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Mariajo Ilustrajo named winner of the 2023 Klaus Flugge Prize

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Already Mariajo Ilustrajo is the winner of the 2023 Klaus Flugge Prize for the most exciting and promising newcomer to children’s picture book illustration. Mariajo is already overall winner of the Association of Illustrators World Illustration Awards, the English Association 4-11 Picture Book Award 2023 and the UK Literacy Association Picture Book Award 2023.

She won for her book Flooded (Frances Lincoln Books), a funny but powerful demonstration of the impact of climate change in which animals attempt to carry on with business as normal, even while their city is flooding. Finally, they listen to a voice of reason and work together on a solution. Humour lightens every page and the book’s ending is positive and upbeat.

Mariajo’s intention was to tell her story in a new visual language. By simplifying the colour palette, using grey wash and just two colours, she draws our attention both to the sea-green water as it rises, and to the yellow tail of the little tamarin monkey who is alert to the problem from the start. The Klaus Flugge Prize judges describe Flooded as fresh and beautifully drawn, and full of playfulness even as it delivers an important message.

Judge favourite illustrator Lydia Monks says, ‘I was really impressed with Mariajo Ilustrajo’s book. The sophistication and competence displayed is exceptional for someone so new to publishing. I’m excited to follow her career.’

Fellow judge and 2022 Klaus Flugge Prize winner Joseph Namara Hollis adds, ‘Flooded has it all! It absorbs you into a world teeming with life. The character details are captivating, drawing you closer. Each page is dynamic with plenty to discover as the drama unfolds. And whilst it is a fun story, it delivers an important message with warmth and humour. This is a book to enjoy again and again.’

Mariajo Ilustrajo says, ‘It’s difficult to describe with words the joy of winning this prestigious prize. I’ve been an illustrator for a long time but becoming a children’s book illustrator and author seemed like just a dream. This recognition makes me feel that I’m heading in the right direction and encourages me to keep exploring new ways of creating new stories. I am ‘flooded’ with happiness and proud to know my book touched the Klaus Flugge Prize judges amongst such an amazing shortlist.’

Chair of the judges, Julia Eccleshare says, ‘Picture book illustration is in a robust state of health and the submissions for this year’s Klaus Flugge Prize were very strong. Our five shortlisted illustrators have enormous technical skill as well as an exceptional understanding of how illustration carries story and meaning. Huge congratulations to Mariajo on winning this year’s Klaus Flugge Prize; Flooded is a book that speaks both to now and of universal themes.’

Established in 2016, the Klaus Flugge Prize honours publisher Klaus Flugge, a supremely influential figure in picture books. Flugge set up Andersen Press in 1976 and discovered and nurtured many of today’s most distinguished illustrators including David McKee, Tony Ross, Satoshi Kitamura, Ruth Brown and Susan Varley. In April he received the London Book Fair Lifetime Achievement Award to add to his list of honours.

As it becomes increasingly difficult for debut illustrators to break through, the Klaus Flugge Prize is already recognized as one of the most important and influential awards thanks to its spotlight on exciting new talent. Previous winners include Eva Eland, Jessica Love, Flavia Z Drago and Kate Milner.

Alongside Lydia Monks and Joseph Namara Hollis, this year’s judges are Urmi Merchant, founder and owner of independent bookshop Pickled Pepper, London; and Dr Sarah McConnell, Course Leader of the Masters in Illustration course at Nottingham Trent University. The panel is chaired by Julia Eccleshare, Director, Hay Children’s Festival.

The announcement was made on the evening of Wednesday 13 September in the library at CLPE, Webber Street, London SE1.

Mariajo Ilustrajo wins £5,000.

The 2022 Klaus Flugge Prize shortlist in full

Lost in the City, Alice Courtley (Orchard Books)
Mildred the Gallery Cat, Jono Ganz, (Tate)
Flooded, Mariajo Ilustrajo (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books)
Saving the Butterfly, Gill Smith, text by Helen Cooper (Walker Books)
The Baker by the Sea, Paula White (Templar Books)

Shortlist for the 2023 Klaus Flugge Prize announced

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The shortlist for the Klaus Flugge Prize has been announced today. Established in 2016, the prize was set up to honour Klaus Flugge, founder of Andersen Press and a leading light in the world of children’s publishing and illustration. It is awarded to the most promising and exciting newcomer to children’s picture book illustration.

From a longlist of fifteen picture books by debut illustrators, the panel of judges have chosen five to shortlist. This year’s judges are illustrator Lydia Monks; Joseph Namara Hollis, winner of the 2022 Klaus Flugge Prize; Urmi Merchant, founder and owner of independent bookshop Pickled Pepper, London; and Dr Sarah McConnell, Course Leader of the Masters in Illustration course at Nottingham Trent University. The panel is chaired by Julia Eccleshare, Director, Hay Children’s Festival.

The judges are looking for freshness and technical skills as well as a talent for creating character and in storytelling. The five shortlisted books star a boy helping his father bake bread for the people of a small fishing village; a little girl exploring the city with her Gran and adventurous orange kitten; and Mildred, a gallery cat with an urge to create great art. Demonstrating picture book creators’ ability to explore contemporary issues, in Saving the Butterfly, two young refugee siblings are inspired to find new hope for the future, while animals of all kinds work together as their city is submerged by rising waters in Flooded.

