Andersen Press launches charity auction to kick off 50th anniversary celebrations
October 2026 marks fifty years since the publication of the very first book by Andersen Press. It was Goldilocks and the Three Bears and it was by a debut illustrator by the name of Tony Ross.
The publisher is launching the celebrations for its 50th anniversary with a charity auction in aid of the Children’s Book Project. Fifty of Andersen Press’s illustrators and rising stars have donated exclusive pieces of artwork – either from their award-winning back catalogue, or new pieces. The works are all inspired by a common theme – The Love of Reading.
The auction is live digitally until 30th November and includes pieces from Quentin Blake, Axel Scheffler, Posy Simmonds, David McKee, Satoshi Kitamura and Susan Varley. See the full listings and make your bid here.
Liberty Venn, Founder and CEO of the Children’s Book Project says, ‘We are thrilled that Andersen Press has chosen the Children’s Book Project as a beneficiary of their 50th anniversary celebrations! Illustration has a unique power to spark a child’s imagination, introducing young minds to new worlds and complex emotions long before they can read the accompanying words. We’re hugely looking forward to celebrating alongside Elmer and his friends and sharing with Andersen’s illustrators the impact of their support on our partner communities.’
Mark Hendle, MD at Andersen Press says, ‘With a deep love of art, our founder, Klaus Flugge, started Andersen Press by publishing beautiful picture books for children. So this illustrators’ auction is the perfect way to mark fifty years of everything we stand for. It celebrates the joy of illustration and recognises the importance it has in stimulating and developing young children’s minds. We look forward to raising as much money as possible to help support the inspiring work of the Children’s Book Project and to benefit those children who do not have access to books.’
To mark their anniversary, Andersen Press will also be donating books to fifty libraries this year, to acknowledge the hard work librarians do. To apply, simply email the name and location of your library, or the library you’d like to nominate, to publicity@andersenpress.co.uk with subject line 50 Libraries Campaign. Successful librarians will be contacted at the end of November.
Books for Keeps interviewed Andersen Press founder Klaus Flugge on the occasion of the publisher’s 40th anniversary. Read the interview here.
