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Find out moreMy Name is Not Refugee by Kate Milner has won the 2018 Klaus Flugge Prize! Established in 2016, the Klaus Flugge Prize is awarded to the most promising and exciting newcomer to children’s book illustration. It honours publisher Klaus Flugge, founder of children’s publisher Andersen Press and a supremely influential figure in picture books. The shortlist has just been announced, so read on for more about the prize and the books chosen.
Shortlisted for the 2018 Klaus Flugge Prize | Colour and detail in Underwood’s book are both very pleasing indeed; graphically it is a stand-out picture book with superb use of colour and composition. There’s a slight sense of Lynley Dodd in the way the layout carries you through the story.
Highly Commended, 2018 Klaus Flugge Prize | There are absolutely beautiful illustrations within the book, some of them exquisitely good, and the judges are excited to see what Semyinka will do next. They particularly admire the skilful change of scale that occurs throughout the little boat’s journey. Klaus Flugge Judge, Lauren Child said: “Here is illustration that is not only exquisitely decorative but also uses the page to great effect. There are many original viewpoints, crops and changes of scale and these beautifully carry the reader across the storybook seas."
Shortlisted for the 2018 Klaus Flugge Prize | Motum is definitely an illustrator to watch. Though this is an information book, you feel there is a story being told, with pace and animation. His work reminded the Klaus Flugge judges of iconic Czech illustrator M Sasek.
Shortlisted for the 2018 Klaus Flugge Prize | Max has a key and a box of midnight blue. When he turns the key in the lock - WHOOSH! Day slips inside as Night sweeps out. Darkness tumbles into the air. It dances and whirls around the room. It goes under the bed, under the chair - everywhere. Louise Greig's lyrical voice and Ashling Lindsay's warm, endearing illustrations hold a candle up to the magical nature of night-time in this soothing picture book. Perfect for cosying up to read and share before bedtime, The Night Box is an original bedtime tale that sits perfectly alongside classics such as The Owl who was Afraid of the Dark - great for reassuring little ones who have a fear of the dark and calming down lively children before bedtime!
Winner of the 2018 Klaus Flugge Prize | Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award June 2017 Book of the Month Simple enough for the youngest child to understand and certain to prompt feelings of empathy in readers of all ages this timely story follows a young boy as he sets out from his home to find somewhere safe to live. “Remember, only take what you can carry”, says his mum, and “What would you take?” asks a highlighted line of text, the first of a series of questions that puts the reader in the little boy’s shoes. While the dangers and difficulties of the boy’s long journey are made clear through words and the stark, rather beautiful pictures, there’s still room for play and adventure, which makes the boy’s experiences more real and recognisable for youngsters. It ends on a note of hope, but we still feel we’ve made that frightening journey into the unknown. ~ Andrea Reece A Piece of Passion from Mairi Kidd, MD of Barrington Stoke: “It's always inspiring to visit the Anglia Ruskin CSA stand at Bologna and this year especially so - My Name is Not Refugee drew me back again and again. It's so perfectly pitched for young children, focusing on the aspects of life and routine that are so important for under 5s and asking the reader to reflect on how these might be affected by tremendous upheaval. The effect is to reduce distance and to emphasise that this is a human tragedy we cannot ignore.”A message from the author, Kate Milner: “The idea for this book came to me while driving home from Cambridge one evening. My daughter, who works in a school, had told me that the children in her class were asking her about the refugee crisis… They didn’t understand what was being discussed in the news and she had nothing to show them. I asked myself if there was anything I could do and by the end of the journey the book was clear in my head. It’s a story which asks children from a safe, comfortable background to think about what it must be like to leave your home and make a journey into the unknown.” Klaus Flugge Prize Judge, Children’s Laureate Lauren Child says: “The questions My Name is Not Refugee asks us to consider help us to think ourselves into someone else’s shoes. And the illustrations do just what they should, allowing the reader time to contemplate the predicament of the storybook child, a chance to imagine and to empathize.”
