Following a celebration event at Waterstones Piccadilly, the shortlist for the 2024 Klaus Flugge Prize has been announced.
Established in 2016, the prize was set up to honour Klaus Flugge, founder of Andersen Press and a leading light in the world of children’s publishing and illustration. It is awarded to the most promising and exciting newcomer to children’s picture book illustration.
From a longlist of 17 picture books by debut illustrators, the panel of judges have chosen six to shortlist. This year’s judges are multi award-winning illustrator Petr Horáček; Mariajo Ilustrajo, winner of the 2023 Klaus Flugge Prize; Olivia Ahmad, Artistic Director at the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration; and Alex Forbes, founder of independent bookshop Fourbears Books. The panel is chaired by Julia Eccleshare, Director, Hay Children’s Festival.
The judges were looking for technical skill, the ability to tell a story and to create character, as well as originality and promise. The six shortlisted illustrators have very different approaches and artistic styles, their subjects are as varied as the power and importance of the natural world; a little girl with the most amazing dreams; the purpose of art; and a mango tree full of surprises. This year there are two information picture books on the list, one shining a light on the lives of Black British people in history, the other telling the story of Victorian fossil hunter, Mary Anning.
The shortlisted books are:
- The Crown illustrated by Emily Kapff (Walker Books)
- The Dream Book by Bia Melo (Templar)
- Henri and the Machine illustrated by Olga Shtonda, written by Isabelle Marinov (Templar)
- Farah Loves Mangos illustrated by Sarthak Sinha (Flying Eye Books)
- Bright Stars of Black British History illustrated by Angela Vives, written by J. T. Williams (Thames and Hudson)
- The Fossil Hunter illustrated by Kate Winter (Puffin Books)
Chair of the judges Julia Eccleshare says, “From another strong longlist, our judges have selected a shortlist that fully represents the extraordinary variety of picture books on offer to children today. At a time when computers and software are as important tools for illustrators as brush and pen, our six shortlisted illustrators demonstrate exceptional skill at drawing, painting and observation. In a crowded market, they have developed their own style, creating characters and scenes we haven’t encountered before. When it is so hard for new talent to break through, Klaus Flugge’s generosity in sponsoring the Prize and his lifelong support for authors and illustrators is vital.”
The winner will be announced at a ceremony in London on Wednesday 11 September 2024 and will receive a cheque for £5,000.