Books by Bia Melo and Kingsley Nebechi among 17-strong longlist for £5k Klaus Flugge Prize

Books by Bia Melo and Kingsley Nebechi are among the 17-strong longlist for the Klaus Flugge Prize, awarded for a published picture book by a debut illustrator.

The prize honours Andersen Press founder Klaus Flugge, and saw over 40 books from 27 different publishing houses submitted for the 2024 prize. Flying Eye Books, Little Tiger, Templar and Walker Books each have two books on the list, while Rocket Bird Books, The Emma Press and Little Island Books are featured for the first time.

The shortlist will be announced on 15th May 2024, and the winning illustrator, who will win £5,000, will be revealed on 11th September.

Melo is in the running for The Dream Book, edited by Amelia Warren and designed by Christopher Stanley (Templar), vying for the award alongside Brilliant Black British History, illustrated by Nebechi and written by Atinuke (Bloomsbury Children’s Books). Also longlisted this year is Bright Stars of Black British History, illustrated by Angela Vives and written by J T Williams (Thames and Hudson), as well as Henri and the Machine, illustrated by Olga Shtonda and written by Isabelle Marinov (Templar).

The 2023 Klaus Flugge Prize was awarded to Mariajo Ilustrajo for Flooded (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books), and the author returns this year as a judge alongside illustrator Petr Horáček, Olivia Ahmad, artistic director at the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration, and Alex Forbes, founder of independent bookshop Fourbears Books. The panel will be chaired by Julia Eccleshare, director of the children’s programme of the Hay Festival.

Eccleshare said: “This, the ninth Klaus Flugge Prize longlist, is typically diverse in themes, approaches and subjects, a demonstration of the multitude of stories, true and imagined, that picture books can tell. The illustrators share an understanding of how to communicate ideas, emotions and narrative through illustration. We’re delighted to be celebrating these accomplished and original picture books and such talented debut illustrators.

"Our thanks as always to Klaus Flugge for his generous sponsorship and continuous support for new picture book talent.”

The 2024 longlist in full: 

• The Slug and the Snail, illustrated by Olya Anima, written by Oein DeBhairduin, editor Siobhán Parkinson, designer Louise Millar (Little Island Books and Skein Press)
• Outside, illustrated by Oren Lapwing (formerly Bee Chuck), editor Isabel Otter, designer Emma Jennings (Little Tiger)
• My Bollywood Dream, illustrated by Avani Dwivedi, editor Tanya Rosie, designer Marty Cleary, art director Deirdre McDermott (Walker Books)
• We Are a Circus, illustrated by Rosie Fencott, written by Nasta, editor/designer Emma Dai’an Wright (The Emma Press)
• Ning and the Night Spirits, illustrated by Adriena Fong, editor Harriet Birkinshaw, art director Lilly Gottwald (Flying Eye Books)
• We Dug Up the World, illustrated by Kitty Harris, written by Alexandra Stewart, editor Lucy Twist, art director Alison Padley (Laurence King Publishing)
• The Crown, illustrated by Emily Kapff, editor Pauliina Malinen, designers Audrey Keri-Nagy and Marty Cleary, art director Deirdre McDermott (Walker Books)
• Who Owns the Woods?, illustrated by Jess Mason, written by Emily Hibbs, editor Harriet Evans, designer Maddie Pilkington (Little Tiger)
• The Dream Book, written and illustrated by Bia Melo, editor Amelia Warren, designer Christopher Stanley (Templar)
• Brilliant Black British History, illustrated by Kingsley Nebechi, written by Atinuke, editor Sally Beets, art director Katie Knutton (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)
• Wolf and Bear, illustrated by Kate Rolfe, editor Suzanne Carnell, designer Jo Spooner (Two Hoots)
• The Little Fear, illustrated by Luke Scriven, editor Alice Blacker, art director Candice Turvey (HarperCollins Children’s Books)
• Henri and the Machine, illustrated by Olga Shtonda, written by Isabelle Marinov, editor Sophie Hallam, designer Anna Ring (Templar)
• Farah Loves Mangoes, illustrated by Sarthak Sinha, editor Harriet Birkinshaw, art director Lilly Gottwald (Flying Eye Books)
• Bright Stars of Black British History, illustrated by Angela Vives, written by J.T. Williams, editor Anna Ridley, designer Kate Haynes (Thames & Hudson)
• The Fossil Hunter, illustrated by Kate Winter, editors Anna Barnes-Robinson, Louise Rickwood and Lara Hancock, designer Monica Whelan (Puffin)
• Animal Crackers, illustrated by Ruby Wright, editor Libby Hamilton, designer Ness Wood (Rocket Bird Books)