Shortlist Spotlight 2023: The Boy with Flowers in His Hair by Jarvis (Walker Books)

We’re so delighted to FINALLY be able to share more details about our fantastic 2023 shortlist, which we will be posting here between now and the winner announcement on 9 May. Please read them all, and see if you have a favourite to become our tenth winner!

Our first story to shine in the OBP spotlight is the amazing The Boy with Flowers in his Hair by Jarvis.

Judges called this book ‘delicate and beautiful’ and ‘timeless’ …. but wait, don’t take our word for it. Here’s what judge Benji Davies had to say:

We highly endorse borrowing or buying a copy, whether from a library, your local independent bookshop or of course our sponsor Amazon, who have a dedicated shortlist page: amazon.co.uk/oscarsbookprize

But that’s not all. The brilliant Jarvis, author and illustrator of this gorgeous book, has ever so kindly agreed to tell us more.

He’s also sent a special friend to help celebrate the shortlist….David himself!

Copyright Jarvis 2023

Please read on to find out a little more about Jarvis, and to read the answers he very kindly supplied for our Q&A…which includes telling us what Bob Shea books automatically do to their readers, and which books he’d gift to some very special characters.

Jarvis, good luck, and thank you so much!

What is the picture book that you have enjoyed reading with someone else most, and why?

Any Bob Shea book makes the person who reads it aloud into the funniest person. I would probably go with Who Wet My Pants (Illustrated by Zachariah Ohora) or Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great. But he has written so many wonderfully funny books that are so unique to him. I enjoy reading any of his aloud to my friend's kids.

What’s your favourite thing about each of the characters in The Boy with Flowers in His Hair?

Actually, my favourite thing is that at there is a boy who has flowers growing out of his head and none of the class mates treat him differently. I wanted all the characters to just be absolutely fine with that...because children often are completely fine with difference. It's only when he loses them that things change a little. And obviously my favourite character is the narrator, the best friend who sticks by David through his twiggy-ness, because that's something we all want in a friend.

 Which picture book would you give as a gift to David and the narrator, and why?

Well for the narrator who likes a bit of paper cutting and painting i'd give him a book called The Great Paint by Alex Willmore about an artistic frog. 

And for David, the boy with flowers in his hair, I'd go with Butterfly Child by Marc Majewski, which is a very beautifully flowery book about a boy who makes his own butterfly wings. 

Photo: credit Matt Burgess

About Jarvis

Jarvis studied Graphic Design and previously worked as a record sleeve designer, website designer and an animation director before becoming a children’s bookmaker. His books with Walker include Follow Me, Flo!, Tropical Terry, Mrs Mole, I’m Home! and Alan’s Big, Scary Teeth, which won the V&A Best Illustrated Book. He is also the illustrator of the much-loved "Pick a ..." series written by Patricia Toht, Pick a Pine Tree and Pick a Pumpkin and Pick a Perfect Egg. Jarvis lives in Manchester with his wife and their dog and cat. Follow him on Twitter as @heyimjarvis, and on Instagram as @booksbyjarvis.

Pirates, Unlikely Friendships and a Singing Gecko; Oscar’s Book Prize reveal the 2023 shortlist

It’s time! The judges have been beavering away and finally we can announce the amazing books they have chosen to shortlist for the 10th annual Oscar’s Book Prize!

Oscar’s Book Prize 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 an undiagnosed heart condition in December 2012. 

 

One decade on, and animals are a firm favourite this year with appearances from a seal, a fox, a bear, a dog, a gecko, sharks and a tiny horse, to name a few. Yet all of the beautifully illustrated stories have clear themes and important messages in common, notably that of friendship and the act of kindness. 

 

This year’s shortlist was selected by a star-studded judging panel including Cressida Cowell, the former Children’s Laureate and author of the best-selling children’s book series How To Train Your Dragon, The British Book Awards ‘Illustrator of the Year 2022’, Dapo Adeola and author and two-time winner of Oscar’s Book Prize, Benji Davies. Completing the panel is Lisa de Meyer, the UK Books Country Manager at Amazon.co.uk and the Prize co-founder, Viveka Alvestrand.

 

The winner of the £10,000 Prize will be announced by the award’s patron, Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice, at a ceremony on Tuesday 9th May in central London, and will become the tenth picture book to take the prize. The prize is generously supported by Amazon and the Evening Standard.

Dapo Adeola said: “Narrowing down the entries to just six titles was incredibly difficult - but it's been a joy to take on the challenge of deciding between so many outstanding stories. I was blown away by the creativity, the characters and the storytelling of each and every book, and loved the different things that the books tell us about friendships. 

There is so much to be said about the importance of children’s books, and the impact that their magic can have on those that read them. I hope that this year’s shortlist gets into the hands of as many young readers as possible, because these stories will quite rightly stay with them for years to come. What a set of books to end the prize's first decade with!"

