Debut picture book artists celebrated

Picture books by five debut illustrators have been shortlisted for the 2017 Klaus Flugge Prize, which celebrates the most promising newcomer to picture book illustration.

From a longlist of 15 picture books by debut illustrators, a shortlist of five were chosen by a panel of judges comprising Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler; Nicholas John Frith, 2016 Klaus Flugge Prize winner; Tamara Macfarlane, owner of Tales on Moon Lane children's bookshop and Sunday Times children's books editor Nicolette Jones. The varied shortlist includes a wide range of subject matters and artistic techniques, and includes an international line up with illustrators from Korea, Italy, and the United States as well as the UK. The five shortlisted books are: Hannah and Sugar by Kate Berube (Abrams) Hannah is afraid of Sugar. But when Sugar goes missing, she overcomes her fears and makes a new friend. The judges very much liked the inky line and Kate Berube's considered use of the page and space. The story of Hannah is genuinely moving. The Museum of Me by Emma Lewis (Tate) A little girl goes on a journey of discovery to find out what museums are and what they hold in store, and realises that she's curated her own collection too: the Museum of Me. The judges said, 'An interesting and visually exciting book, and Emma Lewis's use of collage is very skilful. The mock-naive illustrations are well done and the influence of Scandinavian illustrators is clear in the careful design and clean aesthetics'. First Snow by Bomi Park (Chronicle Books) The excitement and joy of a little girl's first experience of snow is captured in Bomi Park's picture book. The judges said, 'Park conveys a sense of silence through her artwork, and makes a real emotional connection with the reader. The book feels both comfortably traditional and current'. The Journey by Francesca Sanna (Flying Eye Books) A mother and her two children set out on a dangerous journey, leaving everything behind to find safety and a new life. The judges said, 'This highly original book feels very new in style and content, and the interplay between text and illustration is superb. At times the pictures produce a real sense of menace, and it's an extraordinarily effective depiction of war'. Little Red by Bethan Woollvin (Two Hoots) A darkly comic and original interpretation of the classic story of Little Red Riding Hood. The judges said, 'Delightfully funny, the apparently simple illustrations convey a great deal. This book knows exactly what it's doing and does it in a very original way'. The overall winner will be revealed at an award ceremony in London on Wednesday 13th September 2017 and will receive a cheque for 5,000. The shortlist was announced live at a special event at Foyles Charing Cross Road today. Before the announcement, illustrators Michael Foreman, Emily Gravett and Mini Grey joined Professor Martin Salisbury of the Cambridge School of Art in a discussion about contemporary picture book illustration, chaired by Julia Eccleshare.