An obscure Wikipedia entry about a floating log in a lake in Oregon, the prospect of a babysitter, and a little girl with “one of those really snorty laughs” inspired three of the five books shortlisted for this year’s Oscar’s Book Prize. Speaking to ES online, before HRH Princess Beatrice announces the final winner of the £5,000 prize at St James’s Palace on Monday, the authors and illustrators reveal where they get their ideas from and their excitement at the prospect of winning.
“When I was at uni, I was researching for a project and found a tiny little Wikipedia entry about a log in a lake in Oregon that floats upright and is known as the old man of the lake, so I imagined what would be below the surface,” says Joe Todd-Stanton, author and illustrator of The Secret of Black Rock.
For Ruth Quayle, author of That Bear Can’t Babysit (illustrated by Alison Friend), her children’s excitement at being told a babysitter was coming, proved a winning storyline. “My children are literally rubbing their hands, saying, ‘when are you going Mum?’ because they know they can get away with things when the babysitter’s there.”
Laura Hughes, who illustrated There’s A Pig Up My Nose, was inspired by “the diversity I see every day in London”, while the book’s author, John Dougherty, found it in the classroom, when he teased a girl about her ‘snorty laugh’. Asked about winning, he said “the honour of being awarded a prize named in memory of a young reader feels very special,” while for Rob Biddulph, author and illustrator of Sunk! “Just to be a part of Oscar’s Book Prize is unbelievable; I feel like I’ve won already.”
Oscar’s Book Prize also goes to the Barnes Children’s Literature Festival (barneskidslitfest.org/events/celebrating-oscars-book-prize/) tomorrow May 12, featuring appearances from Ruth Quayle and Alison Friend, and John Dougherty and Laura Hughes.
Watch the full interviews below:
