“An abundance of new talent in picture book illustration”

Longlist announced for the 2025 Klaus Flugge Prize

What is the Klaus Flugge Prize?

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 winner of the 2024 Klaus Flugge Prize with The Fossil Hunter

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. Find video introductions to their illustration style on the Klaus Flugge Prize YouTube channel.

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.

The 2025 Klaus Flugge Prize longlist in full 

Adnan illustrated by Diala Brisley Written by Mark Arrigo and Steven Chatterton, editor by Claire Grace & Hattie Grylls, design by Myrto Dimitrakoulia & Belinda Webster (Quarto)
Serena and the Little Blue Dog illustrated and written by Rosemary Clunie Editor Fiona Kennedy, design by Jessie Price (Zephyr)
The Great Highland Games Chase illustrated by Laura Darling Written by Kate Abernethy, editor Jennie Skinner, design by Richard Wainman (Floris Books)
My Hair is as Long as a River illustrated by Emma Farrarons Written by Charlie Castle, editor Grace Gleave, design Lorna Scobie (Macmillan Children’s Books)
Slug Life illustrated and written by Moesha Kellaway Editor Libby Hamilton, design Camille Pichon (Rocket Bird Books)
The Cat who Couldn't Be Bothered illustrated and written by Jack Kurland Editor Lotte Dobson, design by Karissa Santos (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books)
Have You Seen Mikki Olsen? Illustrated and written by Alex Macdonald Editor Peter Marley, design Karissa Santos (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books)
Grandpa Kuma illustrated and written by Michelle Maiden Editor Louise Jordan, design by David Rose (Wacky Bee Books)
Paul the Peacock illustrated and written by Tilly Matthews Editor Carly Madden, designer Sarah Chapman-Suire (Happy Yak)
The Café at the Edge of the Woods illustrated and written by Mikey Please Editor Alice Blacker, design Val Brathwaite (HarperCollin’s Children’s Books)
The Dolls' House illustrated by Claudia Ravalli Written by Tanya Rosie, editor Emma Drage, designer Kate Penrose (Oxford)
Grandma's Locs illustrated by Camilla Ru Written by Karen Arthur, editor Cherise Lopes-Baker, design by Roanne Marner (Tate)
The Christmas Tree Mouse illustrated by Farah Shah Written by Joseph Coelho, editor Andrea MacDonald, design by Lucy Wiseman (Puffin)
Grandad's Star illustrated by Rhian Stone Written by Frances Tosdevin, editor Libby Hamilton, design by Ness Wood (Rocket Bird Books)
Wilhelmina Barns-Graham An Introduction illustrated by Annabel Wright Written by Katie Temple, editor Rob Airey, design by Leda Bartolucci (Wilhelmina Barns- Graham Trust)

2025 Klaus Flugge Prize Judging Panel

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.

Julia Eccleshare says, “It’s always exciting to reveal the longlist for the Klaus Flugge Prize, and particularly so in its tenth year. Once again, the books demonstrate the abundance of new talent in picture book illustration. Our longlisted illustrators use a huge variety of technique, and their subjects range from grandads to slugs, topics including family love, managing emotions, and the refugee experience, so that this list demonstrates the extraordinary vitality and plurality of contemporary picture books. We look forward to celebrating the work of these illustrators and more throughout 2025 and, as ever, we say a huge thank you to Klaus Flugge whose generosity makes the prize possible and whose contribution to picture book publishing is unparalleled.”

2025 Klaus Flugge Prize Shortlist and Winner

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.

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Browse the longlisted titles below to buy, download an extract or read our expert reviews.