Shortlist Spotlight: Frank and Bert by Chris Naylor Ballesteros (Nosy Crow)
Everyone’s sick of chocolate by now, right? Good! Because our Easter weekend gift to you is not remotely edible, although you can definitely enjoy DEVOURING (sorry) the wonderful second story on our shortlist spotlight: Frank and Bert by Chris Naylor Ballesteros.
So, what did the judges think made this book so shortlist-special? Well, among other things, they deemed that it was ‘very funny’ with ‘adorable illustrations and a very clever use of colour’: here’s Amazon UK’s Lisa de Meyer to tell you more:
Thank you Lisa - and thank you Chris (and to all at Nosy Crow) for creating such a fantastic picture book. As ever, please buy, borrow or share with friends so that you can have a read!
We also need to thank Chris Naylor Ballesteros, who has very kindly answered our questions - and created this amazing doodle!
Take it away, Chris (the questions, not the drawing that is….we love the drawing and very much want it to stay firmly put on our page).
What is the picture book that have you enjoyed reading with someone else most, and why?
I think it would be my own long-time favourite book, Amos & Boris by William Steig. I’ve had the same copy since I was about seven - probably the only book I’ve managed to keep hold of since my childhood.
When my children were small I read it to them and they enjoyed it too and sometimes I found it very strange to see myself reading a book to my own children that I’d known since I was little that I’d had read to me by my parents.
It’s a beautiful story about friendship. Amos is a mouse and Boris is a whale and through adventure and a nautical calamity they become best friends. They even save each others lives but ultimately know they can never be together, their worlds being so different. When I used to read it to my children we started adding an improvised bit of silliness after the ending because it’s quite a heart-wrenching last page. We usually imagined Amos being sat on by an elephant he’d enlisted to save Boris and being livid and shouting at it to get off. It made us laugh after the tearful goodbyes in the story. Sorry Mr. Steig!
What's your favourite thing about each character in Frank and Bert?
When I’m trying to decide what they’ll do in each new story I say to myself that Frank knows things whereas Bert feels things. They both approach a situation in their own way and even though they think about things differently, they complement each other and figure things out together.
Frank is a bit of a know-it-all but in a nice way. I think we all know someone a bit like that - they have a heart of gold and would do anything to help, but at the same time they’re sure that their way is the best way!
Bert is a no-nonsense bear. He thinks about the world in a really straightforward way and sees things as they are - even if occasionally things aren’t quite as they are. He’s really loyal and protective of his friend but he’s also got a mischievous streak and isn’t as daft as he sometimes appears.
Which picture book would you give as a gift to Frank and Bert, and why?
Well if I couldn’t give them the books that they’re actually in, like in an episode of This Is Your Life, I’d give them Amos & Boris of course, and a few of my favourites from the last few years - When The Sun Goes Home by Momoko Abe, On A Magical Do-Nothing Day by Beatrice Alemagna and I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen - which features a bear who eats a thieving rabbit. It would be interesting to know what Bert thought about that.
And seeing as Frank & Bert really like counting, I’d give them Cockatoos by Quentin Blake and Ten Tiny Tadpoles by Debbie Tarbett, which were big favourites for me and my children.
About Chris Naylor Ballesteros
Chris is originally from Bradford and studied illustration and graphic design at Bradford College of Art. In 2000 he moved to France where, amongst other things, he was an English teacher before working in newspaper layout and design.
When his children were small he realised he loved the picture books he read to them, sometimes even more than his children did – the Picture Book Bug had truly bitten.
Chris has since written and illustrated several books and is currently thinking about the next one, probably with a cuppa in hand at home near Limoges.
He likes listening to and making music, wandering around the countryside, a bit of running and riding a bike. His favourite season is autumn and his favourite colour is green.
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.
Meet the Judges 2023: Benji Davies
We’re lucky enough to have a stellar line up of judges here at OBP this year, who are all putting their expertise to the test by taking on the near-impossible task of judging our fantastic entries!
However, not only are they immensely talented, diligent and fair - they are generous enough to emerge briefly from their reading to answer our questions!
First up is the amazing Benji Davies - who counts among his many awards the very rare accolade of being the only two-time winner of Oscar’s Book Prize (and the very first winner, now that we mention it). We can’t think of a better person to have on the panel for our tenth year to bring things full circle.
Please read all about Benji below. Benji - thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions!
What is your earliest reading memory?
Sitting with my mum reading at bedtime.
Who is (or was) your all-time favourite person to read picture books with?
My daughter. I love to read to her and she loves to be read to - it’s as simple as that.
