Showing posts with label UK. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UK. Show all posts

Sunday, 9 February 2020

Waterstones Children’s Book Prize Shortlist 2020


Waterstones Children’s Book Prize Shortlists 2020 - A Voyage of Discovery

February: A beautifully illustrated celebration of hidden species, a vivid adventure story about a brave girl crossing the Himalayas and a thought-provoking collection of essays by gal-dem writers are amongst the eighteen shortlisted titles competing to win the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2020.

Every year Waterstones’ expert booksellers are called upon to vote for the books they believe are the very best in new children’s writing and illustration. Now in its sixteenth year, the Prize has evolved into one of the most prestigious accolades for children’s books in the UK.  It has become a formidable platform for emerging talent, demonstrating its enduring relevance by bringing the best new books to readers’ attention every year and launching the careers of many children’s book authors and illustrators.

Last year’s winner The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Raúf, Waterstones’ most successful winner yet, shot to the top of the bestseller charts following the Prize announcement and the novel saw an increase in sales of over 500%.

Florentyna Martin, Waterstones Children’s Buyer says: ‘One of the greatest pleasures in reading is the opportunity to explore, and this year’s authors and illustrators invite readers to join them on a voyage of discovery. In a shortlist of immersive fact and fiction, our booksellers have chosen to share narratives that offer readers of all ages the chance to explore a wide range of topics, from nature and identity to inner strength and the fabric of society. Whether meeting intriguing characters, navigating vibrant settings or uncovering thrilling plots, these books investigate what it means to understand yourself and the world around you.’

The shortlists consist of eighteen books across three categories. Six books will compete within each category to be crowned Category Winner, with the three category winners then vying for the overall title of Waterstones Children’s Book of the Year 2020. 

Kate Skipper, Waterstones COO says: ‘The Waterstones Children’s Book Prize is a highlight of my year. Every year, our booksellers consistently select stories that invariably jump off the page and into the reader’s imagination. No screen can compete with the power of a child’s imagination, it really is a wondrous thing. The shortlists this year are brilliant; I don’t envy the difficult choices ahead for our booksellers as they try to pick this year’s winners.’

The Illustrated Books shortlist explores nature with passion and joy. Ben Rothery’s beautifully illustrated Hidden Planet opens a door to a lesser-known animal world, whilst in Look Up!, an energetic and joyful story about science and space by Nathan Bryon and Dapo Adeola, budding astronaut and science fan Rocket want to share her excitement about an impending meteor shower. Graham Carter’s eponymous Otto Blotter, Bird Spotter sets out to explore the world and discovers something extraordinary, and in the magical and fun-filled Once Upon a Unicorn Horn by Beatrice Blue, June unexpectedly finds tiny flying horses in her garden. The shortlist concludes with One Fox by Kate Read, a counting farmyard adventure with a surprising twist, and Me and My Sister by Rose Robbins, a touching story about two siblings whose bond is stronger because of their differences.

Exploring mysteries and discovering hidden truths dominates the shortlist for Younger Readers. Jasbinder Bilan’s Asha & the Spirit Bird vividly tells the story of Asha’s journey across the Himalayas to find her father, and the gripping historical novel Our Castle by the Sea by Lucy Strange tells a story of hidden truths and revelations set on the Kent Coast in 1939. In Sharna Jackson’s suspense whodunit High–Rise Mystery a marvellous young detective duo investigate a murder case, whilst in The Middler by Kirsty Applebaum, an unexpected meeting with an outsider causes Maggie to question what really lies behind the strict rules of her town. Exploring thoughts and feelings is at the heart of the final two novels on the shortlist. Sam Copeland’s hero in the delightful Charlie Changes Into a Chicken develops an inconvenient superpower and realises that what he really needs is the help of his best friends, whereas The Deepest Breath by Meg Grehan is a powerful yet tender verse-novel about Stevie who is confused about her feelings for another girl but, with the help of a librarian, builds up her courage to share the truth with her mum.