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | Winner for the 2017 Klaus Flugge Prize | Winner of the UKLA 2017 Book Award | Shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2017 and awarded the Amnesty CILIP Honour | A powerful picturebook which teacher judges described as “taking children to new experiences outside their own”. What is it like to have to leave everything behind and travel many miles to somewhere unfamiliar and strange? A mother and her two children set out on such a journey; one filled with fear of the unknown, but also great hope.
Winner of the inaugural Klaus Flugge Prize, an important new illustration prize for children's books. Hector the bear likes a bit of peace and quiet, but his best friend Hummingbird just can’t stop talking. What’s to do? With its retro palette of turquoise, green and pink, playful scenes and appealing characters the judges found this to be something special, admiring in particular the way the illustrator inhabits his characters. Lovereading4kids's expert reviewer, Julia Eccleshare is the Chair of the Judges of the Klaus Flugge Prize, she said: “We asked the judges to consider technique and artistic ability, and they chose also to take into account the illustrators’ skill at characterisation. The discussion was lively and wide ranging and the final shortlist features exciting and extremely talented illustrators. The Klaus Flugge Prize is very important, the only one to recognise new illustrator talent at this crucial early stage in a career and we look forward to watching all six of the shortlisted illustrators develop.” And on the announcement of the winner: The judges included children’s laureate Chris Riddell, illustrator Tony Ross and professor Martin Salisbury of the Cambridge School of Art. Riddell said: “The shortlist featured six skilful and talented illustrators but Hector and Hummingbird is something very special. We were particularly impressed with the way Nicholas John Frith creates the characters of Hector and Hummingbird through his illustrations, and the relationship between them is completely convincing. It’s certainly a very stylish book to look at, but the characterisation won it for us. Children will love these two heroes, it’s a book with heart.” Klaus Flugge Book Prize 2016 ceremony, left to right: Chris Riddell Children’s Laureate, who presented the prize; Klaus Flugge of Andersen Press; the winner Nicholas John Frith
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Julia Eccleshare, chair of the judges: “Our expert judges were presented with a very varied set of picture books and have selected a shortlist that feels exciting and full of potential. These are five talented illustrators and five highly original picture books. Each artist, in their different way, successfully guides readers into and through the stories they are telling via their illustration. We were delighted once again to announce the list live at a special event; picture book illustration, as championed by Klaus Flugge throughout his career, deserves proper recognition as an important and vital art form.”
The Klaus Flugge Prize was founded to honour publisher Klaus Flugge, a supremely influential figure in picture books, who this year celebrates the 40th anniversary of his publishing house Andersen Press. Klaus Flugge discovered and nurtured many of today's most distinguished illustrators including Chris Riddell, fellow judge Tony Ross, and David McKee, creator of Elmer the Elephant.
Mark Hendle, Managing Director of Andersen Press said, ‘Over his long career, Klaus has discovered and nurtured countless talented illustrators, and it is extremely fitting that he has decided to establish a prize that recognises and celebrates exciting new talent in children's illustrated books.’
The judges for the 2018 prize are
Lauren Child, Children’s Laureate and acclaimed illustrator
Francesca Sanna, 2017 Klaus Flugge Prize winner
Goldy Broad leading art director
Charlotte Colwill, head of children’s books at Foyles,
The panel will be chaired by our own expert reviewer and children's books editor of the Guardian Julia Eccleshare.
The winner of the 2017 Klaus Flugge Prize for the most exciting and promising newcomer to children’s picture book illustration was The Journey by Francesca Sanna.
Judge, Julia Eccleshare said: ‘Francesca’s subject in The Journey is war and its devastating effect on families caught up in it. Through words and pictures working perfectly together she tells her story in a way that will move all readers whatever their age.'
The 2018 winner will be announced in September and the winning illustrator will receive a cheque for £5,000.
Find more information www.andersenpress.co.uk/KlausFluggePrize
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