The shortlist for the Klaus Flugge Prize is announced today (Thursday 15 May). This is the tenth year of the award which was established in 2016 to honour Klaus Flugge, founder of Andersen Press and a leading light in the world of children’s publishing and illustration. The £5,000 prize is awarded to the most promising and exciting newcomer to children’s picture book illustration. It is the only prize specifically to recognise a published picture book by a debut illustrator.

From a longlist of 15 picture books by debut illustrators, this year’s panel of judges have chosen three to shortlist.

The 2025 judging panel is headed by award-winning author illustrators Yasmeen Ismail and Bruce Ingman. Ingman also leads the MA Children’s Literature: Children’s Book Illustration course at Goldsmiths, University of London. They are joined as judges by teacher and educational consultant Rachna Joshi; and 2024 Klaus Flugge Prize winner Kate Winter. Julia Eccleshare is chair of the judging panel.

The illustrators they have chosen to shortlist have very different styles and subject matter but share exceptional ability to tell a story and to create mood and character, while their originality and talent stood out.

The shortlisted books are: