality of the books and cannot wait to read each and every one!

We will announce the shortlist on 11th April and the winner on 17th May. Good luck to all!

Announcing our 2022 Judges!

From yaks named Gertie to learning how to be a lion: Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Janet Ellis join Oscar’s Book Prize’s jury to find the next breakout story for children under five

London, UK, 17 January 2022: We’re delighted to share today that stars from the stage and screen join the line-up of judges for Oscar's Book Prize 2022!

Fresh from keeping the nation entertained during lockdown with a series of kitchen discos, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, along with her mother, Janet Ellis, a two-time author and much-loved former Blue Peter presenter, will help to choose the winner of the prize, supported by Amazon, the National Literacy Trust and the Evening Standard, which seeks to find the best illustrated book for children under five.

The mother and daughter duo are joined by an esteemed panel of judges including the former Children's Laureate and award-winning illustrator, Chris Riddell and rapper, actor, comedian and children’s author, Ben Bailey Smith (Doc Brown). Completing the panel is Viveka Alvestrand, who founded the literary award in memory of her son, and Lisa de Meyer, the UK Books Country Manager at Amazon.co.uk.

James Ashton, the prize's chairman and co-founder, said: “When I look back at the winners of Oscar’s Book Prize over the years, it’s the bold and beautiful (and often weird and wonderful) stories that catch our eye, and I can’t wait to read this year’s entries which I’m sure will live up to the joyful excellence of previous years.”

Oscar’s Book Prize is currently open for entries and publishers can submit their chosen books until 17:00 on Friday 21st January 2022 to be within a chance of winning the £10,000 prize. The award, now in its ninth year, 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. The prize is supported by Amazon, the Evening Standard and the National Literacy Trust, and its patron is HRH Princess Beatrice. Following the submission deadline on Friday 21st January, the shortlist will be revealed in April, and the winner announced on 17th May 2022.

Previous winners of the prize include debut author Lu Fraser and illustrator Kate Hindley for their heart-warming story, The Littlest Yak (Simon & Schuster) which won the prize in 2021. Benji Davies is a two-time recipient of the award, most recently in 2020 for Tad (HarperCollins), and for the prize’s inaugural year for The Storm Whale (Simon & Schuster). Ed Vere was awarded the prize in 2019 for his picture book, How To Be a Lion (Puffin), following in the footsteps of There’s a Pig Up My Nose by John Dougherty and Laura Hughes (Egmont) in 2018, The Koala Who Could by Rachel Bright and Jim Field in 2017 (Orchard Books), The Cow Who Climbed A Tree by Gemma Merino (Macmillan Children’s Books) in 2016 and The Queen’s Hat by Steve Antony (Hodder Children’s Books) in 2015.

Without further ado, please read on for more information about this fantastic panel (with much more to follow in the coming weeks):

Once an underground rapper (known as Doc Brown), Ben Bailey Smith has turned a penchant for cadence into a medium connecting with a diverse audience of children. It is a journey that can be traced back to 2010 when he created the double BAFTA winning CBBC television series 4 o’Clock Club, which filmed its ninth season in the summer of 2018.

Combing razor-sharp rhymes and laugh-out-loud comedy, Smith developed the tools required to reach children on a new and exciting level - and his three Blue Peter badges are a testament to his graft. He has appeared on Blue Peter as both a performer and as contributor to their reviews of children’s literature and has made three appearances in the lauded spot of storyteller on Cbeebies’ Bedtime Stories. In 2016 he contributed to Sky’s countdown of the nation’s favourite Roald Dahl books and in 2017 made a cameo in the Sky One adaptation of the David Walliams bestselling children’s novel Ratburger.

Also in 2016, Smith began his career as an author of children’s books. He released his first children’s book for 2-6 year olds, I Am Bear (Walker/Candlewick), which was followed by Bear Moves in February 2019. He is also the author of the comic story Get a Move On! (Bloomsbury First Readers), aimed at 5-8 year olds, as well as Something I Said (Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2021), which is aimed at 9-11 year olds. His latest book, The Last Word, also published by Bloomsbury and a World Book Day 2022 title, will be available in February.

Smith is currently writing a YA play for the National Theatre’s Connections program and continues to develop new ideas for children and young people.

On joining the panel for Oscar’s Book Prize 2022, Ben said:

‘Perhaps unsurprisingly, my love of children's books for early readers dates back to when I was being read to as an early reader of children's books myself, on through to having two early reading offspring and on into writing my own. A child's earliest experiences with reading are sacred and profound, tightening a bond between a child and the greatest tool they'll ever need - literacy - as well as an emotional bond between child and parent/guardian/carer. Books are security in so many ways and the best ones should always be celebrated!’

Lisa de Meyer, Country Manager for Amazon UK Books, said: “It’s a great way to start the year, looking for the stories that are going to inspire a generation of children to read and helping to unearth the best new children’s authors. Amazon has always been – and always will be – passionate about children reading. Personally, with a two-year-old at home, we love finding new stories with illustrations and characters to capture our imaginations, so I am very much looking forward to being involved!”

Janet Ellis trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Her first appearance on TV was in a Jackanory Playhouse, opposite Frank Thornton. She has appeared in theatres up and down the country and on TV everything from Doctor Who and The Sweeney to Jigsaw. She presented Blue Peter for four years in the Eighties, where, amongst many other exploits, she remade the iconic parachuting films that John Noakes had made before and held the Civilian Freefall (female) record for some time. Since leaving, she has worked as an actress, presenter, broadcaster and writer. She recently appeared in Makes, Bakes and Outtakes, a play celebrating Blue Peter’s sixtieth birthday, at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Her first novel, The Butcher’s Hook, was published by Two Roads in 2016. Her second, How It Was, also published by Two Roads, came out in August 2019. She is currently writing a third novel and presenting a podcast about children’s literature called Twice Upon A Time. She has three children, including the singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor, five grandchildren, and an Italian Spinone dog called Angela.

Speaking about judging for us this year, Janet said:

‘I’m absolutely delighted to be a judge for this competition. Reading to my children was always a joy, it’s an added pleasure to read to my grandchildren now. Sharing picture books is a wonderful way of exploring the world, firing the imagination and making memories. Sophie and I have always enjoyed discovering and discussing books - judging this together is the icing on the cake!’

Sophie Ellis-Bextor shot to fame as a vocalist on Spiller's huge number one single, ‘Groovejet’ and her worldwide smash hit, ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’. Her debut solo album, ‘Read My Lips’, was released in 2001 and sold more than 2 million copies worldwide. Her subsequent album releases include ‘Shoot from the Hip’ (2003), ‘Trip the Light Fantastic’ (2007) and ‘Make a Scene’ (2011). In 2014, Sophie released her album ‘Wanderlust’ on her own label EBGB’s, which was co-written and produced by Ed Harcourt. It proved to be a critical and commercial success spending 3 weeks in the UK top 10 and selling over 100,000 copies.

Sophie followed this release and collaboration with 2016's ‘Familia’, which saw her return to the dancefloor with her single ‘Come With Us’. In January of 2019, with Ed Harcourt as Producer and Amy Langley (of Dirty Pretty Strings) arranging, Sophie released orchestrated versions of all her hits and past single releases with her orchestral greatest hits album ‘The Song Diaries’. In 2020, her Kitchen Discos, performed at home during lockdown with her five sons and recorded by her husband, musician Richard Jones, were watched and enjoyed by 40 million around the world. Following the performances, she released her latest album ‘Songs From The Kitchen Disco’ in late 2020 on Cooking Vinyl, bringing together Sophie’s hits with many other songs from her phenomenally successful lockdown Kitchen Disco performances, garnering further critical acclaim and yet another top 10 UK album chart position.

On judging OBP for us this year, Sophie said:

“With five children in our home, we've been lucky to have experienced plenty of the magic and well-being that sharing a great story can bring. It’s an honour to be helping to choose the next breakout picture book - I can't wait to see what we'll discover. It is made even more special doing this alongside my mother, who was always so fantastic at reading my own bedtime stories!”

Chris Riddell is an illustrator, artist and political cartoonist for the Observer. He has enjoyed great acclaim for his books for children which have won a number of major prizes, including the prestigious CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal an unprecedented three times and the Costa Book Award. Chris's children's books include the award-winning Goth Girl, Ottoline, The Cloud Horse Chronicles and The Edge Chronicles series and he has also illustrated editions of great classics by Lewis Carroll, Douglas Adams, J.K Rowling, Frances Hardinge and Neil Gaiman. From 2015-2017 Chris was the Children’s Laureate and he was awarded the OBE by the Queen for his services to children’s literature in 2019. Chris lives with his family and divides his time living in Brighton and Norfolk. You can find Chris on Twitter @chrisriddell50 and Instagram @chris_riddell

Oscar's Book Prize 2022 is now open for entries!

Stop Press: Oscar's Book Prize 2022 is now open for entries.

Publishers can now submit up to five entries per imprint until 5pm on 21st January 2022.

For more information please head over to our Enter page for the rules and link to the digital entry form.

More exciting news is also on its way after Christmas, as we will be announcing our judging panel in January. Until then, please do submit your very best books. We can't wait to read them!

Good luck to everyone who enters.

Autumn Books with a Bang

It’s getting colder, the nights are drawing in….but it is also the season for fireworks!

After a day spent kicking through fallen leaves, why not snuggle up together and try one of these brilliant books (some classic, some brand new) to bring a magical, seasonal spark to your reading.

Some of these books celebrate the outdoors and some the pleasure of being inside, but whatever the subject, all of these books can be found in any season in your local library, bookshop, or of course available online from amazon.co.uk.

Exploring the world around us…

Tree: Seasons Come, Seasons Go

Written by Patricia Hegarty, illustrated by Britta Teckentrup (Little Tiger)

As the leaves change colour and fall outside, this lovely book is a great way to discuss and understand the seasons. Following the life of a tree and its habitat over a year, rhyming text and gorgeous peek-through artwork together create a rich and engaging introduction not only to autumn, but winter, spring and summer, too.