Lisa De Meyer said: “It has been such an honour to support Oscar’s Book Prize once again. Over the past ten years, the Prize has brought some outstanding picture books to the fore and this year’s shortlist is no different.  We have read some fantastical and magical stories and we are all extremely proud of the chosen shortlist - any one of them would be a thoroughly deserving winner.”

  

The shortlist for Oscar’s Book Prize 2023 is as follows:

Billy and the Pirates by Nadia Shireen (Penguin Random House - Children’s Puffin)

Ahoy there! It's time to sail the ocean blue with Billy and her trusty feline friend, as they embark on a noble seafaring adventure to escape Captain Howl in their third thrilling adventure, filled with singing mermaids and sticky toffee eating sharks. Fortunately for our courageous twosome, they're no strangers to peril: they always have a trick (or treat) up their sleeves.

Can I Play? by Nicola Kinnear (Alison Green - Scholastic)

Grumpy George doesn’t want friends – until he meets a funny little seal called Pebble . . . George the dog loves living alone on his island. He likes to do everything his own way, and friends would just ruin things, until one day he meets a cheerful little seal named Pebble, and she’s determined to be George’s friend, whether he likes it or not. Can this odd couple ever become friends?

Frank and Bert by Chris Naylor Ballesteros (Nosy Crow)

Frank and Bert are the best of friends and they love to play hide and seek, but Bert the bear isn't quite as good at hiding as he thinks, and Frank always ends up winning. Upon playing again, Frank has to decide between winning or making his friend happy and learns that friendship is always the true winner.

Teapot Trouble: A Duck and Tiny Horse Adventure by Morag Hood (Two Hoots)

Something or someone is living inside Duck's teapot! Who are they? What do they want? How will we get them out? Never fear, for Tiny Horse is here! Tiny Horse has a trampoline. She has a magnificent hat. She has a stick of celery. What more could anyone need to save the day?

The Boy with Flowers in His Hair by Jarvis (Walker Books)

David is the boy with flowers in his hair. He’s sweet and gentle, just like his petals. But when David’s flowers begin to fall – a single petal at first, then every last blossom – his best friend never leaves his side. And through kindness and creativity, he even finds a way to give David his colour back…

The Gecko and the Echo by Rachel Bright and Jim Field (Hachette Children’s Group - Orchard)

Goldy the gecko wants one thing - to be a star. But in the quest for stardom, Goldy loses perspective when a performance starts to go wrong, the little gecko discovers that friendship means so much more than fame. When you treat the world with love, then love will come echoing back.


To view the full shortlist, please visit amazon.co.uk/oscarsbookprize, and visit www.oscarsbookprize.co.uk for author and illustrator Q&As, dedicated doodles, judges’ videos and more over the coming weeks.

Meet the Judges 2023: Our longlist panel

We’ve now had the pleasure of hearing from our shortlist judges and the crucial work they do in selecting our finalists. But before that stage of judging can happen, another very important panel reads all of our entries and has the unenviable task of choosing between them!

This panel is made up of a selection of children’s literature experts from different parts of the industry: from literacy charities to librarians. As usual, the panel involves Bedi Beytula-Sali and Sajida Akber from the Eveline Day Nursery, which Oscar attended, who bring their incomparable practical expertise of what books young children enjoy and engage with, and Viveka Alvestrand, Oscar’s mother.

This year the panel was also complemented by author, illustrator, and two-time OBP winner Benji Davies (also a shortlist judge this year), Read for Good’s Dr Lucy Martin and Tower Hamlets School Library Services’ Jacob Turner.

As we prepare to reveal our outstanding 10th shortlist on Monday, we wanted to share some insights from Lucy and Jacob (Benji having already kindly answered our shortlist judge Q&A, below) - huge thanks to both of of them for answering our questions, as well as choosing such terrific books!


Dr Lucy Martin –  Research and Partnerships Manager at Read for Good

Dr Lucy Martin, Read for Good

Please tell us about yourself:

I am extremely lucky to work for Read for Good. Read for Good are the brilliant charity partner of Oscar's Book Prize whose mission is to improve the lives of children across the UK by inspiring a love of reading. My role allows me to develop relationships with the most amazing individuals who share Read for Good’s commitment to changing children and young people’s lives through the power of stories and reading for pleasure. As there is so much evidence to support how transformative reading can be, it’s my job to make sure we share this and that our work in schools and hospitals is driven by the latest research. I’m never far away from books, meaning that I can often be found in the local library, or sitting under a tree, reading to my 4 year old who loves stories. 

Which childhood book(s) inspired your own reading journey?