The five shortlisted books are:

Lost in the City, by Alice Courtley, editor Elaine Connelly, designer Izzy Jones (Orchard Books)
Maya is a bit nervous about a trip to the big city, but little kitten Sammy, who’s stowed away in her bag, has no fears. Chasing Sammy leads to fun adventures, and a spot-and-find game for readers too. The judges admire Alice Courtley’s control of the story, and her use of composition and colour. They praise the consistency of the lively world she creates.

Mildred the Gallery Cat, by Jono Ganz, editor Cherise Lopes-Baker, designer Roanne Marner (Tate)
Inspired by the real gallery cat of Tate Modern, Jono Ganz’s story describes what Mildred gets up to when all the visitors have gone home. As she explores the different rooms, she wonders if she too could be an artist, and what it takes. The judges love the exuberance of the story and its joyous, playful communicativeness. The design skilfully maintains a balance between control and chaos.

Flooded, by Mariajo Ilustrajo, editor Lucy Brownridge, designer Karissa Santos (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books)
It’s business as usual for these animals even as their town is flooded. Preoccupied by their own concerns, they deal with the practical inconveniences of rising water in humorous and inventive ways until finally they listen to the one voice urging action, and work together on a solution. This is an important story, cleverly told and beautifully drawn, say the judges, full of little details that allow children to explore its world, even if they can’t yet read the story.

Saving the Butterfly, by Gill Smith, written by Helen Cooper, editor Denise Johnstone-Burt, designer Louise Jackson (Walker Books)
Two young siblings are rescued from the sea and start a new life in a new country. The older struggles, choosing to stay in their dark house until her little brother brings her a beautiful butterfly and new hope. This is a special book, say the judges. Smith handles a difficult subject really well. The illustrations are atmospheric and expressive, and we connect with the characters.

The Baker by the Sea, by Paula White, editor Ruth Symons, designer Genevieve Webster (Templar Books)
Written in homage to her grandad and a tribute to an enduring way of life, Paula White’s book describes a young boy helping his father, the baker in a fishing village. The boy thinks fishermen have the most important job, but working with his father changes his perceptions. The judges admire the lyrical depiction of the landscape, the strong sense of place and the rolling tempo: ‘It works magic’.

Chair of the judges Julia Eccleshare says, “From a very strong longlist, our judges have selected a shortlist that celebrates community, creativity and adventure. Here are books that are sophisticated, playful, serious. The five illustrators are technically accomplished but bring a freshness which is very exciting. At a time when it is particularly hard for new talent to break through, we are grateful to Klaus Flugge for his generosity in sponsoring the Prize and for his lifelong support for authors and illustrators.”

The winner will be announced at a ceremony in London on Wednesday 13 September 2023 and will receive a cheque for £5,000.

Joy, frivolity and the importance of choice highlighted on the 2022 Klaus Flugge Prize shortlist

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The shortlist for the 2022 Klaus Flugge Prize has been announced. Established in 2016, the prize was set up to honour Klaus Flugge, founder of Andersen Press and one of the most influential figures in children’s picture books. It is awarded to the most promising and exciting newcomer to children’s picture book illustration.

From a longlist of twenty-four picture books by debut illustrators, the panel of judges have chosen six to shortlist. This year’s judges are award-winning illustrator Emily Gravett; Flavia Z Drago, 2021 Klaus Flugge Prize winner; Nikki Bi, Co-Founder and the Beyond Books Lead at Civic Square in Birmingham; and Martin Salisbury, Professor of Illustration at Cambridge School of Art in Anglia Ruskin University. The panel is chaired by Julia Eccleshare, Director, Hay Children’s Festival.

They were looking for fresh, exciting picture book illustrators and, after two years of pandemic isolation, stories that reflected our desire for community, freedom and joy. The six shortlisted books star a lonely mammoth (in New York), a bear with extraordinary hair, and an alley cat rally driver (at the wheel of a washing machine); one is set at the swimming pool, another on the deck of the RMS Carpathia, the ship that sailed to the Titanic’s rescue. Themes include the importance of choice, the urgency of cleaning our polluted oceans, and being yourself.

The six shortlisted books are:

Mammoth, Adam Beer, written by Anna Kemp, editor Helen Mackenzie Smith, art director Jane Buckley (Simon and Schuster)
The story of a mammoth with nobody to trumpet with, the judges found this joyful and full of humour. They loved how Adam Beer gives this mammoth real personality and admire the way the illustrations are full of detail, offering a wonderful variety of perspectives. They felt the text and illustrations work together particularly well.

Rescuing Titanic, Flora Delargy, editor Lucy Brownridge, art director Karissa Santos (Wide Eyed Editions)
Flora Delargy’s book is an illustrated version of the true story of the RMS Carpathia, which changed course mid voyage to help rescue survivors of the Titanic disaster. The judges admired her use of colour and light and the way she fills the different scenes with life and movement, capturing the full drama of the events.