Time to Move South for Winter

Written by Clare Helen Walsh, illustrated by Jenny Løvlie (Nosy Crow)

A tiny tern bravely sets off over the freezing Arctic waves as she begins the world’s longest animal migration. But she is not alone, and on her way she meets all kinds of animals – from humpback whales to monarch butterflies – all making their own astonishing journeys south for winter. This stunning, lyrical picture book is brilliant for young animal lovers, and even includes a map and double-page spread of non-fiction facts at the end.

 

Seasonally sensational stories…

 

Stick Man

Written by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler (Scholastic)

Stick Man leaves the family tree to go for a jog one spring morning…but despite his best efforts to get home, he will spend summer, autumn and winter in many different places – and find himself used as many seasonal things. Will he ever manage to get back to his family? This is a wonderful rhyming romp through the season’s in a stick’s most unusual year…with plenty of excitement to build up to Santa, too.

 

The Dragon with the Blazing Bottom

Written and illustrated by Beach (Simon & Schuster Children’s Books)

Fireworks might have stopped exploding…but this dragon’s bottom has only just begun!

Dragon has a big problem: he has stopped being able to breathe fire! But Sir Wayne thinks he has a solution for him: a very FIERY diet!

Dragon soon swallows all sorts of things, from mouldy cheese to lava, from a sparkler to some whooshy, whizzy fireworks!  A rumbling in his tummy soon starts…but wait – it still doesn’t seem quite right…

 This is a hilarious and energetic picture book, with a truly explosive ending!

 

The Big Freeze

Written and illustrated by Pippa Curnick (Hodder Children’s Books)

Summer isn’t everyone’s favourite season – some people like the cold best! Shama and Bahama Llama are looking forward to winter, because they can’t wait for the weather to be truly freezing. But as things turn chilly they make a terrible discovery: their woolly jumpers are not up to the job!!! Off to the jumper shop they race- but when disaster strikes, will they learn to work together?

This is a beautifully illustrated and hugely funny story that also has a great message about the power of cooperation, just in time for your own stampede to grab a suitably cosy jumper!

 

We’re Going to Find the Monster

Written by Malorie Blackman and illustrated by Dapo Adeola (Puffin)

 There are sometimes days in the colder months when the only thing for it is to make home into an adventure when you have to stay indoors. This wonderful story offers plenty of inspiration to do just that, as two little adventurers use their imaginations to transform their house into a wild wonderland...and a big brother into something even more scary!  

Funny, relatable, and gloriously illustrated in this updated edition, this is a brilliant way to share the magic of being inside.

 

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt

Written by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury (Walker Books)

 

This classic story features great adventures both outdoors and inside….and in all kinds of weather. Join five siblings as they become the bravest they can be to hunt for a bear across rivers, snow, mud and field. But what happens when they actually find one?

A joy to read with even the tiniest toddler and up, this is a brilliant and timeless adventure for the whole family.

 

Congratulations to our Patron, HRH Princess Beatrice

Photo credit: Nigel Howard

It’s not long until Oscar’s Book Prize 2022 will be open for entries – we’ll post more information on that very soon, so please stay tuned!

However, we’re officially back from our summer break, and there’s no nicer – or more exciting - news to kick off our new year with than to learn of the safe arrival of a daughter for our Patron, HRH Princess Beatrice.

Everyone at Oscar’s Book Prize sends their warmest and most delighted congratulations to Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi on the birth of Sienna Elizabeth. We bet Wolfie is an amazing big brother, too.

We wish them all a lifetime of happiness - and of course plenty of time reading magical picture books together!

THE LITTLEST YAK WINS OSCAR’S BOOK PRIZE 2021: DEBUT AUTHOR LU FRASER AND AWARD-WINNING ILLUSTRATOR KATE HINDLEY TAKE THE £10,000 PRIZE

The Littlest Yak, a heart-warming story of self-acceptance, has been announced as the winner of Oscar’s Book Prize 2021, receiving the £10,000 prize. The winning book is the first from Lu Fraser, an exciting new voice in children’s picture books, and award-winning illustrator, Kate Hindley.

The winner was announced today by Oscar’s Book Prize Patron, HRH Princess Beatrice, via video message. TV presenter Lorraine Kelly, broadcaster Angellica Bell and animator & illustrator, Axel Scheffler were among the judging panel responsible for selecting the winner from the six-strong shortlist.

Click the video to watch the winner’s announcement and a reading of The Littlest Yak by HRH Princess Beatrice and the Oscar’s Book Prize 2021 judging panel! The press release follows below.

London, 11 May, 2021 – The Littlest Yak, the debut book from Hampshire-based Lu Fraser and Bristol-based illustrator Kate Hindley has been announced as the winner of Oscar’s Book Prize 2021. The duo topped the six-strong shortlist to secure the esteemed £10,000 literary prize, which was revealed earlier today by award Patron, HRH Princess Beatrice.

The Littlest Yak, a joyous, rhyming caper that teaches little ones to celebrate their own unique talents, follows the journey of Gertie, the littlest yak in the whole herd. Feeling like she’s stuck in her smallness, bursting to grow up big and tall, Gertie soon learns there are things only she can do, and her smallness can do something big after all. This is a heart-warming and uplifting story from fledgling author, Lu Fraser and much-loved illustrator, Kate Hindley.

Lu Fraser is an exciting new voice in children’s books. Based in Hampshire where she lives with her husband and daughter, Fraser draws on everyday inspiration for her stories. Writing from a small shed in her garden, she revealed that the character of Gertie came to life as she spent time with her daughter.

 Bristol based, award-winning illustrator Kate Hindley is the much-loved illustrator of both picture books (including the award-winning You Must Bring a Hat, written by Simon Philip) and fiction (The Royal Rabbits of London, written by Santa Montefiore and Simon Sebag Montefiore), as well as the author-illustrator of new board book series, Treacle Street.

 Speaking about the book, Lu Fraser said: “This story means a huge amount to me, I put my heart into it as it felt like a really important message to remind children, and grown-ups, that we all have bigness inside. It is the most tremendous honour, and I can’t thank the judges enough for choosing our book, The Littlest Yak, to be the winner of Oscar’s Book Prize 2021”

Kate Hindley added: “Cheers to Lu for writing such a brilliant debut text. It was such a pleasure to illustrate. I’m absolutely delighted and flabbergasted to hear our wee Gertie has won Oscar’s Book Prize. Thank you very, very much.”

HRH Princess Beatrice, the award’s Patron since 2017, announced this year’s winner via video message, on the Oscar’s Book Prize website and streamed on the prize’s YouTube channel. Speaking about the winning book, HRH Princess Beatrice said, “This is a beautiful book, and the winners should be so proud of everything they’ve achieved in pulling together this beautiful story”.

The winning book, praised by the judging panel, is available to buy on Amazon.

Oscar’s Book Prize is awarded in memory of Oscar Ashton, who loved children’s stories and died aged three-and-a-half of an undetected heart condition. This year, the prize received the highest number of entries in its eight-year history with 143 submissions from children’s writers and illustrators from across the UK. To recognise and reward the vital work by early-years authors and illustrators in encouraging young children to read, this year’s prize fund doubled in size.

The announcement also included endorsements from fellow judge’s TV presenters Lorraine Kelly and Angellica Bell, animator & illustrator Axel Scheffler, Simon Johnson, Director, Amazon EU Books and Viveka Alvestrand and James Ashton, founders of the award and Oscar’s parents.

Axel Scheffler said: "The story of The Littlest Yak is very touching and encouraging for anybody small. Rather crazy furry creatures live within a mountainous backdrop scenery that is, in spite of the reduced colour scheme, always lively and engaging. The little bird and snow marmot add to the amusement. A lot of fun with a lovely message."

 Lorraine Kelly said: “Despite some incredible competition, this heart-warming book grabbed me right from the first page. Featuring a wonderful, relatable character, the story is told beautifully through clever, zippy rhymes and gorgeous illustrations. There's so much to talk about with its lovely message too - realising that however much we might wish to change something about ourselves, actually everyone is perfect, just as they are.”

Angellica Bell said: “This is such a cute story about wanting to quickly grow up to be an adult, something I used to dream about when I was a child - and with hindsight it's about enjoying the moment and not wishing time away! But the real message I took away from this book is the lesson that we are all perfect just the way we are in our own individual ways!”

Director of Amazon EU Books, Simon Johnson said: “Whether you are the littlest, or just feel like you are, this is a brilliant story to really get involved with. We loved this book in my family - heart-warming, beautifully illustrated, and I think it dealt really well with conversations about feeling different.”

Co-founder of Oscar’s Book Prize, Viveka Alvestrand said: “This is a fabulous book about it being okay to be who you are. It's a wonderful book to explore together because there are lots of things going on every page; the art and the words work so well together, and it flows really nicely.”

The literary award, which celebrates the best in storytelling for under-fives, is supported by Amazon and the National Literacy Trust and comes at a time where encouraging children to read is more important than ever. National Literacy Trust research reports that a third (32%) of adults have been reading with their children (aged 0-5) more than ever since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic* – affirming the important work by early-year authors to educate, inspire and spark joy.

The shortlist featured six exceptional books:

·         I’m Sticking With You, Smriti Halls and Steve Small (Simon and Schuster Children’s Books)

·         Meesha Makes Friends, Tom Percival (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)

·         Rain Before Rainbows, Smriti Halls and David Litchfield (Walker Books)

·         The Hospital Dog, Julia Donaldson and Sara Ogilvie (Macmillan Children’s Books)

·         The Littles Yak, Lu Fraser and Kate Hindley (Simon and Schuster Children’s Books)

·         Would You Like a Banana, Yasmeen Ismail (Walker Books)

For more on the six shortlisted stories, and to watch the winner’s announcement and a reading of The Littlest Yak by HRH Princess Beatrice and the Oscar’s Book Prize 2021 judging panel visit: www.oscarsbookprize.co.uk. You can also watch the announcement live on the Award’s YouTube channel, from 1pm on Tuesday 11th May.

 ENDS

Notes to editors

For more information, please contact the Oscar's Book Prize press office at info@oscarsbookprize.co.uk.

*National Literacy Trust, forthcoming (2021)

Meet Our 2021 Shortlist: The Hospital Dog

Last but by no means least… it’s  The Hospital Dog by Julia Donaldson and Sara Ogilvie (Macmillan Children’s Books). It’s a timely, lively and heart-warming story from Julia Donaldson and Sara Ogilvie inspired by a hospital dog Julia met in real life. Learn more about Dot the dog, her owner Rose and all the patients they meet along the way in this thoroughly feel-good tail (sorry, we couldn’t resist).

 

What the Judges said: “I loved the characters in this story, which the text and pictures bring so brilliantly and vibrantly to life. Reading this elicits an emotional response, and at a time when hospitals and narratives about illness are at the forefront of many minds, I found this very comforting. I thought this book was a delight.” – Lorraine Kelly

About Julia Donaldson

Julia Donaldson is the author of some of the world's best-loved children's books, including the modern classics The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child, which together have sold over 17 million copies worldwide, and the hugely successful What the Ladybird Heard adventures. Julia also writes fiction, including the Princess MirrorBelle books illustrated by Lydia Monks, as well as poems, plays and songs - and her brilliant live shows are always in demand. She was the UK Children’s Laureate 2011- 13, is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and was recognised in the New Year Honours list 2019 with a CBE for her services to Literature. Julia and her husband Malcolm divide their time between West Sussex and Edinburgh. 

Photo credit: Steve Ullathorne

About Sara Ogilvie

Sara Ogilvie is an award-winning illustrator and printmaker who won the 2011 Booktrust Best New Illustrator Award. The first picture book that she illustrated, Dogs Don't Do Ballet, was also shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize. In addition to working on her picture books, Sara lectures in Illustration and Graphic Design at Northumbria University and continues to create work that is exhibited worldwide. She is inspired by many things including second-hand bookshops, old wives tales and trying to spell sounds. Sara lives in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Julia Donaldson Q&A

 

What was your own favourite picture book as a child?

I loved a book called Pepito by Sheila Hawkins, about a little Spanish boy and his donkey.

 

What do you think the best thing about picture books is?

The sharing experience between the child listener and the adult reader.

 

What was your favourite thing about writing the book?

Going on a ward round with a real hospital dog called Nala and her owner. 

 

What’s the best thing about this book?

The way the dog cheers everyone up - not just the children in hospital but the staff and the visitors

 

What was your inspiration for the story/character? 

When I was visiting a children's hospital I saw a photo on the notice board of a "hospital dog" who visited the children and immediately felt that had the makings of a great story.

 

What are you working on next?

My next book is called The Woolly Bear Caterpillar and it's a kind of Cinderella story but based on real caterpillars and moths.

 

And finally, what do you think has been the best thing about reading with small children during the lockdown? 

When children can't be out and about in the real world, it's great that through books they can still travel and have adventures in their imagination.

Find out more about CLPE

Every year CLPE kindly produce a set of free learning resources around our shortlisted books. These teaching notes are a great way for teachers and children to dive into the stories, learn a little more about the characters and enhance their understanding and enjoyment of the books. This year, Anjali Patel, their Lead Advisory Teacher has agreed to tell us more about the fascinating processes that go on behind the scenes at CLPE.

About Anjali Patel
An experienced senior leader, Anjali has taught children throughout the primary age range. She has been an Assistant Headteacher, led the KS1 phase and the EYFS as Head of 0-5s, been the leading teacher for mathematics and developed the role of teaching assistants. Anjali has worked for a Local Authority as language and literacy consultant. Anjali writes regularly for Teachwire and BBC Bitesize, sharing good practice in early years literacy. Anjali leads CLLPE’s teaching team and, as well as teaching throughout our programme, is responsible for the development and delivery of our Early Years work.

Here’s Anjali’s Q&A

Anjali, you’re the Lead Advisory Teacher – please could you start by telling us a little bit about your role, and how you came to work for CLPE?

In my many years as a teacher, school leader and advisory teacher I drew on the research and resources produced by CLPE and worked really hard to hone the craft of teaching to provide my pupils with the best possible experiences and outcomes. I realised that I wanted to share this practice and provision more widely and really enjoyed working alongside teaching teams in this respect. Working now with my CLPE teaching team to support the delivery and development of evidence-based research, training and teaching materials for so many schools is a great honour.

 

As we mentioned above, CLPE creates wonderful resources for our shortlist each year. However, this is only a fraction of what you do: training, research, booklists - and of course an abundance of all different kinds of free resources. Please could you tell us some more about the breadth of CLPE’s work and projects?

Honestly, when we take a step back to look at the wealth of materials we offer schools and teachers, it’s quite wonderful. Schools and teachers can engage with us in all sorts of ways from tentative visits and downloads on our website to committing to whole staff training and consultancy to develop a quality and cohesive English curriculum.

• We have always created resources that we make freely available because we feel strongly that everyone should have access no matter the school budget. We feel that this forms part of our charitable purpose and vision; that all children should have access to quality literature, to quality first teaching and quality English provision and our teaching notes, booklists, support teachers to gain knowledge of how to choose and use quality texts in creative ways. The overwhelming success of our recent free Back to School unit, based on Oliver Jeffers’ book Here We Are Notes for Living on Planet Earth was testament to how much teachers really want to support children to engage in reading for pleasure and to rebuild their relationships with each other and with the world around them. We can’t wait to launch our next one for this coming Autumn with the campaign Growing our Future Together.

• Many teachers are signed up to our Core Book List in which they can view up-to-date lists of recommended books for all Key Stages. We also have themed booklists which are really useful and a big hit is the Staff Picks in which we look back over the year and share our favourite titles.

• CLPE’s Reading and Writing Scales are also free to download. They have been developed in collaboration with all major UK literacy organisations and they are invaluable in understanding the reading and writing journey and how to support progress from the earliest most dependent stage to the most mature independent stage at the end of Primary School.

• They say that necessity is the mother of all invention and never was this truer than in the past year or so. We have always enjoyed being able to deliver training face-to-face at our centre in London, across the UK and even in Europe but the Pandemic put a stop to that, for the time being at least. In response, we built a fantastic webinar programme which enables teachers to access our quality training programme in affordable and time-efficient ways from wherever they are in the world. This might be an introduction to our proven teaching approaches in building a text-based curriculum to supporting progression in phonics, reading and writing, as well as specialist training based on our research on supporting pupils with English as an Additional Language, using Poetry, Picturebooks, Non-fiction in the classroom and those texts that Reflect the Realities of the children we teach. We can now even deliver our INSET training to schools virtually meaning we can reach so many more teachers and make a difference to more children. We are gradually introducing our face-to-face training in and around the centre which is a joy but now there is much greater choice of long and short courses for schools to engage with CLPE which is fantastic.

• As well as accessing free teaching notes associated with books that are shortlisted for prizes or that are newly published, schools can become CLPE members which enables them to access our Power of Reading teaching plans, English Curriculum Maps and connect with other schools who are raising engagement and attainment by building communities of readers and writers through a text-based curriculum. It’s such good value for money and the training programme really deepens teachers understanding of the teaching approaches and the impact they have on children’s literacy outcomes. 

• Our latest publication The Power of a Rich Reading Classroom (SAGE 2020) brings our research together in one handy book, full of really practical ideas to develop English across your school.

• If you want to know more about what we do and to keep up to date with how you can join the wonderful CLPE community, the best thing to do is sign up to our Newsletter.

 

Perhaps a shorthand way to best describe the work that CLPE do is to share your vision: ‘putting quality children’s literature at the heart of all learning’. In what ways does CLPE set out to achieve this?

Quality children’s literature is central to every single resource, training session and piece of research that we produce; whether that be keeping you up to date with the best and the most recent books out there; creating expertly written teaching plans associated with those books, giving books away on courses so that teachers can implement ideas back in the classroom immediately; or demonstrating the impact of choosing and using quality children’s literature to support a text-based English curriculum on our children. When we are in the centre, our library of children’s literature is literally at the heart of the building. It’s a wonderful thing to see teachers and children browse the collections – there’s a book out there for everyone!

 

As well as the theoretical commitment to children’s literacy you have a physical one – your Literacy Library is a physical home to a whopping 23,000 books and resources. It sounds like our kind of place! Please could you tell us a little more about it?

Oh, it’s an utterly beautiful space. I can’t believe that I get to be surrounded by so many fabulous books; all hand-picked by our librarian and teaching team. We really try to make sure that the books chosen reflect the lives of our children as well as offering insights in to worlds beyond their reach. The language in these books sing out from the shelves and the illustrations demand to be pored over. My favourite part though is the corridor which houses our archive collections of poetry and traditional and fairy tales. It feeds my soul. We can’t wait to open up our doors again so the books can take on new life in the hands of our teachers!

 

As we *might* have mentioned, you create teaching notes for us – and also for some other amazing prizes – among them Klaus Flugge, Carnegie Greenaway and the Branford Boase. What makes a great teaching resource?

When we write a teaching plan, we always imagine the children that will benefit from it being delivered in the classroom. A great plan allows responses to be drawn out and deepened in open, collaborative and creative ways, in a way that gets to the heart of the book and its human theme. 

 

What are the ways that prizes can really help with literacy?

