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The Crossing by Manjeet Mann

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 5 Jan 2o22
Costa Book Awards Category Winner

Waterstones
Amazon
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“Powerful, compassionate and ultimately hopeful.” Guardian

A novel about two teenagers from opposite worlds, The Crossing is a profound story of hope, grief, and the very real tragedies of the refugee crisis.

Natalie’s world is falling apart. She’s just lost her mum and her brother marches the streets of Dover full of hate and anger. Swimming is her only refuge. Sammy has fled his home and family in Eritrea for the chance of a new life in Europe. Every step he takes on his journey is a step into an unknown and unwelcoming future. A twist of fate brings them together and gives them both hope. But is hope enough to mend a broken world?

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Submissions Open – Klaus Flugge Prize 2022

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Submissions opened this week for the Klaus Flugge Prize 2022.

This is the seventh year of this influential award which is awarded to the most promising and exciting newcomer to children’s picture book illustration. The 2022 judging panel will be led by award-winning illustrator Emily Gravett. She is joined by Martin Salisbury, Professor of Illustration at Cambridge School of Art in Anglia Ruskin University; Nikki Bi, Beyond Books Lead, Civic Square; and the winner of the 2021 Klaus Flugge Prize, Flavia Z. Drago. Julia Eccleshare is chair of judges.

Publishers have until the closing date, midnight Monday 10 January 2022, to make their submissions. Eligible illustrators may have created book covers, or illustration for other media, or illustrated books in another genre – for example, poetry or fiction – but eligibility for the prize requires that this is their first picture book for children. The book should have been first published on a children’s list in the UK between 1 January and 31 December 2021. Books first published in another country must have been co-published in the UK within three months of the original publication date.

The Klaus Flugge Prize was launched in 2016. Previous winners are Nicholas John Frith, who won the inaugural prize with Hector and Hummingbird, published by Alison Green Books; Francesca Sanna who won in 2017 for The Journey, published by Flying Eye Books; Kate Milner who won the 2018 prize with My Name is Not Refugee published by Barrington Stoke; Jessica Love who won in 2019 with Julian is a Mermaid; and Eva Eland who won in 2020 for her book When Sadness Comes to Call.

The winner receives a cheque for £5,000.

The submission form and full criteria can be found at https://www.klausfluggeprize.co.uk/criteria2022/

 

John Agard – BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award

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photo courtesy of BookTrust

This week John Agard became the first poet to receive BookTrust’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The award celebrates the body of work of an author and/or illustrator who has made an outstanding contribution to children’s literature. The judges highlighted John’s persistence and creativity in championing and challenging the language norms that too often dominate literature and the curriculum, as well as his ability to connect with children.

On receiving the award, John Agard said, “It means a lot to be given this award by BookTrust – an organisation which treasures books and tries to make them part of a life-enhancing experience for a child. It excites me that I’m the first poet to win. I feel happy that I’ve stuck with this craft since I was a 16-year-old boy writing in a classroom in a Caribbean ex-colony. It’s not just me receiving this award, but all the people that inspired me. People like my teacher Father Maxwell, the people who published my books, those who contributed to my journey way back in the Caribbean, and John Arlott, the legendary cricket commentator who inspired me with his words.”

The judges for the 2021 BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award were:

  • journalist Nicolette Jones (chairing),
  • CEO of BookTrust Diana Gerald
  • children’s author Piers Torday
  • screenwriter and novelist Frank Cottrell-Boyce
  • Teaching Fellow at UCL Institute of Education Darren Chetty
  • Candy Gourlay, award winning author of Tall Story and Shine

Carnegie and Greenaway Nominations

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Longlist announced 16 Feb 2022
Shortlist announced 16 Mar 2022
Medal winners announced 16 June

CILIP Carnegie Medal Nominated Titles 2022

Àbíké-Íyímídé, Faridah. Ace of Spades.
Publisher: Usborne. ISBN:9781474967532

Ahmadi, Arvin. How it All Blew Up.
Publisher: Hot Key Books. ISBN:9781471409929

Akala. The Dark Lady.
Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books. ISBN:9781444943696

Almond, David. Bone Music.
Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books. ISBN:9781444952919

Applebaum, Kirsty. The Life and Time of Lonny Quicke.
Publisher: Nosy Crow. ISBN:9781788005241

Balen, Katya. October, October.
Publisher: Bloomsbury. ISBN:9781526601902

Barter, Catherine. We Played With Fire.
Publisher: Andersen Press. ISBN:9781839130069

Bethell, Zillah (author) Soederlund, Saara (illustrator). The Shark Caller.
Publisher: Usborne. ISBN:9781474966849

Blackman, Malorie (author) Barrett, Laura (illustrator). Blueblood.
Publisher: Vintage Classics. ISBN:9781784876418

Boakye, Jeffrey (author) Smart, Ngadi (illustrator). Musical Truth.
Publisher: Faber. ISBN:9780571366484

Boulley, Angeline. Firekeeper’s Daughter.
Publisher: Rock the Boat. ISBN:9781786079046

Callender, Kacen. Felix Ever After.
Publisher: Faber. ISBN:9780571368013

Cockcroft, Jason. We Were Wolves.
Publisher: Andersen Press. ISBN:9781839130571

Conaghan, Brian. Cardboard Cowboys.
Publisher: Bloomsbury. ISBN:9781526628602

Cottrell Boyce, Frank (author) Lenton, Steven (illustrator). Noah’s Gold.
Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books. ISBN:9781529048261

Dassu, A. M.. Boy, Everywhere.
Publisher: Old Barn Books. ISBN:9781910646649

Deonn, Tracy. Legendborn.
Publisher: Simon & Schuster. ISBN:9781398501874

Divin, Sue. Guard Your Heart.
Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books. ISBN:9781529041675

Earle, Phil. When the Sky Falls.
Publisher: Andersen Press. ISBN:9781783449651

Farrant, Natasha. Voyage of the Sparrowhawk.
Publisher: Faber. ISBN:9780571348763

Fayers, Claire. Welsh Fairy Tales, Myths & Legends.
Publisher: Scholastic. ISBN:9780702305511

Fine, Anne. Shades of Scarlet.
Publisher: David Fickling Books. ISBN:9781788451352

Forna, Namina. The Gilded Ones.
Publisher: Usborne. ISBN:9781474959575

Getten, Kereen. When Life Gives You Mangoes.
Publisher: Pushkin Children’s Books. ISBN:9781782692645

Gold, Hannah. The Last Bear.
Publisher: HarperCollins Children’s Books. ISBN:9780008411282

Goodall, Anna. Maggie Blue and the Dark World.
Publisher: Guppy Books. ISBN:9781913101312

Gray, Julia. I, Ada.
Publisher: Andersen Press. ISBN:9781839130076

Gray, Keith. The Climbers.
Publisher: Barrington Stoke. ISBN:9781781129999

Hagger-Holt, Sarah. Proud of Me.
Publisher: Usborne. ISBN:9781474966245

Hawkins, Finbar. Witch.
Publisher: Zephyr. ISBN:9781838935610

Henry, Rebecca. The Sound of Everything.
Publisher: Everything With Words. ISBN:9781911427155

Hitchcock, Bonnie-Sue. Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town.
Publisher: Faber. ISBN:9780571350421

Ho-Yen, Polly. How I Saved the World in a Week.
Publisher: Simon & Schuster. ISBN:9781471193545

Johnson, Daisy May. How to Be Brave.
Publisher: Pushkin Children’s Books. ISBN:9781782693253

Johnson, Mitch. Pop!.
Publisher: Orion Children’s Books. ISBN:9781510107618

Kenny, Padraig (author) Bettison, Edward (illustrator). The Monsters of Rookhaven.
Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books. ISBN:9781529050509

Kessler, Liz. When the World Was Ours.
Publisher: Simon & Schuster. ISBN:9781471196805

Kettle, K.L.. The Boy I Am.
Publisher: Stripes Publishing. ISBN:9781788951227

Lambert, Richard. The Wolf Road.
Publisher: Everything With Words. ISBN:9781911427162

Lawrence, Patrice. Splinters of Sunshine.
Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books. ISBN:9781444954777

Lawrence, Patrice. Rat.
Publisher: Oxford University Press. ISBN:9780198494935

Leonard, M.G.. Twitch.
Publisher: Walker. ISBN:9781406389371

Mann, Manjeet. The Crossing.
Publisher: Penguin. ISBN:9780241411445

Marr, Shirley (author) Honesta, Kathrin and Paganelli, Elisa (illustrators). A Glasshouse of Stars.
Publisher: Usborne. ISBN:9781474991087

McCaughrean, Geraldine. The Supreme Lie.
Publisher: Usborne. ISBN:9781474970686

McGowan, Anthony. I Am the Minotaur.
Publisher: Oxford University Press. ISBN:9780198494874

McKay, Hilary. The Swallows’ Flight.
Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books. ISBN:9781529033335

McNicoll, Elle. Show Us Who You Are.
Publisher: Knights Of Media. ISBN:9781913311131