The Older Readers’ shortlist explores topics of inner strength and identity. Liz Hyder’s original and darkly atmospheric novel Bearmouth tells the story of Newt who has worked in the mines from a young age, simply accepting things as they are, until a new worker arrives and causes Newt to question everything. In Samira Ahmed’s chilling near-future dystopia Internment, Layla refuses to accept injustice and discovers her courage and the power of friendship, whilst I Will Not Be Erased is a thought-provoking and illuminating collection of essays by gal-dem writers about growing up as people of colour.  Jemima Small Versus the Universe by Tamsin Winter tells the young heroine’s journey of self-discovery and how she learns to be happy with who she is, whereas Emma Smith-Barton’s The Million Pieces of Neena Gill is a powerful and relatable story about a girl’s struggle with mental health. Concluding the shortlist is A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson, a page-turning mystery novel in which one girl does not believe what everyone else takes for the truth.

The winners will be announced at an evening reception at Waterstones Piccadilly (London), Europe’s largest bookshop, on Thursday 26th March 2020. The winner of each category will receive £2000, with the Overall Winner receiving an extra £3000. In the event that the Prize is awarded to a partnership, then the Prize money will be split equally between the joint winners.

The winning authors and illustrators will also see a significant boost in sales, and the promise of an ongoing commitment to their writing career from all Waterstones shops nationwide.

The full list of shortlisted titles (in alphabetical order by author) for the 2020 Prize are:


Illustrated Books:
Once Upon a Unicorn Horn by Beatrice Blue (Frances Lincoln)
Look Up! by Nathan Bryon and Dapo Adeola (illus) (Puffin)
Otto Blotter, Bird Spotter by Graham Carter (Andersen Press)
One Fox by Kate Read (Two Hoots)
Me and My Sister by Rose Robbins (Scallywag Press)
Hidden Planet: An Illustrator's Love Letter to Planet Earth by Ben Rothery (Ladybird)


Books for Younger Readers:
The Middler by Kirsty Applebaum (Nosy Crow)
Asha & the Spirit Bird by Jasbinder Bilan (Chicken House)
Charlie Changes Into a Chicken by Sam Copeland (Puffin)
The Deepest Breath by Meg Grehan (Little Island)
High-Rise Mystery by Sharna Jackson (Knights Of)
Our Castle by the Sea by Lucy Strange (Chicken House)


Books for Older Readers:
Internment by Samira Ahmed (Atom)
I Will Not Be Erased by gal-dem (Walker Books)
Bearmouth by Liz Hyder (Pushkin Children's Books)
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson (Electric Monkey)
The Million Pieces of Neena Gill by Emma Smith-Barton (Puffin)
Jemima Small Versus the Universe by Tamsin Winter (Usborne Publishing)
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Sunday, 4 March 2018

UK Children's Book Illustrators List 2018 - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books


Becka Moor grew up in Manchester where she still lives, above a little cafe in her home office filled with inspiration and coffee stains.
She graduated in 2012 with an honours degree in Illustration for Children’s Publishing from Glyndwr University in North Wales. It was there that her passion for children’s books really took flight.
Becka has always been fascinated by the way illustration and narrative work together, and she loves working with a new text, figuring out how to make the most of a humorous situation for example, and exploring different character ideas.
Twitter: @BeckaMoor 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/becka.moor.illustration/



Benji Davies is an illustrator, author and, animation director. His first self-penned picture book The Storm Whale won the inaugural Oscar’s Book Prize and was Dutch Picture Book Of The Year 2017. His second, Grandad’s Island won the children’s book category of the AOI World Illustration Awards 2015 and was crowned Best Picture Book and overall Children’s Book of the Year at the Sainsbury’s Children’s Book Awards 2015.
Benji studied animation at university and has since worked on a diverse array of projects, from picture books and animated short films to music videos, commercials and, title sequences. His books have been co-editioned in many languages and countries around the world.
Twitter: @Benji_Davies

Ben Mantle was born in Leamington Spa in 1980, and developed a very early interest in things artistic, designing programme covers for school productions and even coming first in his local library colouring-in competition. From there he went on to study animation at Surrey Institute of Art & Design, graduating in 2003.. He then gained valuable experience working on Tim Burton's “Corpse Bride” before moving to Brighton to work as 'Head of Animation' in a media company, focusing on Character and Background design.

