Following a celebration event at Waterstones Piccadilly last night, the shortlist for the Klaus Flugge Prize is announced today (Wednesday 15 May). 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 17 picture books by debut illustrators, the panel of judges have chosen six to shortlist. This year’s judges are multi award-winning illustrator Petr Horáček; Mariajo Ilustrajo, winner of the 2023 Klaus Flugge Prize; Olivia Ahmad, Artistic Director at the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration; and Alex Forbes, founder of independent bookshop Fourbears Books. The panel is chaired by Julia Eccleshare, Director, Hay Children’s Festival.

The judges were looking for technical skill, the ability to tell a story and to create character, as well as originality and promise. The six shortlisted illustrators have very different approaches and artistic styles, their subjects are as varied as the power and importance of the natural world; a little girl with the most amazing dreams; the purpose of art; and a mango tree full of surprises. This year there are two information picture books on the list, one shining a light on the lives of Black British people in history, the other telling the story of Victorian fossil hunter, Mary Anning.

Click here to see the 2024 Klaus Flugge Prize shortlist in full.