I loved anything by Jacqueline Wilson. She totally got that life can sometimes be really hard when you're a kid. I think either you relate to the challenges of the characters in her stories or they can help you build empathy for what others are going through. 

What do you think is the most important thing about picture books?

For me, and at the charity Read for Good where I work, the most important things about picture books is that children can freely choose a book they love. Yet almost 1 in 5 children (ages 5-8) do not have any books at home. We believe that every child deserves to have access to a range of quality reading for pleasure books so they can experience the joy and magic of stories.

Jacob Turner, Librarian 

Please tell us about yourself:

I have been part of the Tower Hamlets Schools Library Services since 2004, ensuring that schools have a ready supply of the best children’s books and other teaching resources, and helping to set up school libraries. I’ve managed the Tower Hamlets Book Award and annual recommended book lists since 2009, as well as the Tower Hamlets creative writing competition. When I’m not librarianing I illustrate books, climb walls and collect board games. 

Which childhood book(s) inspired your own reading journey? 

I was read a lot of traditional tales and myths. ‘The Kingdom Under The Sea’ by Joan Aiken – the story ‘Baba Yaga’s Daughter’ and also ‘The Reed Girl’ where the main character cuts off his own hand to feed two wolves – vividly illustrated by Jan Pienkowski – is still a fixture in the back of my mind. Possibly unsurprisingly, I went on to spend my childhood engrossed in the wonderfully dark Fighting Fantasy books by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone. 

What do you think is the most important thing about picture books? 

That the illustrations can tell a story without necessarily needing the words, and that you can open the best picture books on any page and still be captivated by a whole world in that one image. 


Meet the Judges 2023: Cressida Cowell

Our fourth judge needs no introduction - as it’s the inimitable Cressida Cowell!

As well as being a former Children’s laureate, Cressida is of course the author and illustrator, best known for, among many other works, her How to Train Your Dragon series.

Cressida is of course now very busy putting all of her expertise to the test in taming the shortlist-to-be - so Cressida, thank you so much for answering our questions, too!

Credit Debra Hurford Brown


What is your earliest reading memory?

Going to the local library to discover exciting new books – which is one of the reasons libraries are so important, they make reading accessible from the earliest age.

Who is (or was) your all-time favourite person to read picture books with?

 My children. I know parents are exhausted by the end of the day, but as the parent of 3 adult children, they’re some of my fondest memories. And books read to you in a parent’s voice live with you all your life.

Who or what do you consider to be the best picture book character ever, and why?

‘The Lorax. He’s a brilliantly entertaining character whilst also delivering vital messages about the environment and empowering children to know that they can make a difference. He also has a beautiful, lyrical voice: ‘I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees. I speak for the trees for the trees have no tongues.'

Oscar's Book Prize celebrates the very best picture books. What sort of stories are you hoping to discover while judging this year's shortlist?

I’m looking for a book that the children will love, obviously, but also appeals to the reading adult so that they enjoy reading together, to create those happy memories. I’m looking for something with skill, and heart and joy.

About Cressida:

Cressida Cowell MBE is the author-illustrator of the How to Train Your Dragon, The Wizards of Once and Which Way to Anywhere book series, as well as picture books. How to Train Your Dragon is also an Academy Award nominated film and TV franchise. Cressida is a trustee of World Book Day, a patron of Read for Good, an ambassador for the National Literacy Trust and the Woodland Trust. She has won many high-profile awards for her books, as well as her work championing literacy. She is an honorary fellow of Keble College, Oxford, and has an honorary doctorate from the University of Brighton. Cressida was Children’s Laureate 2019-2022.

 

Meet the Judges 2023: Dapo Adeola

Our treat for you this Monday morning is an introduction to our third 2023 judge: the incredible Dapo Adeola. Character designer, illustrator and author, Dapo’s work has been dazzling children and parents alike over the past few years, delighting us with characters from space detectives to lioness mums (and of course, a very special Rocket).

To find out (or should that be ‘look up’ - SORRY - ) more about Dapo, please read on below…

Dapo - thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions!

What is your earliest reading memory?

It’s a bit of a sad one. I was raised in a household of non readers who only saw being able to read as a way of avoiding the embarrassment they felt around illiteracy. So I was forced to learn to read books that I had no interest in at all. I could read, but I kept that a secret and instead got really good at hiding the books they forced on me around the house. It wasn’t until I was 7 that reading for pleasure became a thing for me. I’d just started a new school year and my teacher at the time sat me in front of the bookshelf and gave me the opportunity to choose which book I wanted to read. It was the first time I’d been given a choice and I jumped to it, and so began my love of reading. 

Who is (or was) your all-time favourite person to read picture books with?

I haven’t actually read picture books regularly with anyone outside of work events. 

I guess my faves would be the children in classes across the country that we’ve done events with. The energy exchange is absolute magic. The looks on faces and the love for our characters and stories never fails to get me emotional.

