The longlist for the 2025 Klaus Flugge Prize is announced today (Wednesday 19 February 2025).

This is the tenth year of the Klaus Flugge Prize, which was set up in 2016, in honour of esteemed publisher Klaus Flugge, a hugely influential figure in picture books and founder of publishing house Andersen Press.

The prize is awarded annually to the most promising and exciting newcomer to children’s book illustration; the winning illustrator receives a cheque for £5,000.

The Klaus Flugge Prize is the only prize specifically to recognise a published picture book by a debut illustrator and over the last ten years, has won recognition as one of the most significant children’s book awards.

“Now more than ever we need to support our visual artists and highlight their importance. The Klaus Flugge Prize recognises the value of the visual arts and champions children’s book illustration as an art form.” Kate Winter

The support the prize gives new illustrators at the beginning of their careers is invaluable and the prize continues to spotlight the art of picture book illustration. Winning the Klaus Flugge Prize brings real prestige and past winners include New York Times bestseller Flavia Z. Drago (2021), Mariajo Ilustrajo (2023), twice shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal for Illustration, and most recently Kate Winter, who won with The Fossil Hunter in 2024.

This year there were over three dozen submissions, from 26 different publishing houses; 16 have made it to the longlist. Quarto dominates with no less than four books on the list, including three from the new Frances Lincoln First Editions imprint, devoted to debuts and emerging illustrators; Rocket Bird Books have two titles on the list, including Grandad’s Star by self-taught illustrator Rhian Stone. Wacky Bee and Floris Books are both featured for the first time.

 

Click here to see the 2025 Klaus Flugge Prize longlist in full.

 

The 2025 judging panel is headed by award-winning authors and illustrators Yasmeen Ismail and Bruce Ingman. Yasmeen’s debut picture book Time for Bed, Fred won the V&A Best Illustrated Book Award and The New York Times Best Illustrated Book award, many more bestselling picture books have followed. Bruce too is an internationally acclaimed illustrator whose partnership with author Allan Ahlberg has yielded many successes. Bruce 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 shortlist will be announced on 15 May 2025 and the winner will be announced at an award ceremony on 10 September 2025.

Events to mark the tenth year of the award include a celebration of the longlist at Waterstones Piccadilly on Thursday 8 May, events with Kate Winter in Cambridge and online, and joint activity with the Association of Illustrators.