Prizes are a great way to highlight some of the fantastic new books out there, keeping busy teachers up to date and supporting their knowledge of children’s literature so that they can make informed choices for their own children and contexts.

 

What sort of feedback do you get from schools and teachers about the free resources such as OBP’s?

Teachers find the free resources really helpful in enhancing daily book sharing experiences, in using texts effectively to support the wider curriculum and many use them as a way to familiarise themselves with our approaches. They have been particularly useful in maintaining engagement during periods of remote education.

 

Like us, CLPE believes that a love for books and reading could and should be nurtured from a young age, and as such picture books are invaluable. What tips would you offer to parents of under 5s as preparation for literacy in primary school? And for those children already in school, what’s the best way to support their literacy learning?

Funnily enough, I wrote a useful article about this for BBC Bitesize: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z6bt7nb

However, in a nutshell, the best thing a parent can do is to talk and to listen – about anything and everything. And share books of all kinds, particularly as part of the bedtime reading routine. Reading exposes children to language models that they wouldn’t encounter in real world conversations as well as giving them access to worlds beyond their own. Most importantly though, have fun with books and with language. We know from our recent research that teachers have gone out of their way to put books in the hands of children and families during Lockdown, so join a library and, if that isn’t available, make sure you take advantage of nursery and school lending systems.

What do you think are the best things a picture book can have, in order to draw children in and make brilliant stories even more accessible and engaging?

Picturebooks are an important genre of children’s literature and not just a step on the route to chapter books. They support the development of sophisticated reading skills, enabling children to develop deep comprehension skills and to learn about narrative structure and character development in an accessible way. A well-crafted picturebook will demand to be pored over and revisited time and again, inviting children to explore the meaning being created by the illustration and layout as well as in the text.

 

And lastly, on a personal note, what’s the best thing about working for CLPE?

A wonderful headteacher I worked for once told me that we must be sure to know the names not only of our pupils but of their parents and I stand by the importance of building strong connections with children and their families even now. Instead of thinking of the impact I can make to pupils in just my own school, I hope that in providing quality teacher training and resources, I can influence classroom experiences and outcomes more widely for children across many schools and settings. That, and the fact that we at CLPE never stop learning and thinking and creating, which is all you can ask for really. I get to work for an organisation that stands for everything I believe in and feel passionate about; the entitlement to be literate.

Meet Our 2021 Shortlist: The Littlest Yak

Our penultimate shortlistee is The Littlest Yak by Lu Fraser and Kate Hindley (Simon & Schuster Children’s Books) so let’s get to it and learn more about Lu, Kate and little Gertie in our fourth spotlight on the 2021 shortlisted authors.

About the Book

The Littlest Yak is a story about being confident about exactly who you are. Teaching little ones to celebrate their own unique talents, The Littlest Yak follows the journey of Gertie, the tiniest tot in her whole herd. Gertie is bursting to grow big but soon learns there are things only she can do and it’s precisely her size that makes her such a big character. A heart-warming and uplifting story sure to make kids feel more comfortable in their own unique shoes.

What the Judges said:

“This book is full of beautiful illustrations and deceptive simplicity. It's about worries too, so if you had a child who felt a little bit different or who felt they didn't fit in you could use it in a lovely, positive way.” – Lorraine Kelly

About Lu Fraser

Lu Fraser is a hugely exciting new voice in children’s picture books. She is based in Hampshire, where she lives with her husband and daughter, and writes in a shed in the garden. The Littlest Yak is her picture book debut.

Lu Q&A:

What was your own favourite picture book as a child?

The funny thing is…I didn’t really have any picture books when I was little! I had a ‘rag’ book that I loved and, later on, a few Blackberry Farm books by Jane Pilgrim – wonderfully illustrated but with significantly more text than the picture books we have today. We didn’t go to the library and I didn’t go to school until I was a little bit older than everyone else so the picture books of that era slipped by without me knowing them! The first time I saw a picture book I must have been about 8 – we had a visitor to stay from the USA and they showed me ‘In the Night Kitchen’ by Sendak. I had absolutely no idea that books could look like that!

What do you think the best thing about picture books is?

Giving a child a picture book is the equivalent of flinging open the door and showing them the wider world – it’s the most incredible, significant, powerful thing. Not only do you get to introduce them to all sorts of amazing wonders (like Yaks, for example!) but you can really kick-start the imaginative process, too, and, of course, a picture book is the very first step on the road to reading and learning. What I really love about picture books, ‘though, is what happens in the physical act of reading them – a grown up and a child taking time-out, together, to sit side by side, and lose themselves in an adventure. It’s nothing less than magic, frankly - it makes the sort of memories we treasure for a lifetime.

What was your favourite thing about writing the book? 

That’s easy – meeting Gertie! For me, creating a character is exactly the same as meeting a ‘real’ person for the first time; you shake hands, take a good look at each other, maybe have a cup of tea and a chat. Little by little, they show you who they are. It’s the most terrific part of the whole process! Now, Gertie is a part of our family – we can hear her voice, we know her quirky way of thinking and all her mannerisms. When I write it feels a bit like she’s sat on my desk with her little hooves sticking out, peering over my shoulder, munching her veggies and dropping crumbs everywhere. I will never be without her now!

What’s the best thing about this book?

The best thing about The Littlest Yak is, without doubt, the one thing I never expected – how readers have reacted to it. I was completely unprepared for how both children and grown-ups, alike, have taken Gertie into their hearts. I get a lot of messages from readers about the book and so many of them are about very personal moments where Gertie has made a difference in some significant way. One of my favourites was the little girl who was nervous on her first day at nursery but told her Mummy it was all going to be ok because she knew she had ‘BIGNESS inside’, just like Gertie.

What was your inspiration for the story/character?

Although Gertie isn’t based on my daughter she was created as a direct result of her. We were sat on a delayed flight to Edinburgh one dismal, rain-sodden October and yet the thought suddenly struck me that the moment was oddly perfect – here I was, taking some time-out, a whole week with my daughter ahead of me, and I never, ever wanted that moment to stop. At the same time I could see, not only how much she had grown but also how much she wanted to grow – to get out into the world and really DO things. It was the strangest moment of balance – both happy and sad. By the time the plane took off the story was done…

What are you working on next?

Oh, I’m hugely excited by the books I’m working on with Simon & Schuster! My next book with them is out in Spring ’22 with an incredible new illustrative partner (watch this space!) and I’m deliriously happy to say that I’m also working with the brilliant Kate Hindley on a follow-up to The Littlest Yak! I am just in the final edits on GERTIE – BOOK TWO (I promise I will come up with a better title before publication!).

And finally, what do you think has been the best thing about reading with small children during the lockdown?

Looking at social media it feels like there’s been a definite increase in ‘family’ reading time and I think we’ve become very imaginative in the way we approach it, too. I’ve seen such lovely photos and videos of a huge range of family members reading stories – grandparents reading remotely to grandchildren they can’t visit, etc – and there have been some tremendous reading resources to support families from publishers, booksellers, educational supporters and organisations like The National Literacy Trust – families have really got involved, together, as a result. On a personal note, I’m completely in awe of the illustrators and their phenomenal online draw-alongs and activities – I’ve had a go at some of their drawing classes with one of my Goddaughters (she was much better than me!).

I also think, pre-lockdown, we sometimes have a tendency to gravitate towards the ‘easy’ or the obvious when we visit a bookshop with children and one of the things that has been wonderful to see in these terrible times is how lockdown has pushed us to dig a little deeper in the bookshelves, to have a really good rummage all the way from A to Z and discover new writers and illustrators, to try out new things, to be a bit bolder and braver (I know I’ve discovered some brilliant new authors / illustrators, too!).

About Kate Hindley

Kate Hindley is the much-loved illustrator of both picture books (including the award-winning You Must Bring a Hat, written by Simon Philip) and fiction (The Royal Rabbits of London, written by Santa Montefiore and Simon Sebag Montefiore), as well as the author-illustrator of new board book series, Treacle Street. She lives in Bristol.

Kate Q&A:

What was your own favourite picture book as a child?

One of my favourite picture books as a child (and of all time) is Colin McNaughton's You'll Never Guess Who's Just Moved In Next Door To Us. So many stories on every page and a MONSTER gatefold! 

What do you think the best thing about picture books is?

My favourite thing about picture books is sharing a story. It's amazing how even some of the most simple stories will get a different reaction and raise new questions depending on who you share it with. It can make things very fun and unpredictable reading at schools and events! 

What was your favourite thing about drawing the book?

I really like all the doodling at the very beginning when it feels like there are endless possibilities, and getting to know the characters for the first time. 

What’s the best thing about this book?

The best thing about The Littlest Yak is Lu's amazing read-out-loud rhyme (and the perfect excuse for me to draw lots of woolly knitwear.) 

What was your inspiration for the story/character? 

The Himalayas! I'm not much of a traveller (I'm lucky if i get as far as the supermarket) but from what I've seen in pictures it's a pretty impressive landscape.

What are you working on next?

I'm currently taking a break to look after our new small addition, but I'm looking forward to some very exciting secret projects when I return to work in the summer.

And finally, what do you think has been the best thing about reading with small children during the lockdown?

I've had the pleasure of sharing picture books with our new small since the second lockdown, and I have to say I think at the moment it's been mostly for my own benefit! I have a smashing time over egging it all and he is being a lovely, obliging little audience.

Meet Our 2021 Shortlist: Rain Before Rainbows

It’s time for our fourth book on the shortlist: Rain Before Rainbows by Smriti Halls and David Litchfield, published by Walker Books.

It’s Smriti’s second book on the shortlist this year, and excitingly she has generously given us a second set of answers, along with David, to our Q&A below.

Please read on to find out all about this incredible book and its wonderful characters- not to mention a wealth of insight from its talented writer and illustrator - including which books transported them to magical worlds as children, capturing the truth, and letting imaginations run wild!