 

Who or what do you consider to be the best picture book character ever, and why?

There are many classic and amazing. picture book characters, but it’s absolutely impossible for me to choose one as the best of all time. Each time I think I’ve found one, someone releases a character that I wish I’d drawn or come up with. I love how Illustrators keep pushing the craft forward.  

 

Oscar's Book Prize celebrates the very best picture books. What sort of stories are you hoping to discover while judging this year's shortlist?

I’m holding back any expectations when it comes to submissions, I want to be pleasantly surprised. The most I’m hoping for is to find stories that dare to be brave enough to step off the well-trodden path of past books.

 

 About Dapo:

Dapo Adeola is an illustrator, author and character designer who was awarded Illustrator of the Year at The British Book Awards in 2022. Dapo rocketed into the picture book world with his greatly acclaimed illustrator debut, Look Up!, written by Nathan Bryon and published by Puffin in 2019, which won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize in 2020. Dapo illustrated My Dad is a Grizzly Bear and My Mum Is a Lionesswritten by award-winning author Swapna Haddow (both published by Macmillan Children’s Books), and collaborated with Malorie Blackman on their picture book We’re Going to Find the Monster!

Dapo made his author debut in 2021 with the Puffin published picture book Hey You!: An Empowering Celebration of Growing Up Black, featuring 18 talented Black British illustrators, which also went on to win Illustrated book of the year at The British Book Awards in 2022.

Meet the Judges 2023: Viveka Alvestrand

It’s time for our second Meet the Judges!

Today’s judge will be familiar to many, as she not only co-founded the Prize, but has judged it every year! Viveka Alvestrand is Oscar’s mum and this will be her TENTH year of selecting a shortlist and winner from all of our wonderful entries.

Viveka has kindly answered some questions for us about her own reading experiences – find out more below!

 Thank you, Viveka.

 

 What is your earliest reading memory? 

The excitement of going to the local library with my nursery in Stockholm where I grew up. I loved the calm and the smell of the books!

 

Who is (or was) your all-time favourite person to read picture books with? 

My father has a good reading voice, so I think it would have to be bedtime reading with him.

 

Who or what do you consider to be the best picture book character ever, and why? 

Hmm, that's a toughie. Whichever one I choose I know I am going to kick myself about later as there are so many to choose from! In terms of early sensory reading memories I think I would have to go with Curious George, though. I loved anything with him in it as a child, still do!

 

Oscar's Book Prize celebrates the very best picture books. What sort of stories are you hoping to discover while judging this year's shortlist? 

Wonderfully illustrated stories that transport children and their imaginations to places near and far, stories for them to remember and carry with them as they grow and make sense of the world.

 

About Viveka

Viveka Alvestrand is Oscar’s mother and co-founder of Oscar’s Book Prize. Born in Stockholm, Sweden, she is a self-confessed book worm, and studied Youth & Children’s Literature at Stockholm University before moving to the UK. She works in digital media, and also designs and makes her own line of contemporary jewellery in Surrey.

Judges Announced: Oscar's Book Prize 2023

 We’re absolutely thrilled to announce our TENTH judging panel! Please see below for the very official press release, which has been publicly shared today.

We can’t wait to see what this outstanding panel picks…

Read more about our judges here - or on our social channels - in the coming days!

Cressida Cowell joins Oscar’s Book Prize judging panel to find the breakout picturebook of 2023

London, UK, 2 March 2023: Cressida Cowell, the celebrated former Children’s Laureate and author of the best-selling children’s book series How To Train Your Dragon is joining the judging panel for Oscar’s Book Prize 2023.

Alongside Cowell, selecting the best picturebook of the year will be The British Book Awards ‘Illustrator of the Year 2022’ Dapo Adeola and author and two-time winner of Oscar’s Book Prize, Benji Davies. Completing the panel is Viveka Alvestrand, who co-founded the literary award in memory of her son, and Lisa de Meyer, the UK Books Country Manager at Amazon.co.uk.

 Now celebrating its tenth year, the £10,000 prize seeks to find the best illustrated book for young children and 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.

 Cressida Cowell said: “Being so passionate about children’s literature and the excitement and inspiration it can bring to children, I am so looking forward to unearthing some new magic while we choose the next breakout picturebook. I know all too well the hard work and dedication it takes to create a great picturebook, which look deceptively simple, but capturing the imagination and excitement of children and their families takes enormous skill.”

 Oscar's Book Prize is supported by Amazon Books and the Evening Standard. Its patron is HRH Princess Beatrice. Submissions closed in January and the shortlist will be revealed in April, before the winner is announced in May 2023.

