Walker leads Klaus Flugge Prize shortlist

Walker Books is behind two of the six picture books in the running for the inaugural Klaus Flugge Prize for debut illustrators.

Walker’s Too Many Toys by Heidi Deedman and The Girl with the Parrot on her Head by Daisy Hirst are both shortlisted for the prize, which was launched by Andersen Press in January.

Also on the shortlist this year are Hector and the Hummingbird by Nicholas John Frith (Alison Green Books), Toby and the Ice Giants by Joe Lillington (Flying Eye Books), Lili by Wen Dee Tan (Fat Fox) and Counting Lions by Stephen Walton, written by Katie Cotton (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books).

The shortlist was chosen from a longlist of 20 titles by a team of judges, including children’s laureate Chris Riddell, illustrator Tony Ross, Professor Martin Salisbury of the Cambridge School of Art, and Books for Keeps editor Ferelith Hordon

Chair of the judges Julia Eccleshare said: “We asked the judges to consider technique and artistic ability, and they chose also to take into account the illustrators’ skill at characterisation. The discussion was lively and wide ranging and the final shortlist features exciting and extremely talented illustrators.

“The Klaus Flugge Prize is very important, the only one to recognise new illustrator talent at this crucial early stage in a career and we look forward to watching all six of the shortlisted illustrators develop.”

The winner, who will receive a cheque for £5,000, will be announced at an award ceremony in London in September.