Founder of Andersen Press Flugge wins LBF Lifetime Achievement Award 

Klaus Flugge, the founder of Andersen Press, has been named the recipient of this year’s LBF Lifetime Achievement Award for being “a leading light in the world of children’s publishing and illustration".

After founding Andersen Press  – named after Hans Christian Andersen—- in the autumn of 1976, Flugge went on to publish the likes of David McKee, Tony Ross, Satoshi Kitamura, Sir Quentin Blake and Chris Riddell.

In 1999, he became the first publisher to receive the Eleanor Farjeon Award for outstanding contribution to children’s books and in 2010 became the first publisher to be awarded Honorary Membership of the Youth Libraries Group. In 2013 he was made an honorary citizen of the City of Bologna in recognition of his commitment to children’s books abroad.

To celebrate  Andersen Press’ 40th  anniversary  in 2016, he established the  Klaus Flugge Prize, awarded to the most promising and exciting newcomer to children’s picture book illustration.

Gareth Rapley, director of The London Book Fair, said: “We are delighted to name Klaus Flugge the recipient of this year’s London Book Fair Lifetime Achievement Award. For nearly five decades, Klaus has been a luminary in children’s publishing, bringing incredible stories and phenomenal illustrations to millions of children across the globe. His passion for championing emerging talent is hugely inspiring, as is recognised yearly in the picture book prize established in his name. As a dad to young children myself, I love sharing Andersen Press books with my kids, and I look forward to celebrating Klaus in person at the fair, less than a month from now.”

David Roche, non-executive chair of The London Book Fair, commented: “The LBF Lifetime Achievement  Award Judging Panel is delighted to recognise the huge contribution of Klaus Flugge and present the 2023 award to him. Klaus started Andersen Press in 1976 and built an extraordinary roster of talent that has inspired generations. The  company is still going strong today, as is he. It is wonderful and typical of Klaus that a prize in his name, and funded personally by him, was set up while he was in his 80s to recognize  the most promising and exciting new  illustrators. We are full of admiration and love for Klaus, and it is fitting that, like Elmer, we will never forget his fantastic contribution to the international book world.”

Ian Hudson, executive director and m.d. of consumer publishing at Bloomsbury, added: “Klaus Flugge is a children’s publisher beyond compare. He has always had an amazing eye for illustration, a wonderful nose for a great storyline, and an incredible network of partners around the world who want to publish Andersen Press books. But more than this, he’s a shrewd businessman, a true gentleman and he has a big heart. I feel enormously privileged to have learnt so much from him and to be able to call him my friend.”

The Lifetime Achievement Award committee selected Klaus Flugge from a shortlist of international publishing figures. He will be presented with his award at a special reception celebrating the International Excellence Awards winners and the Lifetime Achievement Award during The London Book Fair on Wednesday 19th April. Previous winners include: Hiroshi Hayakawa, Hayakawa Publishing, Japan (2022); Margaret Busby, Allison & Busby, UK (2021); and Nigel Newton, Bloomsbury Publishing, UK (2020).