About the book:

A girl and her companion fox travel together from a place of loss and despair, through uncertain times, towards the hope of colour, light and life. Along the way, they find friends to guide and support them. Together, they build a glorious future and discover there is a way out of the darkness, into the light of the rainbow. A book with immense hope at its heart, this is a positive message for anyone who’s ever gone through a tough time – and an uplifting, stunning beautiful book about optimism in the darkest of places.

What the Judges said: “Every spread in this book provides its own fairytale, which complements the feeling of hope that radiates from every page. I loved it.” – Viveka Alvestrand

About Smriti:

 Smriti Halls is an award-winning, internationally bestselling children’s author whose books include the No. 1 bestseller I Love You Night and Day, T-Veg and Don't Call Me Sweet. She is published in over 30 languages. Her stories, sometimes fast-paced and funny, sometimes lyrical and tender, are always full of heart and speak to the child in all of us. Previously Smriti worked at the BBC and across children’s publishing and television as a writer and commissioning editor for twelve years. She lives in London with her husband and three sons. Find her online www.smriti.co.uk and follow her on Instagram as @smriti_halls_author and on Twitter @SmritiPH.

 

About Daivd:

David Litchfield first started to draw when he was very young, creating Star Wars and Indiana Jones ‘mash up’ comics for his older brother and sister. Since then David’s work has appeared in magazines, newspapers, books and on T-shirts. David’s first author/illustrator picture book The Bear & The Piano won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2016. He has also illustrated picture books for authors such as Ross Montgomery, Andy Stanton and Sally Lloyd-Jones, as well as book covers for David Almond, Kate Dicamillo, Neil Patrick Harris and many more. David lives with his family in Bedford, England. Find him online at www.davidlitchfieldillustration.com and follow him on Twitter at @dc_litchfield.

 

And now please read on for Smriti and David’s brilliant answers to our Q&A - cvoering everything from Maurice Sendak and Hans Christian Andersen to the importance of hope.

 What was your own favourite picture book as a child?

 David: I remember our teacher reading us 'Where The Wild Things Are' by Maurice Sendak and I was instantly in awe of the drawings. The world and characters that Mr Sendak created transported me from our classroom and little town into a brand new realm of imagination and possibilities. As soon as I got home that day I bugged my mum to buy a copy and I still have the version she bought today (although its pages are now stuck together with sellotape). 

 Smriti: One of my favourites was a Hans Christian Andersen treasury that I still love today. Lavishly illustrated by Maria Pascual, I’d gaze into the eyes of the magnificent snow queen, the steadfast tin soldier and the wistful little mermaid and be captivated. The tales were unexpected and often laced with a sense of longing and beauty that moved me.

 

What do you think the best thing about picture books is?

David: There is no other medium like it. The visual nature of telling a story and the relationship between the words and the image is very unique. I think that you read the images just as much as the words and I very much love that about picture books. 

 Smriti: I love the layers of meaning and complexity that are often buried in something that on the surface appears so simple. And it’s wonderful the way that great picture books continue to reveal truth and impact the reader in new ways, on different readings, time and time again.

 

What was your favourite thing about drawing the book?

David: I was given so much freedom to just let my imagination run wild with the illustrations. Smriti's beautiful text sparked so many ideas and emotions in me and I tried to visualise these as best I can. I was also able to experiment a lot with textures and colour with this book and try lots of new things with my artwork. I feel that I definitely grew as an artist from drawing this book.

What was your favourite thing about writing the book?

 Smriti: My favourite thing was trying to capture a truth that felt entirely universal. I wanted to express this in a way that could apply to a multitude of different circumstances – from small hurts to heartbreak – in a language that would be meaningful to both adult and child readers at once. I felt I was writing something that I’d carried in my head and heart for a long time and conveying those thoughts in careful, tender, hope-filled words was what I loved most.

 

What’s the best thing about this book?

David: I really love how the book can be open to interpretation. Even though there are clues we never really discover what problems the girl and the fox are aiming to overcome but readers can identify with them and see their own struggles in them. 

Smriti: I think the best thing about the book is that a sense of hope breathes through each page. Through the words and pictures, it balances the light and the dark of our lives and reminds us that although dark days are a part of every human story… so too is love and friendship and joy, so too is light and colour and life. There may be rain… but there are rainbows.

credit: Andrew Foster

What was your inspiration for the story/character?

David: I was very much thinking about the struggles faced by refugees when I was drawing this book. The journeys a lot of families and individuals have to face to get to safety and a better life. As I said the book is very much open to interpretation but that’s definitely what I had in my mind when I was drawing it. For me Fox character represented hope. When things were at their darkest the fox was a beacon of light and colour that reminded the girl of where it was she was hoping to get to at the end of her journey. 

 Smriti: A friend once cheered me up by reminding me that after the rain comes the rainbow. The words “rain before rainbows…” formed in my mind and over the following months the poem began to take shape while I was walking, thinking, dreaming. I began to see a story of loss and hope and restoration unfold. A story that could speak to both personal and collective experience. I feel so lucky that David was able to bring that story to life so stunningly. 

 

What are you working on next?

David: This year I'm chuffed to be working with a number of different authors. I'm just finishing artwork for a new book by Gregory Maguire which is very exciting. I'm also collaborating again with Stacy McAnulty and David Almond which is always a brilliant experience as well as working with the very talented Nell Cross Beckerman. And then towards the end of the year I'm starting work on my own author/illustrator book which will be a Christmas story. So it's all go really :) 

 Smriti: I’ve got several new stories and ideas in progress and I can’t wait until I’m able to share them with everyone. New books out soon include a brand new Bear and Squirrel sequel with Steve Small called I’m Sticking With You Too, which I’m hugely excited about, as well as collaborations with other wonderful illustrators, some established and some new. There are also some super fun novelty books on the way, to get the very youngest children loving books.

And finally, what do you think has been the best thing about reading with small children during the lockdown?

David: It's been really good for both them and us to remind ourselves that there will be life outside of lockdown and things will start to get back to normal soon. Stories have always had a great power to transport you out of the 4 walls that you find yourself in and I think that that has been even more important this past year.

  Smriti: For me the best thing about reading with my family has been about feeling connected with each other and sharing special moments. It has also provided a way of thinking and talking about the wider world at a time when we haven’t been able to venture far from our front doors. Reading together has sparked conversations, brought joy… and provided us ALL (tweens and teens included) with a whole lot of laughter.

Meet our 2021 Shortlist: Would You Like A Banana? by Yasmeen Ismail

We’re midway through our #OBP21 shortlist, so clearly it’s high time we discussed a hangry gorilla!

Would You Like A Banana? is written and illustrated by the incredibly talented Yasmeen Ismail, and published by Walker Books.

Please read on to discover everything you need to know about this brilliantly funny book and its creator - including what makes a picture book magic, and who she might have based that cheeky gorilla on…

About the book:

Gorilla is hungry but there is absolutely no way he’s going to eat a banana. Not even a teeny taste. Not with some bread or standing on his head. Even if you eat one too, which is something you might do.

This is a brilliant and hilarious picture book from award-winning illustrator Yasmeen Ismail, full of vivid and lively drawings which bring to life - and will have everyone laughing at - this all-too familiar family situation!

What the Judges Said:

“This book is full of wonderful pictures with a very funny story. It was completely gripping to read with my children.” – Simon Johnson

Photo copyright Jake Green

About Yasmeen:

Yasmeen Ismail is an award-winning illustrator and animator who has a love of inks, paints and watercolours. Her debut picture book Time for Bed, Fred! won The New York Times' Best Illustrated Book Award and the V&A Best Illustrated Book Award, and was longlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal. Her previous books for Walker include Kiki & Bobo's Birthday Surprise and Kiki & Bobo's Sunny Day. Yasmeen is originally from Ireland, but now lives in Bristol.

And finally - here are the answers Yasmeen has kindly given to our questions. Read on to discover what she thinks are the best things about picture books, which picture book has stayed with her since she was little, and the utterly gorgeous creation she is working on right now! Thanks so much, Yasmeen!

What was your own favourite picture book as a child?

I really don’t have a great recollection of books as a kid. I know that I was a voracious reader, but the only book that really stayed with me was Burglar Bill by Janet and Allen Ahlberg. I am a huge fan of their work and this book remains my favourite to date.

What do you think the best thing about picture books is?

This is a tough one. Initially I thought “the pictures!”, but then a picture book with great images is let down if the story is rubbish or poorly written. So I can’t pick a best thing. For me the best thing about a picture book is when the story and picture marry well. When the two things work together and bounce off each other. The best thing about a picture book is when the picture book works well at both story and image. That’s a real joy to behold and one that gets the reader returning time and again. That’s when it’s really magic.

What’s the best thing about this book?

My book???

Well it’s not really for me to say!

But if I had to pick, it would be the illustration with the Gorilla’s bum. I’m quite puerile. Bums get me laughing.

 What was your inspiration for the story/character?

My son was a toddler when I wrote the story, and I noticed how every day would seem like ‘opposite day’ with him. I could never tell him what to do or ask him to try something, he was (and still is) very child-led. So the Gorilla is like him. It’s frustrating to be a parent and to be offering solutions that are essentially fair and lovely, only for them to be rejected, but eventually I discovered that the best thing to do was to allow him to come to his own conclusions. And when he did he usually made good choices. 

 Do you prefer writing or drawing?

Drawing has always been my first love. So I would have to say that. Creating images gives me so much joy. However, writing is relatively new to me and I am really loving that. If I had to choose one for the rest of my life I would choose drawing, but that would be a sad choice to make indeed. 

 What are you working on next?

I am now working on baby 2. She arrived in December and all my focus is on her until 2022. Currently I am trying to get her to sleep. It’s harder work than making books. 

After that I will be working on more picture books for more publishers, and long may it last.

And finally, what do you think has been the best thing about reading with small children during the lockdown?