 James Ashton, the prize's chairman and co-founder, said: “If I think about how simply our prize began, reaching ten years is a milestone of which everyone involved should be proud. We couldn’t have got this far without the support of authors, illustrators, publishers, sponsors and judges and I hope for 2023 we can showcase another brilliant book for parents to share with their children.”

 Lisa de Meyer, Country Manager for Amazon UK Books, said: “We always look forward to this time of year where we get to support Oscar’s Book Prize in championing the creative talent behind books for children. Some of my most precious times with my 2-year-old have revolved around reading, especially at bedtime, and I am thrilled to be part of this very special judging panel. For young children (and parents, too), picturebooks are a pathway into adventure, learning and creativity, and Amazon is proud to support the search for the nation’s next favourite bedtime story.” 

 Previous winners of the prize include:

2022: Maybe… by Chris Haughton (Walker Books)

2021: The Littlest Yak by Lu Fraser and Kate Hindley (Simon & Schuster)

2020: Tad by Benji Davies (HarperCollins)

2019: How To Be a Lion by Ed Vere (Puffin)

2018: There’s a Pig Up My Nose by John Dougherty and Laura Hughes (Egmont)

2017: The Koala Who Could by Rachel Bright and Jim Field (Orchard Books)

2016: The Cow Who Climbed A Tree by Gemma Merino (Macmillan Children’s Books)

2015: The Queen’s Hat by Steve Antony (Hodder Children’s Books)

2014: The Storm Whale by Benji Davies (Simon & Schuster)

 

For more information about Oscar’s Book Prize, please visit www.oscarsbookprize.co.uk.

 ENDS<

 

The submission period for Oscar's Book Prize 2023 is now closed!

Well - the greediest weeks of our inner book-worm’s diets are now at an end for 2023 - and we’re sated! We would like to extend a huge thank you to all of the publishers who have entered this year and wish everyone the very best of luck.

We feel hugely lucky to have the opportunity to see so many outstanding picture books each year - and truly humbled by the talent of the illustrators and authors behind them.

We will be announcing our shortlist in early April, and the winner on 9th May. And - just as excitingly - we will soon be announcing our 2023 judges!

Please do check back here soon or follow @oscarsbookprize on Twitter or Instagram (or find us on Facebook) for more news.

Until then, we’ve got just a few books to immerse ourselves in….


Oscar's Book Prize 2023 is Now Accepting Submissions!

Possibly the only thing better than opening the first door of the advent calendar today is the news that Oscar’s Book Prize is back and accepting entries!

And just in case you needed any more reasons to decide upon our superiority to a small (if delicious) chocolate - we last longer! The entry period will close on Monday 16th January - so UK publishers have plenty of time to enter their very best picture books for young children.

The full Terms and Conditions of Entry can be found on our ‘Enter’ page - as well as the link to the Entry Form itself.

Good luck everyone - we’re beyond excited to see what this year brings! (Spoiler alert: outstanding entries and awesome judges….with the latter being announced early in 2023).

OBP 2022: Winner Party Pictures

Just a ‘snapshot’ (somebody stop us) from the wonderful award ceremony on Tuesday. See if you can spot our judges, shortlist, special guests and more!

Congratulations to Chris and our shortlist once again - and huge thanks to all for coming (and submitting such amazing books in the first place!).

Photos courtesy of Tom Pilston, with many thanks.

A special reading of Maybe... by Chris Haughton

We’re so thrilled for this year’s winner Chris Haughton!

We’ve heard from the judges and our Patron HRH Princess Beatrice about what makes this book so special, but the very best way to appreciate it is to read it for yourself. As such, we’re delighted to present a very special reading of Maybe… below. Huge thanks to our panel and Patron for making this possible!

We hope you enjoy the reading (and of course, Maybe… itself) as much as we all have. Congratulations to Chris - and to all at Walker Books - for this vibrant, roar-some winner! Now, let’s talk about mangoes…

Copyright information:

Copyright © 2021 Chris Haughton

MAYBE… by Chris Haughton

Reproduced by permission of Walker Books Ltd, London, SE11 5HJ

www.walker.co.uk

Film courtesy of Gray Creative Ltd, with many thanks!

Oscar's Book Prize 2022: Winner Revealed!

Princess Beatrice reveals the winner of Oscar’s Book Prize 2022

London, UK, 18 May 2022: HRH Princess Beatrice announced the winner of this year’s Oscar’s Book Prize at an awards ceremony in central London yesterday evening. The award, supported by Amazon, the National Literacy Trust and the Evening Standard, crowned Maybe…, by the multi-talented author and illustrator Chris Haughton, as the winner, topping the shortlist of magical stories to take home the £10,000 literary prize.

Maybe…by Chris Haughton (Walker Books)

The Dublin-born author and illustrator has produced several much-loved children’s books in the last decade, including the best-selling A Bit Lost and Oh No, George!