Montgomery, Ross. The Midnight Guardians.
Publisher: Walker. ISBN:9781406391183

Moore, C.G.. Gut Feelings.
Publisher: UCLan Publishing. ISBN:9781912979431

Morosinotto, Davide (author) Muir, Denise (translator). Red Stars.
Publisher: Pushkin Children’s Books. ISBN:9781782692577

Nicholls, Sally. The Silent Stars Go By.
Publisher: Andersen Press. ISBN:9781783449903

Nielsen, Susin. Tremendous Things.
Publisher: Andersen Press. ISBN:9781839130618

Nova, Karl. The Curious Case of Karl Nova.
Publisher: Caboodle Books. ISBN:9781999774981

O’Donoghue, Caroline. All Our Hidden Gifts.
Publisher: Walker. ISBN:9781406393095

Palmer, Luke. Grow.
Publisher: Firefly. ISBN:9781913102395

Palmer, Tom. Arctic Star.
Publisher: Barrington Stoke. ISBN:9781781129715

Parr, Lesley. The Valley of Lost Secrets.
Publisher: Bloomsbury. ISBN:9781526620521

Rooney, Rachel. Hey, Girl!.
Publisher: Otter-Barry Books. ISBN:9781913074586

Rutter, Helen. The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh.
Publisher: Scholastic. ISBN:9780702300851

Sedgwick, Julian (author) Kutsuwada, Chie (illustrator). Tsunami Girl.
Publisher: Guppy Books. ISBN:9781913101466

Simpson, Darren. The Memory Thieves.
Publisher: Usborne. ISBN:9781474976695

Smyth, Ciara. Not My Problem.
Publisher: Andersen Press. ISBN:9781839130854

Stroud, Jonathan. The Outlaws Scarlett & Browne.
Publisher: Walker. ISBN:9781406394818

Sullivan, Deirdre (author) Vaughan, Karen (illustrator). Savage Her Reply.
Publisher: Little Island. ISBN:9781912417643

Sutcliffe, William. The Summer We Turned Green.
Publisher: Bloomsbury. ISBN:9781526632852

Sutherland, Krystal. House of Hollow.
Publisher: Hot Key Books. ISBN:9781471409899

Thomas, Angie. Concrete Rose.
Publisher: Walker. ISBN:9781406384444

Valentine, Jenny (author) Lefevre, Claire (illustrator). A Girl Called Joy.
Publisher: Simon & Schuster. ISBN:9781471196492

Wallman, Sue. I Know You Did It.
Publisher: Scholastic. ISBN:9780702302701

Weze, Clare. The Lightning Catcher.
Publisher: Bloomsbury. ISBN:9781526622174

Wheatle, Alex. Cane Warriors.
Publisher: Andersen Press. ISBN:9781783449873

Wood, Laura. A Snowfall of Silver.
Publisher: Scholastic. ISBN:9781407192413

Zentner, Jeff. In the Wild Light.
Publisher: Andersen Press. ISBN:9781839130847

Zephaniah, Benjamin. Windrush Child.
Publisher: Scholastic. ISBN:9780702302725

Zoboi, Ibi and Salaam, Yusuf. Punching the Air.
Publisher: HarperCollins Children’s Books. ISBN:9780008422141

CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal Nominated Titles 2022

Aggs, Patrice (illustrator) Brady, Joe (author). No Country
Publisher: David Fickling Books. ISBN: 9781788451833

Baker-Smith, Grahame. Wild is the Wind
Publisher: Templar. ISBN: 9781787417854

Barrett, Laura (illustrator) Blackman, Malorie (author). Blueblood
Publisher: Vintage Classics. ISBN: 9781784876418

Broadley, John (illustrator) Jackson, Mick (author). While You’re Sleeping
Publisher: Pavillion Books. ISBN: 9781843654650

Brown, Ruth. Ten Little Dogs
Publisher: Scallywag Press. ISBN: 9781912650538

Browne, Anthony. Ernest the Elephant
Publisher: Walker. ISBN: 9781406395099

Butler, George. Drawn Across Borders
Publisher: Walker. ISBN: 9781406392166

Carlin, Laura (illustrator) Landman, Tanya (author). The Song of the Nightingale
Publisher: Walker. ISBN: 9781406349399

Child, Lauren. The Goody
Publisher: Orchard Books. ISBN: 9781408347584

Clarke, Maxine Beneda. When We Say Black Lives Matter
Publisher: Wren & Rook. ISBN: 9781526363978

Cockcroft, Jason. We Were Wolves
Publisher: Andersen Press. ISBN: 9781839130571

Cole, Tom Clohosy (illustrator) Morpurgo, Michael (author). War Horse, adapted as a picture book
Publisher: Farshore. ISBN: 9781405292443