There is so much joy to be had reading to a picture book to a child, looking at the pictures together and listening to the rhythm of the words.
Who or what do you consider to be the best picture book character ever, and why?
For me it’s the tiger from The Tiger Who Came To Tea by Judith Kerr. He gets to eat all the cakes and drink all the water in the tap. And who could resist that big grin?
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 hoping to see a diverse range of stories and illustrative styles, there is so much out there. I’d also like to see picture books that appeal to the very youngest children - stories that don’t need to be fully understood to entertain and enchant. Especially I’d like to see the work of authors who dare to be different.
About Benji Davies:
Benji Davies is an illustrator, author and animation director.
Benji studied animation at university where he learnt how to tell stories with pictures, from short films and music videos, to title sequences and picture books. In his work he aims to capture how it feels to be a child.
His first self-penned picture book The Storm Whale won the inaugural Oscar’s Book Prize and was Dutch Picture Book Of The Year 2017. His second, Grandad’s Island, won the children’s book category of the AOI World Illustration Awards and was crowned Children’s Book of the Year at the Sainsbury’s Children’s Book Awards. Both books have since been adapted for the stage.
He is the illustrator of Nosy Crow’s internationally bestselling board book series, Bizzy Bear.
Benji’s books can been read in over thirty-five languages and have sold over 6 million copies around the world.
He has given talks for and proudly supports the work of CLPE, The Children’s Bookshow, Pathways, SCBWI, Artillery and The Guardian amongst many others, and makes regular appearances at literary festivals and bookshops around the UK and beyond.
Benji lives in east London with his wife and daughter.
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).
An early Christmas present: Oscar's Book Prize 2023 is coming!
We have exciting news, folks - Oscar’s Book Prize 2023 will be open for entries from 1st December 2022! Consider it a bonus advent calendar door! Please check back on our Entry page then for full details - including the rules of entry and the entry form itself.
Calling all schools and nurseries: your chance to win one of 50 sets of our wonderful 2022 shortlist
That's right folks, we have 50 sets of the OBP 2022 shortlist to give away! All you need to do is tell us where you’d read the shortlist!
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 entered by 5pm on Friday 27th May.
Entering is simple - all you need to do is complete our Google form and contact us on one of our social media platforms (a tweet, an Instagram post or tag us on Facebook - all @oscarsbookprize) telling us where you would read the books!
The winning schools will be notified at the start of June, 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 have produced a reading guide for each shortlisted book.
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 Friday 27th 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.
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
Film courtesy of Gray Creative Ltd, with many thanks!
Watch our judges talk about OBP 2022's winner: Maybe... by Chris Haughton!
Our Judges had a LOT to say about Maybe… (and who can blame them?). Please watch below for our Judges’ take on this vibrant, funny masterpiece! Enjoy!
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
Follow Amazon.co.uk on Instagram: www.instagram.com/AmazonUK
Visit the Amazon.co.uk Facebook page: www.facebook.com/AmazonUK
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.
Visit literacytrust.org.uk to find out more, donate or sign up for our free email newsletter. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About the London Evening Standard
The London Evening Standard is the only quality free daily newspaper in the UK. An iconic London brand, the Standard’s paper, website and apps keep the capital up-to-date on the latest news, business, sport, features and entertainment. The Evening Standard is famous for its campaigning to improve life in the capital. Campaigns have included the Dispossessed Campaign, which raised over £14 million to tackle poverty and inequality and Get London Reading, a campaign to raise literacy levels for children in the capital.
The Shortlist edit: part 2
Oscar by Chris Riddell
It’s the final countdown! One more day to go until we find out who our Judges chose as the winner of OBP 2022! The calibre of this year’s shortlist has made that an almost impossible task.- we always think our judges have the best and most difficult job in the world!
Speaking of that, while the comments within the OBP judging meetings remain entirely confidential - there is a loophole. Well, there is when one of the judges is an award-winning illustrator who likes to document a meeting with drawings…
As such, if you ever wondered what an OBP judging meeting is like, here’s a sneak peek, courtesy of the incorrigibly enthusiastic pencil of Chris Riddell…
Opinions strictly illustrator’s own, of course…
(and in case you haven’t already, please scroll down for the next post to look at what the judges all said on each book!)
We cannot disclose what said wobbler was about: and of course there are no tantrums at all within OBP judging meetings (and definitely none to do with a lack of dragons)
Smriti and Steve might not want to write Ben Bailey Smith into their next book, but then again…
Just a fire fox and a chicken, squirrel and bear to go and we’d have the full shortlist…
A duck who doesn’t like water…