It kills some time. You’re not sticking them in front of a screen again. And hopefully they will learn something. I am pretty down on lockdown. I can’t get more positive than that.

Meet our 2021 Shortlist: I'm Sticking With You by Smriti Halls and Steve Small

Hurrah - it’s time to explore another book from our #OBP21 shortlist! Today we are looking at I’m Sticking With You by Smriti Halls and Steve Small, published by Simon & Schuster Children’s Books. To celebrate this fantastic book we have a brilliant Q&A from both of its creators, and a fantastic doodle from Steve. In fact, here that is, now!

About the Book:

Wherever you're going, I'm going too.
Whatever you're doing, I'm sticking with you.

It's wonderful to have good friends to see you through the good times and the bad. But sometimes, friends can also be a bit . . . well . . . overbearing. Through stunning illustrations and rhyming text, I'm Sticking With You explains the complexities of relationships and how sometimes even the best of friends can have a sticky moment!

This is a gorgeously funny, feel-good book about everything a friendship can be from best-selling Smriti Halls and BAFTA award nominated director and debut illustrator Steve Small.

What the Judges Said "The clarity and simplicity of the design and illustration is very striking, yet the pictures are emotional and funny. Similarly the writing is brilliantly simple but gripping. I enjoyed the tension between text and illustrations - it's a perfectly balanced picture book." - Axel Scheffler

About Smriti:

Smriti Halls is the international bestselling author of over 30 books for children. Before becoming a full time writer in 2012, she worked in children's publishing and television. She's now been published in more than 30 languages from Arabic to Afrikaans and from Catalan to Korean. She lives in London, UK with her husband and three children.

www.smriti.co.uk Follow Smriti on Twitter @SmritiPH

About Steve:

Steve Small has worked in animation for over 30 years as a director, designer and animator. The work has varied from working on Disney features to designing and directing shorts, TV series and commercials with Studio AKA. I'm Sticking With You is the first picture book he has illustrated.

www.studioaka.co.uk/AboutUs/SteveSmall

Smriti and Steve have kindly answered our many questions about what the best things are about I’m Sticking With You! Please read on to discover why they think picture books are so fabulous, and what they liked reading when they were little….and who is more Bear, and who is more Squirrel!

Thank you so much, Smriti and Steve!

What was your own favourite picture book as a child?

Smriti: One of my favourites was a Richard Scarry nursery rhyme collection that I still love. The playful verses are accompanied by hilarious cats and dogs in dinner jackets and raincoats. It’s endlessly enjoyable, with a glorious palette of deep pink and bright green. There’s a gorgeous inscription that my parents wrote in the front of the book when they gave it to me on my 3rd birthday which, decades later, makes it more precious than rubies.

Steve: I loved the Dean’s Gift Books of Fairy Tales and Nursery Rhymes.

What do you think the best thing about picture books is?

Smriti: I love the wonderful shared space that a picture book creates for a child and adult reader together. A moment where time stands still and where some of the most treasured childhood memories are made. I also love the way that picture books demand to be read aloud, over and over, and often become so beloved that they are known by heart.

 Steve: I love how a good picture book re-imagines the world with new characters in a completely new setting. Page after page you encounter an unfolding story that is unlike anything else and yet completely convincing. Then at some point, often not until the very end, you realise that the folk in this story are dealing with the same things as you.

I can’t count how many times as a kid and as an adult, I have read a story and enjoyed the newness and strangeness of it, and along the way chuckled at the dilemmas the characters face, only to find myself saying ‘ wait a minute, that’s what I do too!’ But by then, I have been living in their world, not mine, and have been thoroughly absorbed in working through the events alongside them, processing their thoughts and feelings. Arriving at that moment when I recognise myself in the story, I often have a new and refreshing perspective from a new vantage point.

What was your favourite thing about writing the book?

Smriti: My favourite thing about writing this book was that the words, the characters and the story felt utterly delightful and delicious to think about – so I was SMILING and LAUGHING to myself the whole time I was writing. Choosing the words felt as satisfying as picking ripe plums – the experience was a total joy – and every word felt completely true.

What was your favourite thing about drawing the book?

Steve: When I drew this story I realised I had been in some situations where I had been more Bear and some where I had been more Squirrel. I related to Bear’s unswerving enthusiasm and ‘all in’ attitude as much as I did to Squirrel’s bruised finer feelings. So when it comes to the crunch, and Squirrel asks for some space, I really felt for both of them. But the thing I enjoyed, was giving these two the opportunity to repair their broken things, and show how, in many ways, things were stronger, even if you could still see the repair job here and there.

What was your inspiration for the story?

Smriti: The idea came from something my youngest son said one morning when he patiently explained to his father, as they were leaving for football practice, that he would NOT be playing. “No,” he announced proudly and lovingly “I’m sticking with YOU, Dad!” It made me roar with laughter – and it made my heart melt at the same time.  I loved the thought of the two of them, tall and small, standing at the side of the pitch, seeing that same situation so differently. And I loved those simple, firm words: “I’m sticking with you” – whether you like it or not – and whether I’m meant to or not!

Steve: I’ve known a few folk like Bear. Big, sturdy people who appear to hardly notice the bumps in the road, but are quietly just as vulnerable as the rest of us. I’ve also known people like Squirrel who can get upset quite quickly, but are just as quick to make amends.

Then you look at the real animals themselves. How tender and tactile a Bear is. And how Squirrels are so graceful and agile, with a tail that gives absolutely everything away, and it’s hard not to admire and learn from them.

What’s the best thing about this book?

Smriti: I love that this story manages to combine big humour with big heart – so that it’s both feelgood and funny at once. These characters have a very real friendship, complete with bumps in the road that we all recognise. I love that we can feel for them and laugh with them – especially at the points where my words and Steve’s fabulous pictures are telling somewhat different stories.

Steve: Its believable, upbeat optimism. We all know how good it is to have great friends, and how awful it is to hurt them. But repairing those rifts can be tough.

In this story, we meet two individuals who have known each other a while and halfway through the book, hit a rather big stumbling block. It’s hard for a while, but luckily, rather than stay in their hurt feelings too long, these two manage to get things back on track.

Importantly for me, everything that was broken, is fixed and repaired, even if the repair still shows. A small reminder to take better care in future. I liked that. 

What are you working on next?

Smriti: I’m delighted to say that Bear and Squirrel will be back later this year in I’M STICKING WITH YOU TOO, and this time they’ll be joined by a flamboyant new character… will they be able to cope with a new friend in the mix? I’m having lots of fun working on further adventures featuring these characters, plus lots of new books too. It’s very exciting.

Steve: I’ve just finished another book with Bear and Squirrel and I’m starting on a story about a small Elephant in a big world.

And finally, what do you think has been the best thing about reading with small children during the lockdown?

Smriti: Reading together has been so brilliant during lockdown. It has brought us all so much laughter and fun (younger and older children included). And listening to each other’s voices and opinions, as well as thinking and laughing together, has been a fantastic way of feeling connected, processing our thoughts and talking about the wider world.

Steve: My partner reads to her niece regularly online. Her niece’s name is Eva and she’s one sharp cookie. The things she sees. She wants to see the front cover, the side and the back. Then they can begin. I often hear how it went, and the first thing I rediscovered right from the get go was that reading to Eva was not an audience situation, where the person sits there quietly and absorbs the story inscrutably. Eva is right there in every page, pointing out what’s funny, what’s weird, and asking questions. And investigating the answers to those questions can take a while. ( clearly a fiendish plot of Eva’s who doesn’t want to it to finish yet).

And when the story is over, if it’s a good one, you read it again. Of course. Then Eva might tell her own stories too. It’s a delightful and renewable exchange and remains as fresh and up to date as each new reading. So the same story can take on new meanings and be a catalyst for new ideas, time after time.

I think it will be a while before we fully know all the ways in which lockdown has placed limitations upon kids, but for all that their natural inquisitiveness has been stifled during this time, reading books and being read to, flings those doors open wide again, and the world gushes in. 

Meet Our 2021 Shortlist: Meesha Makes Friends by Tom Percival

In the coming weeks we will be introducing you to our wonderful #OBP21 shortlist, as they tell us about each shortlisted book, and a little bit about themselves, too!

First up is the wonderful Meesha Makes Friends, written and illustrated by Tom Percival. Meesha Makes Friends is published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

About the Book:

Meesha loves making things . . . but there's one thing she finds difficult to make - friends. She doesn't know quite what to do, what to say or when to say it. But one day she discovers that she has a special talent that might just help her navigate social situations - and maybe even make new friends.

This is a warm and affectionate look at the joys and difficulties of making and keeping friends, relating to others, and finding your place in the world.

What the Judges Said: ‘This book was so touching and had a lovely sentiment to it without it being sad when I read it. There is so much potential for discussion about creativity and how we can be inclusive, and I really think this book can resonate to any reader whether big or small: 'be open, be honest, be YOU!’  - Angellica Bell

About Tom

Tom Percival is a writer, artist, video producer and musician. Meesha Makes Friends is Tom’s ninth picture book for Bloomsbury, following Herman's Letter, Herman's Holiday, Bubble Trouble, By the Light of the Moon, Perfectly Norman, Goat's Coat (illustrated by Christine Pym), Ruby’s Worry and Ravi's Roar. Tom lives in Stroud with his partner and their two children.
For more information you can check out www.tom-percival.com - and you can find him on Twitter @TomPercivalsays 

Tom has kindly answered our many questions: read on to find out about what inspired Tom to write the book, his favourite part of Meesha Makes Friends, and what ‘f’ word he thinks of when reading in lockdown….

Thanks so much for your time, Tom!

OBP Q & A with…..Tom Percival

What was your own favourite picture book as a child?