Pierre’s New Hair, Joseph Hollis, editor Emilia Will, designer Jade Wheaton (Tate)
Pierre is a bear who loves hair and roller-skating. But can his moves and his quiff impress his favourite roller disco team, the Poodle Squad? The judges loved the anarchy and edge Joseph Hollis brings to his story, and his clever use of the pages and layout. Despite the absurdity, he builds a believable world, the details adding up into something real.

The Tale of the Whale, Padmacandra, written by Karen Swann, editor Janice Thomson, designer Ness Wood (Scallywag Press)
A small child begins a magical journey on the back of a huge and beautiful baleen whale. Together they sail the oceans, dancing with dolphins, diving through the blue seas and exploring the ocean beds. The judges admired the way the illustrations carry the story “so that you are swimming with the whale”. Padmacandra’s images are full of atmosphere and beautiful to look at.

Choices, Roozeboos, designer Sarah Dellow (Child’s Play)
This book is all about choices: little ones (like which ice cream to have), big ones (such as whether to go on the super-duper giant slide), and whether to dive into the swimming pool, even though you are afraid. The judges describe this book as freewheeling and full of energy, with an unruly chaos that feels completely genuine. The message about the importance of making choices is subtly delivered, and Roozeboos is clearly a great observer of humanity.

Alley Cat Rally, Ricky Trickartt, editor Emily Ball, designer Ivanna Khomyak (Flying Eye Books)
Asta the ginger cat reengineers the family washing machine into a racing car and signs on for the big cat auto race. She’s determined to show the other racers she’s no slow-poke but winning, well, that would be a dream come true. The judges loved the fizz and fun of Asta’s world and the clever details. Ricky Trickartt controls the pace of the story superbly and children will relish it.

Chair of the judges Julia 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 Wednesday 14 September 2022 and will receive a cheque for £5,000.

Shyness and monsters: Flavia Z. Drago wins the 2021 Klaus Flugge Prize

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Flavia Z. Drago has been named winner of the 2021 Klaus Flugge Prize for the most exciting and promising newcomer to children’s picture book illustration. She won for her book Gustavo the Shy Ghost (Walker Books) about a little ghost who despite being so shy he is invisible to the other monsters, eventually finds a way to make friends.

Flavia was presented with her award by renowned illustrator and cartoonist Posy Simmonds at an evening ceremony at CLPE (Centre for Literacy in Primary Education) on Wednesday 22 September. All five shortlisted illustrators were able to attend the event with their publishers together with previous winners and shortlisted illustrators, including the inaugural winner of the award, Nicholas John Frith. Klaus Flugge, the man behind the award, was there of course and ebullient as ever.

Accepting the prize, an emotional Drago said, “I feel incredibly happy and honoured to have won this year’s Klaus Flugge Prize. Getting my first picture book published was a dream that started about ten years ago. The journey was filled with ups and downs, rejection, uncertainty, and constant learning. I am so grateful to my lovely team in Walker Books for giving me the opportunity to make a story about shyness and monsters, and for having allowed me to share a glimpse of Mexico and its most beautiful celebration, The Day of the Dead with the rest of the world. Making picture books is a privilege and joy, and I hope that I will be able to keep doing this for many years to come.”

Congratulating her, Posy Simmonds described Gustavo, the Shy Ghost as, “Fresh, witty, well-paced and a visual treat.”

Chair of the judges, Julia Eccleshare said: “Each year the Klaus Flugge Prize celebrates the art of picture book illustration and puts the brightest new talent in the spotlight. The illustrators on this year’s shortlist demonstrate extraordinary skill and their very different books bring light, colour, warmth and laughter to readers of all ages. Congratulations to them all and very special thanks again to Klaus Flugge who has done so much to support and promote illustrators throughout his career.”

Established in 2016, the Klaus Flugge Prize was founded to honour publisher Klaus Flugge, a supremely influential figure in picture books. Flugge set up Andersen Press in 1976 and has discovered and nurtured many of today’s most distinguished illustrators including David McKee, Tony Ross, Satoshi Kitamura, Ruth Brown and Susan Varley.

 

Flavia Z. Drago receives £5,000 as winner.

The 2021 Klaus Flugge Prize shortlist in full is:

Child of Galaxies, Charlotte Ager, text Blake Nuto (Flying Eye Books)
While You’re Sleeping, John Broadley, text Mick Jackson (Pavilions)
Gustavo the Shy Ghost, Flavia Z. Drago (Walker Books)
I’m Sticking with You, Steve Small, text Smriti Halls (Simon and Schuster)
My Red Hat, Rachel Stubbs (Walker Books)

Alongside Eva Eland and Posy Simmonds, the judges are Darryl Clifton, Illustration Programme Director at Camberwell College of Arts; Fleur Sinclair, owner of Sevenoaks Bookshop; and Mat Tobin of Oxford Brookes University. Julia Eccleshare, director of the Children’s Programme at the Hay Festival, is Chair of the Judges.

New! Books for Keeps interview: Klaus Flugge Prize judge Mat Tobin interviews Flavia Z. Drago

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