Upon winning, Chris Haughton said: “It’s an honour to be chosen as the winner for this year’s Oscar’s Book Prize, and a privilege to be held in such high regard amongst a shortlist of incredible authors and illustrators, all of whom deserve the award as much as me. This is an award that celebrates and highlights the joy that comes from children’s stories, and one I shall cherish.”  

Photo courtesy of Tom Pilston

Maybe… (Walker Books) is a cautionary tale about three little monkeys and transports readers on a journey of vicarious mischief as boundaries are pushed and lessons are learned. Maybe is one of six books which were shortlisted for this year’s Prize, with the other’s including Barbara Throws a Wobbler by Nadia Shireen (Puffin, PRH Children's), The Pet: Cautionary Tales for Children and Grown-ups by Catherine Emmett and David Tazzyman (Macmillan Children's Books), The Duck Who Didn't Like Water by Steve Small (Simon & Schuster Children’s Books), The Fire Fox by Alexandra Page and Stef Murphy (Two Hoots, Macmillan Children’s Books) and I'm Sticking With You Too by Smriti Halls and Steve Small (Simon & Schuster Children’s Books).

Many of this year’s judging panel joined the award ceremony held at The Ivy Club in central London, including singer-songwriter, Sophie Ellis-Bextor alongside her mother and two-time author, Janet Ellis. The pair were joined by the former Children's Laureate and award-winning illustrator, Chris Riddell, rapper, actor, comedian and children’s author, Ben Bailey Smith (Doc Brown), Amazon’s UK Books Country Manager, Lisa De Meyer and the Prize co-founder, Viveka Alvestrand.

HRH Princess Beatrice said: “This year’s winning book is a stunning blend of imaginative storytelling with playful illustration. The amount of vibrancy expressed in the story - from characterization to humour - is also a stand-out example of how much power pictures - and relatively few words - have to convey a story. I’m proud to be a long-standing patron of Oscar’s Book Prize and have had the privilege of witnessing this award shine a light on so many amazing books over the years.”

Photo courtesy of Tom Pilston

The award, now in its ninth year, was set up by James Ashton and Viveka Alvestrand to celebrate magical stories and encourage parents to take time to share books with their young children. It is named in memory of their son Oscar, who was three-and-a-half when he died from an undiagnosed heart condition in December 2012.

James Ashton, the prize's chairman and co-founder, said: “Young children need bright and engaging stories to escape into and our judges felt Chris’s work enables that brilliantly. He is a worthy winner of our £10,000 prize and it has been great to celebrate his success at an in-person event once again.”

For more information about the prize and this year’s winning book, please visit www.oscarsbookprize.co.uk and to view the full shortlisted books on Amazon, please visit www.amazon.co.uk/obp22.

 

>ENDS<

 For further enquiries, please contact:

Hunt & Gather

Email: BooksProjects@hunt-gather.com

 

About Oscar’s Book Prize

Oscar’s Book Prize is an annual prize for the best under-fives book of the year. It champions magical storytelling by authors and illustrators, best shared between young children and their parents.

It is awarded in memory of book-loving Oscar Ashton, who died in 2012 of an undiagnosed heart condition aged three and a half. Founded by his parents and supported by Amazon, the Evening Standard and the National Literacy Trust, the Prize has been running since 2014.

For news and all other information please visit www.oscarsbookprize.co.uk, follow @oscarsbookprize on Instagram or Twitter, or find Oscar’s Book Prize on Facebook.

 

About Amazon.co.uk

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalised recommendations, Prime, Fulfilment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.co.uk/about and follow @AmazonNewsUK

Follow Amazon.co.uk on Twitter: www.twitter.com/AmazonUK

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About the National Literacy Trust

Our mission is to improve the reading, writing, speaking and listening skills of those who need it most, giving them the best possible chance of success in school, work and life. We run Literacy Hubs and campaigns in communities where low levels of literacy and social mobility are seriously impacting people’s lives. We support schools and early years settings to deliver outstanding literacy provision, and we campaign to make literacy a priority for politicians, businesses and parents.

Our research and analysis make us the leading authority on literacy and drive our interventions. Literacy is a vital element of action against poverty and our work changes children and young people’s life stories. Our new site Words for Life provides simple, fun and educational activities for children and young people aged 0-24 to support learning at home and help them feel more confident.

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The Shortlist Edit: Part 1

Now that you’ve met our shortlist, it’s high time we talked more about the brilliant books that they’ve created! And who better to do that than our wonderful judging panel themselves?

Please watch below for the judges’ soundbites on each book in turn. If you haven't read them already - now’s the time to grab a copy of each of our stupendous six and see what you think of the judges’ comments.