There were a few and it depends what sort of book we’re talking here! For picture books though  it would be a close run thing between Funny Bones, Burglar Bill (which I used to call ‘Boggler Boll’) and Mog the Forgetful Cat.

 What do you think the best thing about picture books is?

I think it’s the fact that so much is left open to the reader. When a text is that sparse, it gives the reader the opportunity to fill in the blanks and add their own perspective and understanding to the story which makes it a truly interactive experience.

What’s the best thing about this book?

I don’t think I can answer that! When you’ve made a book it’s really hard to see it objectively, I could say what my favourite parts are, but not the ‘best’ parts. So to answer that slightly different question, one of my favourite moments is when Meesha is lost in her world of music.

 What was your inspiration for the story/character?

I think that meaningful, close relationships are something that we all strive for and there have been numerous points in my life where I have felt like Meesha, as though there’s something that I just don’t quite ‘get’ about the whole thing. Equally, like Meesha, I’ve found that it’s been shared passions for either making things or doing things that has connected me with other people. Basically, making friends and connecting with people in a meaningful way isn’t always as easy as you might want it to be and I wanted to make a book that communicated that to children in a light, gentle way that hopefully offers a few tips and some reassurance.

 Do you prefer writing or drawing?

I don’t really see myself as either a writer or an illustrator, I just like to make things. I make a lot of music and I'm also really interested in animation and video. I love audio visual mediums and combining story telling with music and imagery. So yeah, on any given day I’ll be doing any number of creative endeavours, but they’re only ever serving the purpose of the ‘idea’ that I’m trying to communicate. It’s just that some ideas translate better as words, some as pictures and some as songs. But I don’t prefer any one or another of them. They can all be incredibly rewarding, frustrating, tiring and satisfying!

What are you working on next?

How long have you got? I’m currently working on a lot of things! Most relevant would be a new book in the same range as Meesha Makes Friends that explores the concept of emotional jealousy. I’m also working up the final art for a follow up to a book that I made called ’The Invisible’ and I’m also illustrating the third book in my Dream Team series which will be called 'Odd One Out.’ But there’s also illustrations for the Skulduggery Pleasant series by Derek Landy, a middle grade novel that I’m writing, an action adventure series that I’m planning, some animation concepts, and LOTS of songs.

 And finally, what do you think has been the best thing about reading with small children during the lockdown?

Well, my children aren’t so small now (they’re 10 and 12) but we still read to them as it’s just such a nice, relaxing time to share. I’ve been especially enjoying books by Christopher Edge and Emma Carroll. But the benefits of reading with children are immense at all ages. It aids focus and concentration, it helps build empathy, it increases vocabulary, it’s a great wind-down before bed and what’s that other thing? Begins with an ‘F’… Oh yeah, it’s fun!

Calling all schools and nurseries: your chance to win one of 50 sets of our fabulous 2021 shortlist

That's right folks, we have 50 sets of the OBP 2021 shortlist to give away!

But before you do anything else, we have a question for you: where would you read the shortlist with the children? Would you recreate the Himalayas? Sit at the end of a home-made rainbow? Find some cuddly, snuggly animal friends of your own? Or just lay in the spring grass in the sunshine?

Wherever it would be, hold that thought - because to be in with a chance of receiving a set for your school or nursery setting, please ensure you have done the following by 5pm on Wednesday 5th May:

1. Complete the Google form to enter
2. Post a photo on social media of your choice (Facebook, Twitter or Instagram) showing where you would read the shortlist with your children if you received them. Please tag us in the photo! @oscarsbookprize #OBP21

The winning schools will be notified at the start of May, and books will be with the winners shortly afterwards. If your school or nursery setting is selected, please post a picture of the shortlist in your chosen location!

To accompany the giveaway - and even for those who don't win - our wonderful friends at CLPE will be producing a reading guide for each shortlisted book. We will share this inspirational resource in early May, so please check back here, or follow our social media, for more news.

In the meantime, if you would like more information on the books please check our news page in the coming weeks, when we will have some very special insight from the books' brilliant authors and illustrators. You can also read more about the books on the excellent National Literacy Trust's Words for Life website.

If you can't wait for the competition to close to get your hands on a set, the books are available from all bookstores or to borrow from libraries, and of course to buy from Amazon on their dedicated page www.amazon.co.uk/obp

Good luck everyone! We can't wait to see where you would read these treasures!

The smallprint:

Please note that dates are subject to change.

All entries must be received by 5pm on Wednesday 5th May.

We can provide one set per chosen setting/school only. Sadly we cannot replace any sets that go missing or are damaged en route.

For enquiries please email info@oscarsbookprize.co.uk.

OSCAR’S BOOK PRIZE DOUBLES IN VALUE AS 2021 SHORTLIST REVEALED

OSCAR’S BOOK PRIZE 2021 SHORTLIST REVEALED WITH DOUBLED PRIZE FUND AS RESEARCH UNCOVERS PARENTS RENEWED LOVE FOR READING WITH KIDS DURING LOCKDOWN

• Shortlist announced today, and to recognise and reward the vital work by early-years authors and illustrators in encouraging young children to read, this year’s prize fund has doubled in size to £10,000

• Six books shortlisted for the 2021 annual award for the UK’s best picture book

• Record number of entries recorded with a 12% increase in 2021 as the National Literacy Trust reveals that a third of adults have been reading with their children aged 0-5 more often since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, affirming the vital work of early-year authors

• The winner will be announced by the award’s patron, HRH Princess Beatrice, in a livestreamed virtual ceremony on Tuesday 11th May

 

Oscar’s Book Prize has announced the 2021 shortlist, with six books making it through to the next round following the highest number of entries recorded to date, up 12% from 2020. 

Celebrating the best in storytelling for under-fives, this announcement follows one of the most difficult years where children spent more time at home than ever before. This coincides with news released from the National Literacy Trust reporting that a third (32%) of adults have been reading with their children (aged 0-5) more than ever since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic – affirming the important work by early-year authors to educate, inspire and spark joy. To recognise and reward the vital work by early-years authors and illustrators in encouraging young children to read, this year’s prize fund has doubled in size. Avid book fans can learn more about Oscar’s Book Prize at oscarsbookprize.co.uk.

Now in its eighth year, Oscar’s Book Prize celebrates the best in storytelling for under-fives, crowning the UK’s best picture book. The prize was created to remember Oscar Ashton, who was three-and-a-half when he died from an undetected heart condition in 2012. It is supported by Amazon, the National Literacy Trust and the Evening Standard.

This year’s shortlist was chosen by a judging panel including TV presenters Lorraine Kelly and Angellica Bell, renowned children’s illustrator Axel Scheffler, and Simon Johnson, Amazon Director of EU Books. Oscar’s Book Prize co-founder Viveka Alvestrand, who set up the literary award in memory of her son, completes the line-up.

Submissions were of such high quality this year that the judging panel recognised six rather than the usual five books. The exceptional stories on the 2021 shortlist feature characters as diverse as yaks, dogs and bears, and settings that range from mountain tops, hospitals and schools. They all share strong and inspiring themes of friendships, co-operation, self-belief and perseverance.

The Oscar’s Book Prize 2021 shortlist is as follows:

I’m Sticking with you by Smriti Halls and Steve Small (Simon and Schuster Children’s Books)

Axel Scheffler said: "The clarity and simplicity of the design and illustration is very striking, yet the pictures are emotional and funny. Similarly the writing is brilliantly simple but gripping. I enjoyed the tension between text and illustrations - it's a perfectly balanced picture book."

Meesha Makes Friends by Tom Percival (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)

Angellica Bell said: “'This book was so touching and had a lovely sentiment to it without it being sad when I read it. There is so much potential for discussion about creativity and how we can be inclusive, and I really think this book can resonate to any reader whether big or small, 'Be open, be honest, be YOU!”

Rain Before Rainbows by Smriti Halls and David Litchfield (Walker Books)

Viveka Alvestrand said: “Every spread in this book provides its own fairytale, which complements the feeling of hope that radiates from every page. I loved it.”

The Hospital Dog by Julia Donaldson and Sara Ogilvie (Macmillan Children’s Books)

Lorraine Kelly said: “I loved the characters in this story, which the text and pictures bring so brilliantly and vibrantly to life. Reading this elicits an emotional response, and at a time when hospitals and narratives about illness are at the forefront of many minds, I found this very comforting. I thought this book was a delight.”

The Littlest Yak by Lu Fraser and Kate Hindley (Simon and Schuster Children’s Books)

Lorraine Kelly said: “This book is full of beautiful illustrations and deceptive simplicity. It's about worries too, so if you had a child who felt a little bit different or who felt they didn't fit in you could use it in a lovely, positive way.”

Would You Like A Banana by Yasmeen Ismail (Walker Books)

Simon Johnson said: “This book is full of wonderful pictures with a very funny story. It was completely gripping to read with my children.”

 

Speaking about her role on the judging panel, Lorraine Kelly said: “I loved having the opportunity to read these stories, they really are an amazing set of books and all of them are winners in my eyes. It’s so important to read with our children and think these books are perfect to get them involved and unlock the magic of storytelling.”

 

“I’m absolutely thrilled we can double the value of Oscar’s Book Prize” , said James Ashton, co-founder and chairman of the Prize. “From talking to our past winners, I know for them it is not all about the money, but these authors and illustrators deserve huge thanks for inspiring the next generation of readers. Substantially increasing the prize is our way of saying thank you, while at the same time I hope focusing attention on the brilliant books published in this segment of the market for children and their carers to share.”

 

Amazon Director of EU Books, Simon Johnson said: “We have been so impressed by the quality of this year’s entries which were a pleasure to read. My congratulations go to each author and illustrator for creating inspiring stories packed full of important educational messages for children.”