He was also part of the Animation team creating the BAFTA winning 'Big and Small' CBeebies website. Since 2008, Ben has been working as a Children's Book Illustrator from his shared studio in Brighton and he also produces screen prints and digital artwork to exhibit. He illustrated 'Callum's Incredible Construction Kit' which won the Bishop's Stortford Picture Book prize 2013.


Twitter: @BenMMantle



Caroline Uff was born in 1967 in Hong Kong. Whilst still very young she moved back to England with her family. For a few years, she lived in a shed in Shropshire. As a young child, she enjoyed pushing a trolley full of coloured bricks around the garden and eating coal, whilst sporting a Beatles haircut and a tartan mini skirt. Later we moved to Yorkshire in the north of England.
I have always loved drawing and making things from old cereal boxes and sellotape. Although sadly never reaching the dizzy heights of winning a Blue Peter badge I persevered with my artistic studies at Local schools before taking my degree at Edinburgh College Of Art. I thought of becoming a graphic designer but soon realized that illustration allowed me more freedom and enjoyment.

Chris Chatterton is an author and illustrator from County Durham, England. He has a background in graphic design and corporate /commercial animation. His passion for illustration has led him to pursue a career as a freelance artist working for a wide array of clients.  Chris loves all things creative and geeky.
Twitter: @ChrisChatterton


David Litchfield is an illustrator from Bedfordshire in the U.K. He is represented by The Bright Agency. David first started to draw when he was very young, creating Star Wars and Indiana Jones ‘mash up’ comics for his older brother and sister. Since then David’s work has appeared in magazines, newspapers, books and on T-shirts. He has also exhibited his illustrations in both solo and group shows in the U.K, Europe, America.
David’s award-winning first author/illustrator picture book ‘The Bear & The Piano’ and it’s follow up  ‘Grandad’s Secret Giant’ are out now.
Twitter: @dc_litchfield

David O’Connell is a writer and illustrator living in London, UK. He works mostly in children’s books, particularly humorous picture books and young fiction.
His first book was Monster & Chips, the first of a series of funny (and revolting) adventures of ‘hooman’ Joe Shoe whilst working at the Monster Diner of friendly monster Fuzzby Bixington.
He then collaborated with the brilliant Sarah McIntyre on the picture book Jampires, inspired by a comic they improvised together – a comic ‘jam’! After completing illustrating the Creature Teacher series by writer Sam Watkins, he worked with illustrator Francesca Gambatesa on a series of picture books all about families, as well as illustrating Boyband of the Apocalypse books for funny writer Tom Nicoll.
His latest series is the Dundoodle Mysteries, tales of spooky adventure in the strange little town of Dundoodle, illustrated by Claire Powell.


Jim Field is an award-winning illustrator, character designer and animation director. From music videos and title sequences to advertising and picture books, Jim has worked on a variety of projects.
His first picture book, ‘Cats Ahoy’ written by Peter Bently won the Booktrust Roald Dahl Funny Prize in 2011. He is perhaps best known for drawing frogs on logs in the bestselling picture book ‘Oi Frog!’
He has illustrated children's books with Kes Gray, Michelle Robinson, Rachel Bright, Jeanne Willis, Steve Cole and comedian David Baddiel.
Twitter: @_JimField


Kasia Matyjaszek is a freelance illustrator, living and working in Edinburgh, UK. She graduated with a Masters degree in illustration from Edinburgh College of Art in 2010. A picture book I created for my final degree show was highly commended in the Macmillan Book Prize. In 2013 she took part in the Picture books scheme and together with other finalists exhibited my work in The Scottish National Gallery. In 2015 her picture book was highly commended in Clairvoyants international competition.

I worked on various picture book projects and exhibited my work in Britain, Poland and Italy. 