Thanks so much again to our brilliant panel for such amazing care and consideration. All of the submitted books were wonderful, and choosing just six is a Herculean task!!!


Chris Riddell on Barbara Throws A Wobbler by Nadia Shireen (Puffin)


Viveka Alvestrand on The Pet by Catherine Emmett and David Tazzyman (Macmillan Children’s Books)


Janet Ellis on The Fire Fox by Alexandra Page and Stef Murphy (Macmillan Children’s Books, Two Hoots)



Ben Bailey Smith on The Duck Who Didn’t Like Water by Steve Small (Simon & Schuster)



Lisa de Meyer on I’m Sticking with You Too by Smriti Halls and Steve Small (Simon & Schuster)


Viveka Alvestrand on Maybe… by Chris Haughton


Good luck, everyone!!!! Just a few days left until we find out which of these incredible six books will win! Stay tuned next week for more news…and some extra illustrations…

Meet the Shortlist: Smriti Halls and Steve Small

With just FIVE days to go until we announce the OBP2022 WINNER - it’s high time to introduce you to our final shortlistees. We’re absolutely thrilled to have Smriti Halls and Steve Small on our shortlist for the second year running - this time for their new book I’m Sticking with You, Too - which introduces a new friend to Bear and Squirrel’s enduring friendship.

I’m Sticking with You, Too

Please read on for Smriti and Steve’s Q&As - and find out about all sorts of things about multiple nominations (for both Smriti and Steve!), wardrobes, music and a very flamboyant chicken…

Smriti’s Answers:

Did you have a favourite picture book as a child? If so, what was it?

I had several favourites including a beautiful Hans Christian Andersen treasury and a brilliant Richard Scarry nursery rhyme collection that I still have… and still love.

 

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

For me, it’s that magical shared space that the interplay of words and pictures create for a child and an adult reader to enjoy together. A space where time stands still and where some of the most treasured of 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.

 

What’s the best thing about THIS book?

The music!! I live in a house bursting with music and music-makers - at any given time there are instruments of all shapes and sizes and all sorts of melodies and harmonies competing to be heard - everything from opera to Oasis and from Bach to Britney. Sometimes it’s less than melodious but when it comes together... it’s some kind of wonderful. This book is a celebration of the joyful, eclectic harmony that the music of true friendship is – occasionally offbeat, but always unique, uplifting and brilliant. It’s a reminder that when new members join our band, there’s still space for everyone to be themselves… and to flap their own feathers and sing their own song.

 

We were lucky enough to meet Bear and Squirrel last year when they were shortlisted for Oscar’s Book Prize in 2021! Can you tell us a little bit more about their new friend?

Chicken is entirely and fabulously herself…. flamboyant, plucky, optimistic, sociable and independent. I think the other two find her enthusiasm a little overwhelming at first, but what’s great about Bear and Squirrel is that while they’re good at getting things a bit wrong, they’re even better at putting them right again.

 

Did you have a favourite character to write?

You can’t ask that! It would be like choosing a favourite child! Honestly, I loved writing all three characters, but what I enjoyed most was writing the dynamics, the tension, the tenderness and, critically, creating the balance between this little trio.

 

Please tell us what makes you most excited about being on the OBP shortlist:

I can’t quite believe that I’ve made it onto the OBP shortlist for a third time. I love this award which carries a child at its heart – something that’s immediately evident in each year’s shortlist where the books are unfailingly child-centred and such a JOY. I’m honoured and delighted.

 


Steve’s Answers:

Did you have a favourite picture book as a child? If so, what was it?

I had many favourites. I liked the two-book set of Dean’s gift books of Nursery Rhymes and Fairy Tales by Janet and Anne Grahame Johnstone.




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

They are the wardrobe in your room that opens into another world where you can instantly meet your latest friends. Hmm... Sounds like a good idea for a story.

 

What’s the best thing about THIS book?

When I was a kid, I had a best friend that lived near me. Eventually we got to know another kid who joined in when we went out to play. But it was different somehow. Trying to accommodate three people’s opinions and styles, we would occasionally hit bumps in the road that our young minds were not best equipped to deal with. All good training ground for future life skills, and a great way to start to get to know yourself a bit better as well as learning to make room for others too, but it’s funny how in these times, even simple things seem complex. This book takes a fun and light-hearted look at this territory and explores that unusual thing that can happen when you are young, and you make a friend, even though you’ve already got one.




We were lucky enough to meet Bear and Squirrel last year when they were shortlisted for Oscar’s Book Prize in 2021! Can you tell us a little bit more about their new friend?

Smriti saw some sketches I hadn’t used in I’m Sticking With You and suggested we introduce her into the next chapter. Smriti then wrote about this marvellously bold, happy and charismatic Chicken who was determined to be Bear and Squirrel’s new friend. I really enjoyed illustration her and showing how this plucky ( sorry, couldn’t resist) soul wins their hearts.



