The shortlist for the first ever Klaus Flugge prize has been released today, narrowing the competition down to just six of the most exciting newcomers to children’s illustrations.
The shortlisted six are:
Too Many Toys by Heidi Deedman
Lulu has so many toys that her room becomes rather overcrowded and she can barely sleep in her own bed! What will she do?
The judges chose this book because they like the intricate comic detail, energetic style and hand lettering that give Heidi Deedman’s book a lot of personality.
Hector and the Hummingbird by Nicholas John Frith
This is a story about an unlikely friendship between a noisy hummingbird and a bear who just wants some peace and quiet. When he finally gets what he wants, he realises he misses his friend.
Nicholas John Frith made it to the top six because the judges thought that the way he inhabits his characters is rather special.
The Girl with the Parrot on her Head by Daisy Hirst
A picture book about moving house, making new friends and playing imaginative games to cheer up Isabel who feels sad and lonely.
Daisy Hirst’s beautiful illustrations help children understand their emotions and it’s her silk-screen prints and use of space that caught the judges’ eye.
Toby and the Ice Giants by Joe Lillington
Learn about the Ice Age in this story as Toby’s goes on an adventure and meets a family of Woolly Mammoths.
Joe Lillington use of watercolour illustrations in this book is greatly admired by the judges.
Lili by Wen Dee Tan
Lili is just your ordinary little girl, except for her fiery red hair. Lili struggles to make friends because of her hair until one day she finds a group of children lost in the forest and it’s her hair that rescues everyone.
Wen Dee Tan uses pencil and crayon style in her animation and the judges liked her gentle yet expressive illustrations.
Counting Lions by Stephen Walton, written by Katie Cotton
This book takes readers on an wildlife adventure to learn about some of the world’s endangered animals, alongside the poetic text.
The self-taught artist, Stephen Walton uses charcoal to illustrate the wildlife. Judge, Tony Ross said: “I couldn’t draw like that, and I’d really like to.”
The judges were told to consider technique and artistic ability as as well as the illustrator’s ability of characterisation. The panel included children’s laureate Chris Riddell and Tony Ross, who illustrated the Horrid Henry series and is the UK’s biggest selling children’s illustrator.
The chair of judges, Julia Eccleshare, said, “the discussion was lively and wide ranging and the final shortlist features exciting and extremely talented illustrators. The Klaus Flugge Prize is very important, the only one to recognise new illustrator talent at this crucial early stage in a career and we look forward to watching all six of the shortlisted illustrators develop.”
The winner of the Klaus Flugge prize will be announced in September and will receive a cheque for £5000.
The award was set up in honour of Klaus Flugge, who launched Anderson Press in 1976 and is responsible for spotting and developing, among others, Tony Ross, David McKee and Sir Quentin Blake.