Twitter: @kasiatwits 



Kate Hindley is a children's book illustrator living and working in Birmingham, UK.

She worked as a Print Designer at a Northamptonshire based design company before she got her first book deal with Simon and Schuster back in 2011, illustrating Claire Freedman's "The Great Snortle Hunt".

Since then she has worked on picture books and fiction with publishers including Walker Books, Simon and Schuster, Bloomsbury, Candlewick, and Usborne.


Twitter: @hindleyillos




 Karl James Mountford is an Illustrator, born in Germany and brought up in the U.K. Karl graduated in 2013 at Swansea Met Uni with a Masters degree in Illustration and Visual communication. Karl works in both traditional and digital mediums. He loves Illustration full heartedly, from picture books, writing stories, screen printing, contemporary design. His style of illustration is 'visually edible', sometimes witty, sometimes odd but always full of gusto.

 Website: http://cargocollective.com/karljamesmountford

 Twitter: @karlj_mountford 

 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karljmountford/


Mark A Chambers is an illustrator and author of children's picture books and young fiction. He studied illustration at university and has since been represented by the London and New York Illustration agency, Bright Group International. Mark was shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize in 2013 with Noisy Bottoms and Pigeon Poo written by Elizabeth Baguley won the Sheffield Children's Picture Book Prize in the same year. My Hamster is a Genius written by Dave Lowe was also Highly Commended.

Website: http://www.markachambers.com/

 Twitter: @markAchambers 

 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markAchambers/



Marta Altés studied graphic design in Barcelona and after working there as a graphic designer for almost five years. I decided to pursue my interest for illustration that I had since I was a child. I moved to England and I joined 

the MA in Children’s Book Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art. Now, after finishing the course, I think 
it was the BEST decision I have ever made. 

Since I graduated, I'm working as an illustrator in London and it makes me feel so lucky and happy.

In 2012 I started working as a part time lecturer in the MA in Children's Book Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art.

I always try to have a positive and funny vision about life and to get a smile from who is looking at my drawings 
or reading my stories is what I like the most about illustration.

 Website: http://www.martaltes.com/About

 Twitter: @martaltes

 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martaltes/





Nick Tankard is an Illustrator working from his studio in the world heritage village of Saltaire, West Yorkshire.
His illustrations are produced using a cross-hatch technique with a black fine line pen. Layer upon layer of small ink lines are built up to form structure and shape, whilst other areas are left untouched in order to hint at a flickering light or billowing clouds. It’s a very time consuming process. He cross-hatches in one direction, then turns the image around and adds another layer to create shade and depth, whilst also leaving elements untouched to hint at light and space. The image may turn ten to twenty times until it’s finished.

Nick studied art and Illustration at Bradford College from 1991 – 94.

He then continued his graphic design studies to HND at Cleveland College of Art & Design.
Nick has illustrated several children’s books producing full-page interior illustrations in his pen & ink cross-hatch style.


Twitter: @NickTankard


Sarah Horne grew up in snowy Derbyshire, UK with some goats and a brother. She learned to draw whilst trying to explain her reasoning for an elaborate haircut at the age of nine. Sarah then honed her skills on the mean streets of Falmouth, studying Illustration. Here, there were daily street battles of scribbling resulting in many paper cuts, but some very nice drawing.
Alongside working on some very funny children’s titles, Sarah has also worked on commissions for The Guardian, The Sunday Times, Kew Gardens, Sesame Street and for IKEA as their Children’s Illustrator In Residence.
She now draws, paints, writes and giggles from underneath a pile of paper at her studio in London.

Twitter: @sarahhorne9


Sarah McIntyre is known for her lively adventure stories and action-packed illustrations. She writes and illustrates picture books and comics. Most recently, she has teamed up with Carnegie-winning writer, Philip Reeve, to produce illustrated longer stories, including ‘Oliver and the Seawigs’ and ‘Cakes in Space’. 

