Established in 2016, the Klaus Flugge Prize is awarded to the most promising and exciting newcomer to children’s book illustration. It honours publisher Klaus Flugge, founder of children’s publisher Andersen Press and a supremely influential figure in picture books. Find out which books made the shortlist!
Jump to:
The Klaus Flugge
The Klaus Flugge Prize was founded to honour publisher Klaus Flugge, a supremely influential figure in picture books, who this year celebrates the 43rd anniversary of his publishing house Andersen Press. Klaus Flugge discovered and nurtured many of today's most distinguished illustrators including Chris Riddell, fellow judge Tony Ross, and David McKee, creator of Elmer the Elephant.
The Shortlist
Mammoth, Adam Beer, written by Anna Kemp, editor Helen Mackenzie Smith, art director Jane Buckley (Simon and Schuster)
Rescuing Titanic, Flora Delargy, editor Lucy Brownridge, art director Karissa Santos (Wide Eyed Editions)
Pierre's New Hair, Joseph Hollis, editor Emilia Will, designer Jade Wheaton (Tate)
The Tale of the Whale, Padmacandra, written by Karen Swann, editor Janice Thomson, designer Ness Wood (Scallywag Press)
Choices, Roozeboos, designer Sarah Dellow (Child’s Play)
Alley Cat Rally, Ricky Trickartt, editor Emily Ball, designer Ivanna Khomyak (Flying Eye Books)
For the second consecutive year, over fifty books were submitted and from 34 different publishing houses - proof of publishers’ commitment to commissioning and developing new illustrators. 24 made it onto the longlist with an impressive number from small independent and specialist publishers.
The judges for the 2022 prize are:
Flavia Zorrilla Drago, winner of the Klaus Flugge Prize 2021.
Emily Gravett, acclaimed illustrator
Martin Salisbury, Professor of Illustration at Cambridge School of Art in Anglia Ruskin University
Nikki Bi Co-Founder and the Beyond Books Lead at Civic Square in Birmingham
The panel is chaired by our own LoveReading4Kids expert reviewer, Julia Eccleshare, who said; “Our judges have selected a shortlist full of humour, drama, beauty and big ideas. We can see in these six books values that are intrinsic to so many of the picture books published by Klaus Flugge: empathy, diversity, a child-centredness and a generosity of spirit. The illustrators’ ability as artists and storytellers is very exciting. Post-pandemic, picture books are booming.”
The winner of the Klaus Flugge Prize in 2021 was Gustavo the Shy Ghost, written and illustrated by Flavia Z Drago. The editors are Tanya Rosie and Maria Tunney, art Director Anne-Louise Jones, and it is published by Walker Books.
Gustavo is a gorgeous little ghost who is so shy he’s literally invisible. Flavia's folk-art style with its palette of orange and Rosa Mexicana creates a distinctive playground for Gustavo as he suddenly and unexpectedly makes new friends.
Flavia Zorrilla Drago joined prize founder, Klaus Flugge, the Chair of Judges, Julia Eccleshare and Judge Posy Simmonds to discuss with the importance of the Klaus Flugge prize at the LoveReading LitFest. The event is free to view and you can find out more here.
On receiving the prize, Flavia Z. Drago said, “I feel incredibly happy and honoured to have won this year’s Klaus Flugge Prize! Getting my first picture book published was a dream that started about ten years ago. The journey was filled with ups and downs, rejection, uncertainty, and constant learning. I am so grateful to my lovely team in Walker Books for giving me the opportunity to make a story about shyness and monsters, and for having allowed me to share a glimpse of Mexico and its most beautiful celebration (The Day of the Dead) with the rest of the world. Making picture books is a privilege and joy, and I hope that I will be able to keep doing this for many years to come.”
The winner will receive a cheque for £5,000 and will be revealed on 14 September 2022.
Find more information www.andersenpress.co.uk/KlausFluggePrize
And on twitter@KlausFluggePr
