Klaus Flugge Prize longlist announced

A longlist of 16 books has been unveiled for the Klaus Flugge Prize with works by Beth Suzanna, Yijing Li and Mariajo Ilustrajo competing for the award.

Established in 2016, the Klaus Flugge Prize is awarded to “the most promising and exciting newcomer to children’s picture book illustration”. The award honours Klaus Flugge, founder of publisher Andersen Press.

This time over 40 books were submitted and from 25 different publishing houses; 16 made it to the longlist. Independent publishers including small presses UCLan, Lantana, Child’s Play, Flying Eye and Book Island are all represented, while Walker dominates with three books on the list.

Joseph Namara Hollis was the 2022 winner with Pierre’s New Hair (Tate Publishing). He returns this year as a judge alongside award-winning illustrator Lydia Monks; Sarah McConnell, course leader for Masters in Illustration at Nottingham Trent University; and Urmi Merchant, co-founder and director of the children’s specialist bookshop and events space Pickled Pepper Books. The panel will be chaired by Julia Eccleshare, director of the children’s programme of the Hay Festival.

Eccleshare said: “It has been eight years since the launch of the Klaus Flugge Prize and almost 50 years since Klaus Flugge founded Andersen Press, but picture book illustrators still have the power to surprise as they explore new ways of storytelling and choose different stories to tell. Here are books that introduce children to art and to exploration, that examine loneliness and its opposite, acceptance, that recount histories, celebrate diversity and offer guidance for our future.

“Each artist acknowledges young children’s ability to understand often complex ideas and emotions communicated through illustration. It’s an exciting list to bring to our judges. Our thanks as always goes to Klaus Flugge for his generous sponsorship and continuous support for new picture book talent.”

The shortlist will be announced on 17th May 2023 and the winner will be revealed in September.

The 2023 Klaus Flugge Prize longlist in full is:

• Cheesed Off! by Genevieve Aspinall, written by Jake Hope, editors Kieran Baker and Hazel Holmes, designer Amy Cooper, (UCLan Publishing)
• Windrush Child by Sophie Bass, written by John Agard, editor Megan Middleton, designer Beth Aves (Walker Books)
• Lost in the City by Alice Courtley, editor Elaine Connelly, designer Izzy Jones (Orchard Books)
• Mildred the Gallery Cat by Jono Ganz, editor Cherise Lopes-Baker, designer Roanne Marner (Tate)
• That’s Nice Love by Owen Gent, editor Victoria Miller, designer David Rose (Book Island)
• Our Story Starts in Africa by Jeanetta Gonzales, written by Patrice Lawrence, editor Emma Roberts, designer Zoe Tucker (Magic Cat Publishing)
• How to Make a Book by Patricia Hu, written by Becky Davies, editor Becky Davies, designer Ella Tomkins (Little Tiger)
• Flooded by Mariajo Ilustrajo, editor Lucy Brownridge, designer Karissa Santos (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books)
• Alcatoe and the Turnip Child by Isaac Lenkiewicz, editor Harriet Birkinshaw, designer is Ivanna Khomyak (Flying Eye Books)
• Through the Forest by Yijing Li, editor/designer Holly Tonks (Lantana)
• The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish by Chloe Savage, editor Maria Tunney, designer Ines Amaral (Walker Books)
• Valentine’s Guest House by Sam Sharland, editor Sue Baker, designer Annie Kubler (Child’s Play (International) Ltd)
• Saving the Butterfly by Gill Smith, written by Helen Cooper, editor Denise Johnstone-Burt, designer Louise Jackson (Walker Books)
• The Missing Piece by Beth Suzanna, written by Jordan Stephens, editor Lara Hancock, designer Goldy Broad (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)
• Daddy Do My Hair: Beth’s Twists by Chanté Timothy, editors Melissa Gitari and Helen Mackenzie-Smith, designer Emily Hearn (Simon and Schuster)
• The Baker by the Sea by Paula White, editor Ruth Symons, designer Genevieve Webster (Templar Books)