Did you have a favourite character to draw?

Hm. That’s a tough one. Chicken is bursting with personality, Squirrel likes everything in its place but has a genuine fun side, and Bear is your evergreen gentle Giant. As much as a love them all equally, and as much as I (so much) enjoyed revisiting Bear and Squirrel, Chicken won me over in this book.



Please tell us what makes you most excited about being on the OBP shortlist:

Doodle below!

Meet the Shortlist: Catherine Emmett and David Tazzyman

Here’s a Friday lunchtime treat indeed: the chance to meet our fifth (and penultimate!) shortlistees! We were delighted to find out more about Catherine and David, author and illustrator of the riotously funny and subversive - and truly cautionary - tale The Pet!

Catherine has sent us her thoughts as a video - please see below to enjoy. David’s Q&A also follows below, complete with many gorgeous illustrations.

Have a read and a watch to find out their favourite things about picture books, this book, a chocolate-loving Alsatian, and much, much more!

Thank you so much David and Catherine!

Catherine’s Q&A:



Catherine Emmett

David Tazzyman

David’s Q&A:

Did you have a favourite picture book as a child? If so, what was it?

We didn’t have many picture books in my house as a child. I grew up in a working class house in the 1970’s and picture books were (according to my mum) an extravagance working class people could barely afford. We had a Richard Scarry book that I absolutely loved, I remember spending hours studying the illustrations. We also had all the Mr Men books, I was obsessed with them, Roger Hargreaves was genius. We went to our local library every week, I remember a couple of Dave McKee books that I enjoyed looking at but the book that I marvelled at every time we visited was Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, I was mesmerised by it, I thought it magical, I still do. Now as an adult I see the many layers to it that I didn’t back then, the profound way in which it dealt with a boy coping with anger through his wild imagination. The art is iconic and peerless.

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

The pictures! They make those early books so accessible and appealing to kids even before they can read themselves. They invite kids to pick them up and look inside, they speak their language and say to them, you’re welcome here, this is for you, come on jump in.

What’s the best thing about THIS book?

The Pet, A Cautionary Tale For Children and Grown Ups is the best script for a picture book that I’ve been offered. I said yes to it immediately. When Macmillan then told me I had to do a couple of ‘test’ character illustrations before I was offered the contract I panicked, ignored what they told me I needed to do and spent 2 weeks doing the big pet shop double page spread that had all the main characters and a chaotic menagerie of pets including Gus the gorilla. I was desperate not to let this script slip through my fingers! I think Catherine’s writing is superb; funny, clever, brilliantly constructed with sublime rhyme. The story is also slightly dark and brave (in these modern times) with the main character being a spoilt, demanding, unsympathetic little boy who gets taught a lesson by his prize pet. There is a great twist at the end too that genuinely surprises the audience. Not many picture books do this.

Image courtesy of David Tazzyman, Macmillan Children’s Books

I also love the endpapers. I asked the year 3 children at our local primary school to eachdraw a picture of their favourite pet and the results are wonderful; they’re the best illustrations in the book! The kids absolutely love the fact they are actual published illustrators and so do I!


Did you have a favourite character to draw?

Doris the pet shop owner was my favourite character to draw. I had a grin on my face the whole time I was designing her, I do love a tabard! I imagined her as this slightly eccentric animal loving lady who’s pet shop is almost an extension of her house. I found it funny that she was very protective of the animals in respect to potential new owners (Digby) but was ultimately bribable. I also loved creating the mice that have their own sub narrative throughout the book. You might have to reread to spot them! I really like doing things like this as it adds another layer of interest beyond the story itself. I hope to encourage those personal games and connections like counting the mice or making up daft stories about what they’re getting up to, they’re the kind of things that keep me and my kids coming back to a book again and again. It also amuses me that they are the only ‘wild’ animals in the book!

Courtesy of David Tazzyman / Macmillan Children’s Books

Did you have a lot of pets when you were little?

We had a lovely Alsatian called Billy who I adored. He was a chocolate treat connoisseur, if you threw a ‘doggy’ choc up in the air for him he would ignore it but if you chucked him a Cadbury’s chocolate button he’d jump & catch it mid-air! He didn’t like bees much.

Please tell us what makes you most excited about being on the OBP shortlist:

I love the fact that Oscars Book Prize is dedicated to celebrating just picture books. I think it really helps to showcase the importance of illustration in children’s publishing and the depth of illustration talent that is out there. This is the first time a picture book I’ve been involved with has been shortlisted for a major award and the fact that this is also Oscars makes it super exciting for me. I’m really proud of The Pet and hope that being shortlisted might help more children discover it and if we win we may get another Cautionary Tale commissioned!