Her books have won awards including the Leeds Graphic Novel Award, the Sheffield Children’s Book Award (in the ‘Overall’ category), the UKLA Award, the Independent Bookshop Week Book Award and the Bishop’s Stortford Picture Book Award. 

 Website: http://www.jabberworks.co.uk

 Twitter: @jabberworks

 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jabberworks/#


Sharon King-Chai is a designer & illustrator. Born in Australia, she moved to London in 2003 after completing an Honours degree in Visual Communication at University of Technology Sydney, and has been based in North London ever since. 

Sharon has extensive experience in music & publishing industries. She has worked on a wide range of projects including album artwork, branding and logos, product packaging, book covers and event identities. 

Recent awards include Best Children's book cover at the Academy of British Design awards, Best Classic Children's Book at Junior Design Award, Family Choice Award (US) and a shortlisting for the Futurebook Innovation Award. 

In 2013 Sharon’s first children’s picture book ‘Lucy Ladybird’ was published as both book and an iPad app, and her second book, Snail Mail, is out in September 2016. 

Website: http://sharonkingchai.com/

 Twitter: @SharonKingChai

 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonkingchai/


Steven Lenton hails from Cheshire and now works from his studio in Brighton, creating an array of charming characters for his books.
Best known for illustrating Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam, written by Tracey Corderoy, he has illustrated many lovely books and wrote his first picture book with Nosy Crow, Princess Daisy and the Dragon and the Nincompoop Knights.
Steven also loves to visit schools, festivals and bookshops, encouraging and inspiring his audience to draw, giggle and create! He is also a children’s book blogger – just search for his name on YouTube. 
Website: http://stevenlenton.com/

 Twitter: @StevenLenton 

 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steven_lenton/
 
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Friday, 2 February 2018

Sinéad O’Hart - The Eye of the North - Q&A Interview with Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books


Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books has taken this fantastic opportunity, in the run-up to the publication of The Eye of the North, to ask Irish author Sinéad O’Hart about her debut book. The book will be published in the UK by Stripes Publishing on the 8th Feb 2018. It's a brilliant middle-grade fantasy - please check out my book review HERE

 Thank you Sinéad for taking the time to answer some questions about the book. This interview takes a brilliant LOOK AT the book and gives you a great insight into the author and her writing. I hope this interview peaks your interest and makes you add this title to your reading pleasure. 

 How would you sum up The Eye of the North to potential readers? 
The Eye of the North is a story about Emmeline, a girl with no friends, and a boy with no name who calls himself Thing as they are thrown headfirst into a mystery which threatens the entire world. They must learn to trust and rely on one another, and on the people around them (something neither of them has had much experience of) as they race to the frozen North to stop an ancient evil from being unleashed. It’s a story about friendship and loyalty, love and bravery, and doing whatever it takes to save the people closest to you – with added peril, mythical monsters and scary witches made of ice! 

 What element are you most proud of in this book? Is there anything that you would change? 
I am proud of many things in The Eye of the North, but I think I’m proudest of Emmeline as a character. She’s anxious, cautious, suspicious and introverted (for reasons which are explained in the book), and it takes a while for the depth of her love for her family and her commitment to Thing to really come to the fore. She’s a bit atypical of what you’d expect from a main character, particularly a girl, and I wrote her like that purposefully. I wouldn’t change a thing about her – and I’m pretty happy with the book overall! There are a couple of typos, but hopefully nobody will spot those but me… 

 Do you have any tips about writing convincing characters? 
I love characters who go against type – girls who are rebellious and scientific, inventors and explorers and the hero of their own story, and boys who are emotional, loving, kind and generous. None of that takes away from their strength, but instead deepens their character and makes them more interesting. My tips for writing convincing characters would be: make them unexpected, because that will make them seem more real and fully rounded; give them flaws as well as strengths, because nobody in real life is all one thing or another, and finally: let them speak to you. If a character wants to go in a particular direction, then let them – and see where it takes you! 