 

Jonathan Douglas, Chief Executive of the National Literacy Trust said: “We are proud to support Oscar’s Book Prize. It is a fantastic celebration of early years literature in honour of Oscar Ashton who loved stories, and it highlights the importance of reading with children from a young age. Children’s experiences in their early years help shape their social, emotional and cognitive development and lay the foundations for future health, happiness and success. The shortlist of entries to this year’s prize is incredible. Congratulations to all authors, it has been a tough year for many, but your work has brought joy to many families and is helping children on their way to becoming readers.”

. The winner will be announced by the award’s patron, HRH Princess Beatrice, in a livestreamed virtual ceremony on Tuesday 11th May. For more on the six shortlisted stories, go to oscarsbookprize.co.uk. Oscar’s Book Prize is supported by Amazon, the National Literacy Trust and the Evening Standard.

For further details, contact the Oscar’s Book Prize team at info@oscarsbookprize.co.uk.

Join us over on Facebook!

You’ve retweeted us on Twitter. You’ve ‘liked’ us on Instagram. Well now it’s time for a new Oscar’s Book Prize channel and that channel is Facebook (bet you’re relieved it isn’t Tik Tok). Head over to our shiny new Facebook for news on all the latest developments from Oscar’s Book Prize from our excellent judge’s Q&As, to our upcoming shortlist announcement and everything in-between!

A quick Q&A from our Longlist Judges

So we thought now was a great time to tell you a little bit more about our intrepid longlisting judges and what they were looking for when they worked their way through the world’s biggest pile of children’s books! Here’s our special Oscar’s Book Prize Tuesday Q&A:

Bedri Beytula-Sali and Sajida Akber

Can you tell us why you wanted to be involved with longlisting Oscar’s Book Prize?

Oscar had been attending our nursery since he was a baby. We loved being part of his development and watching him grow to a curious little boy who particularly enjoyed reading books. We have built a strong relationship with his parents and his little sister Alice.

What do you want to find this year?

We were looking forward to finding great joy, excitement and humour in the books we read.

What makes a fabulous book?

The one which will remain forever in a reader’s mind and heart.

 What did you love reading when you were little? 

Stories with a pinch of magic in them. Oscar’s favourite was How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers

Best book recommendation for 2021

I’m Sticking with You by Smriti Halls

You work with pre-school children every day - what do you think they find most exciting about books?

Funny, short, exciting stories and pictures, which make them giggle and want to get up and go!

What benefits do books have to young children? E.g. cuddles and confidence and imagination as well as literacy?

Books are a wonderful opportunity for the children to develop their cognitive skills, enhance their creativity, expand their listening skills and attention, and learn lots of life lessons through captivating stories and art. 

Ed Vere

Can you tell us why you wanted to be involved with longlisting Oscar’s Book Prize?

I’m very happy to be a part of the long-listing process. It’s a delight to see the great work that is being created and to help reward work that is outstanding. Writing good books is hard work… that hard work needs recognition. 

What do you want to find this year?

I don’t know what I want to find until I see it. There are so many reasons why a book might be brilliant. It might be very funny, moving, or exciting. Maybe it makes us think - or, if we’re lucky, it's all of those things together. 

What makes a fabulous book?

Adding to my last answer - a book which contains a truth of some kind. Truth is important in all the things mentioned above. It also manages to touch our hearts. 

 What did you love reading when you were little? 

So many books - I was voracious. Richard Scarry’s entire world, David McKee, Wind in the Willows, Winnie the Pooh, Roald Dahl… along with Quentin Blake’s incredible illustrations, all Jan Pienkowski’s books.

You won in 2019. What impact has being involved with the prize had?

Writing is hard and sometimes lonely work. There are moments when it’s just incredibly difficult to sit at a desk and pull something from your heart and wrestle it into the shape of book that is publishable and might end up saying something of value to someone. As an author, you seldom get to see someone enjoying your work. Winning the prize was a great honour. It’s recognition helps give me the encouragement to keep going when times are hard. So, thank you for that!

As a former winner, what would you most like children to enjoy about your books?

It’s just very important that children read for enjoyment. It's the single most important thing they can do to help them to educate themselves, to understand the world around them and to learn to think for themselves. As far as my books go… I just hope that children enjoy losing themselves in the worlds I create, and meeting the characters who live in them. 

Janet Noble

Can you tell us why you wanted to be involved with longlisting Oscar’s Book Prize?

I enjoy being involved in all activities that promote a love of books and reading to children of all backgrounds and abilities.

What do you want to find this year?

I want to find exciting and engrossing books that are representative of our diverse society.

What makes a fabulous book?

One that creates a stimulating and lasting reading and visual experience through the perfect symmetry of text and illustrations.

 What did you love reading when you were little? 

I was a young child in the 1970s, so I loved the fantastical, nonsensical, escapist, (with a dash of bad behaviour!), classics of the period, such as: Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak The Giant Jam Sandwich by Janet Burroway and John Vernon Lord Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

Best book recommendation for 2021?

I love the A Fairy Tale Revolution series. Four famous fairy tales, The Ugly Duckling, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel and Blueblood are given a contemporary twist by celebrated writers Rebecca Solnit, Malorie Blackman, Kamila Shamsie and Jeanette Winterson. Reimagined for today’s boys and girls, these brightly illustrated tales are both playful and thoughtful with compassion, courage, and freedom at their heart.

You’re an expert at matching books to children! Are you ever surprised by the books young children choose? Are there differences in the books adults might select for children and what they pick themselves?

I am never surprised! Young children will read anything, and adults tend to select the picture books they loved when they were young (myself included.) Whatever the book, the most enjoyable aspect is when children and adults read together.

When books are read aloud in libraries, what do you think works best?

Books that rhyme and/ or use repetitive text and images are excellent for storytelling. Oi Frog by Kes Gray, So Much by Trish Cooke, There’s A Bear on My Chair by Ross Collins are just a few of the books that are guaranteed to entrance the little ones.

Jo Jeffery

Can you tell us why you wanted to be involved with longlisting Oscar’s Book Prize?

 I love children’s books! Now that my children are older (13 and 10) I really miss the joy of the beautiful early years books - there are so many - and I was happy to take part just so that I could indulge my inner child. 

What do you want to find this year?

A beautifully illustrated, rhythmic book that is easeful to read and captivates the imagination.

 What makes a fabulous book?

 A simple story with beautiful illustrations; I love the melody of good writing - the end of the day is as important for the parents as it is for the children. 

 What did you love reading when you were little? 

 I have it on good authority that I requested Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit quite a lot!

 Best book recommendation for 2021?

 I am looking forward to adding to our shelves The Desolations of Devil’s Acre by Ransom Riggs for my 13 year old, which is the 6th novel of Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children and for my 10 year old The Wild Before by Piers Torday which is the prequel to ‘The Last Wild’ trilogy.  

 Tell us more about Read for Good and what happens to those books who don't make the judges' cut?

We have been making UK hospitals a better place for children since 2010, by harnessing the simple but incredibly effective power of books and stories. Our cheery mobile bookcases, packed with carefully chosen titles, have been proven to comfort, distract, educate and entertain – not only boosting the wellbeing of poorly children and their families but also encouraging a love of reading for pleasure. Oscars Book Prize books are part of a huge variety of books we send to children in hospital - from newborn to sixteen year olds. Our main service runs in thirty hospitals nationwide from Truro to Aberdeen and including Belfast. We have also been able to include Oscar’s Book Prize books in our 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.  

As you can imagine 2020 and 2021 has proven quite the challenge. Going to hospital, especially for lengthy or repeated treatments, can be very tough for any child and their family even in ‘normal’ times. That experience has been made even tougher by the pandemic with visitors restricted to one parent only and children often been restricted to their bed or ward, with no outside play or use of the playroom. With few Covid-compliant resources available to children in hospitals, and almost all non-essential services being cancelled or curtailed,  our books have provided an escape from the four walls of the hospital and the long empty days, helping to reduce feelings of isolation and anxiety. As a Hospital School teacher told us recently:

'I just wanted to let you know how invaluable the Read for Good books have been during this lockdown period. Although we're not working on the wards, we're now operating a School takeaway service from one of our classrooms - the Play Team share the “menus” and deliver the resources to the bedside from us. We've been sending a book to each child we work with, whenever they're in hospital, and have had some lovely feedback from parents and staff. Parents aren't allowed down to theatre with children at the moment, so a member of the Play Team has to accompany each child instead - one of the Play Specialists told us that yesterday she was able to read the ‘Winnie the Witch’ book, which we'd sent to the child, all the way to the theatre and that this had been a perfect distraction'.

Viveka Alvestrand

 

Can you tell us why you wanted to be involved with longlisting Oscar’s Book Prize?

As Oscar's mummy and co-founder of the prize that bears his name I've been involved with the longlisting since the prize's inception It marks the start of my favourite time of the year where I am always surrounded by brilliant books for children.

What do you want to find this year?

A book I think a child would like to have read to them again and again; one that triggers an emotion, with beautiful illustrations that chime with the words. More privately, I'll also be looking for a book that I think Oscar would have loved and in my head I'll be reading it to him.

What makes a fabulous book?

A whole range of things! It can be humour, great rhymes, an unusual plot twist, something that gets you thinking - preferably all these rolled into one - and with page-turning pictures to draw you in as well. A great book should shut out the world around you and transport you right into the action. Wonderful prose can be let down by mis-matched illustrations, and vice versa, but when they work together, that's where wonder lies.

 What did you love reading when you were little? 

I grew up in Sweden where Astrid Lindgren (the creator of Pippi Longstocking and countless other wonderful characters) was pretty much spoon-fed to me, first as picture books, then as I grew older in novel format. I was also fascinated by the quirky illustrations of the Moomin picture books, and I adored The Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. 

 Can you tell us more about why OBP thought it was important to make the longlist more visible?

There are so many wonderful children's books published in the UK every year. If publicising the longlist means we can make sure they are put on more people's radars who can go on to enjoy them with their children then that's a great thing.