Klaus Flugge shortlist ‘full of humour, drama, beauty and big ideas’

The shortlist for the £5,000 Klaus Flugge Prize for newcomers to children’s picture book illustration has been announced. 

The six shortlisted books are Mammoth, written by Anna Kemp and illustrated by Adam Beer (Simon & Schuster), Rescuing Titanic by Flora Delargy (Wide Eyed Editions), Pierre’s New Hair by Joseph Hollis (Tate), The Tale of the Whale written by Karen Swann and illustrated by Padmacandra (Scallywag Press), Choices by Roozeboos (Child’s Play) and Alley Cat Rally by Ricky Trickartt (Flying Eye Books).  

Established in 2016, the prize was set up to honour Klaus Flugge, founder of Andersen Press. This year’s judging panel features illustrator Emily Gravett, last year’s winner Flavia Z Drago, Civic Square’s Nikki Bi and Anglia Ruskin’s Martin Salisbury. The panel is chaired by Julia Eccleshare, director for Hay Children’s Festival. They were looking for “fresh, exciting picture book illustrators” and “stories that reflected our desire for community, freedom and joy”. Themes include the importance of choice, the urgency of cleaning our polluted oceans, and being yourself. 

Eccleshare said: “Our judges have selected a shortlist full of humour, drama, beauty and big ideas. We can see in these six books values that are intrinsic to so many of the picture books published by Klaus Flugge: empathy, diversity, a child-centredness and a generosity of spirit. The illustrators’ ability as artists and storytellers is very exciting. Post-pandemic, picture books are booming.” 

The winner will be announced on 14th September.