 Which actor would you like to see play the lead character from your book? 
I don’t get to watch much TV or go to the cinema these days; I have a young child, so leisure time is a bit of a premium! As a result, I’m out of touch with the young actors and actresses of today. I imagine Emmeline as a twelve-year-old girl with dark eyes, light brown skin, long dark curly hair, and – as the book describes it – a ‘know-it-all nose’, and Thing as a boy of around the same age or a little older with blue eyes, pale skin and longish, messy dark hair which sticks up and out in an unruly fashion. If you know any good actors who fit the part, I’m all ears! 

Do you think that the book cover plays an important part in the buying process? 
For me, certainly it does – I am a sucker for an eye-catching cover, particularly well-designed lettering and typeface. I love both the covers which have been created for The Eye of the North, and I’m particularly pleased that they’re so different! I love the artist Jeff Nentrup’s 
imagining of Emmeline and Thing on the US cover, published by Knopf in 2017, and I adore Sara Mulvanny’s illustrative cover for the UK edition (Stripes Publishing, 2018), particularly the fact that she included the dogsled team which plays such an important role in the story. I really do think a good cover can do a huge amount to get a book from the shelf into a reader’s hand; cover design is definitely an art, and I have huge admiration for anyone who can get it just right. 

 I have read that you love churches, graveyards and, antiques, do these influence your writing in any way? 
Yes! I do. I love visiting old churches, reading inscriptions on gravestones and learning about the past, and poking about in antique shops. I have a love for history and all things to do with ages gone by, which includes a love for mythology and folklore. That love of old stories certainly played a role in the writing of The Eye of the North, as it is filled with details and influences from all the old myths and tales I love. 

 This is your debut book, what did you learn from writing it? 
That’s a big question. From writing this book, I learned it’s possible to have a dream come true, and from the process of having it published I learned that making a dream come true takes more work than I could have imagined. I learned to trust my inner voice, to allow my characters the space to do what they want, and that if I reach a point where I simply can’t write, that sometimes it means my brain is trying to stop me going down the wrong path, and not that I’m lazy or unmotivated. I also learned that sometimes, getting exactly what you’ve dreamed of and worked hard for can be scary, unexpected and overwhelming – but that it’s always worth it. 

 Where is your favourite place to write? 
These days, I write wherever I can! I write with my laptop perched on my knees on the sofa or balanced on the kitchen worktop, after my little one goes to bed or whenever I can get someone else to distract her for a few minutes. I have a home office, too, but getting to use that is a real pleasure! 

 How important are stories to you? What do you like to read? 
Stories are almost as important to me as breathing. I’ve been reading since I was very young, and it’s my favourite thing to do. I like it even more than writing, I think, though they do tend to go hand in hand! I like to read children’s books, primarily, and that’s been the case for over twenty years. When I read a book not specifically aimed at children, I like fantasy, historical novels, science fiction, and magical realism. Some of my favourite authors are Angela Carter, John Connolly, Jeanette Winterson, Ursula le Guin, Margaret Atwood, Neil Gaiman, Jennifer Bell, Catherine Fisher, Diana Wynne Jones, Abi Elphinstone, Frances Hardinge, Philip Pullman, J.R. Wallis, Dave Rudden and Jonathan Stroud – but there are so many others, and I’m always discovering more.

Any website or resources that have been helpful to you as a writer?
I have always found www.writing.ie to be useful and informative, and – like everyone – I love the Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook and its associated website (www.writersandartists.co.uk). I also think it’s great that literary agencies have their own websites with tips, hints, manuscript wishlists, submission instructions and many other gems. My own agency – www.greenhouseliterary.com – has a fab Question and Answer section which is full of useful information. I also love to make use of my own blog (www.sjohart.wordpress.com) and to follow other writers’ blogs, as I think sharing the process of writing for publication can be really helpful for others who want to follow in your footsteps. Writers on the road to publication can be very honest about the highs and lows of the journey, and they’re always worth following.

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Stéphane Servant - MONSTERS - Translated by Sarah Ardizzone Illustrated by Nicolas Zouliamis - Book Preview - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

  It all starts when a travelling circus arrives in a small village... Everyone is intrigued and excited to see the show, which is said to f...