Cunha, Anna (illustrator) Berry, James (author). A Story About Afiya
Publisher: Lantana. ISBN: 9781911373339

Cunha, Anna (illustrator) Carmona, Hannah (author). Anita and the Dragons
Publisher: Lantana. ISBN: 9781911373636

Davies, Benji. The Snowflake
Publisher: HarperCollins Children’s Books. ISBN: 9780008212810

Davies, Nicola. Last
Publisher: Tiny Owl. ISBN: 9781910328484

Desmond, Jenni (illustrator) Barr, Catherine (author). Fourteen Wolves
Publisher: Bloomsbury. ISBN: 9781526607492

Di Giorgio, Mariachiara (illustrator) Sterer, Gideon (author). The Midnight Fair
Publisher: Walker. ISBN: 9781406388312

Dias-Hayes, Michaela (illustrator) Singh Gangotra, Monika (author). Sunflower Sisters
Publisher: Owlet Press. ISBN: 9781913339173

Donnelly, Paddy (illustrator) Willis, Jeanne (author). Hom
Publisher: Andersen Press. ISBN: 9781783449958

Dunbar, Polly (illustrator) Morpurgo, Michael (author). Owl or Pussycat?
Publisher: David Fickling Books. ISBN: 9781788450720

Egneus, Daniel (illustrator) Thomas, Isabel (author). Fox
Publisher: Bloomsbury. ISBN: 9781526600776

Ewen, Diane (illustrator) Benjamin, Floella (author). Coming to England
Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books. ISBN: 9781529009415

Falls, Barry (illustrator) McAnulty, Dara (author). Wild Child
Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books. ISBN: 9781529045321

The Fan Brothers. The Barnabus Project
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books. ISBN: 9780711249448

Fisher, Cathy (illustrator) Davies, Nicola (author). The New Girl
Publisher: Graffeg. ISBN: 9781913733605

Fox, Magenta (illustrator) Smith, Zadie and Laird, Nick (author). Weirdo
Publisher: Puffin. ISBN: 9780241449608

Gattaldo. Fearless
Publisher: Otter-Barry Books. ISBN: 9781913074043

Gliori, Debi. A Cat Called Waverley
Publisher: Otter-Barry Books. ISBN: 9781913074630

Gravett, Emily. Too Much Stuff
Publisher: Two Hoots. ISBN: 9781509857333

Greder, Armin. Diamonds
Publisher: Allen & Unwin Children’s Books. ISBN: 9781911631910

Grobler, Piet (illustrator) Agard, John (author). Coyote’s Soundbite
Publisher: Lantana. ISBN: 9781911373735

Haghgoo, Sahar (illustrator) Hulme, Jay (author). Here Be Monsters
Publisher: Pop Up Projects. ISBN: 9781838323554

Hartas, Freya (illustrator) Coelho, Joseph (author). Zombierella
Publisher: Walker. ISBN: 9781406389661

Hopgood, Tim. My Big Book of Outdoors
Publisher: Walker. ISBN: 9781406384826

Klassen, Jon. The Rock from the Sky
Publisher: Walker. ISBN: 9781406395570

Leng, Qin (illustrator) Lawson, JonArno (author). Over the Shop
Publisher: Walker. ISBN: 9781406396676

Litchfield, David (illustrator) Booth, Anne (author). A Shelter for Sadness
Publisher: Templar. ISBN: 9781787417212

Litchfield, David (illustrator) Halls, Smriti (author). Rain Before Rainbows
Publisher: Walker. ISBN: 9781406382358

Loring-Fisher, Jo. Just Like You
Publisher: Otter-Barry Books. ISBN: 9781913074814

Love, Jeffrey Alan (illustrator) Crossley-Holland, Kevin (author). Norse Tales
Publisher: Walker. ISBN: 9781406391763

Love, Jessica. Julian at the Wedding
Publisher: Walker. ISBN: 9781406397482

Lumbers, Fiona. Grandpa’s Gift
Publisher: Simon & Schuster. ISBN: 9781471166563

Lynch, P.J. The Haunted Lake
Publisher: Walker. ISBN: 9781406395563

Mayhew, James (illustrator) Eagleton, Ian (author). Nen and the Lonely Fisherman
Publisher: Owlet Press. ISBN: 9781913339098

Morris, Jackie (author and illustrator) Macfarlane, Robert (author). The Lost Spells
Publisher: Hamish Hamilton. ISBN: 9780241444641

Mould, Chris (illustrator) Orwell, George (author). Animal Farm
Publisher: Faber. ISBN: 9780571366705

Naylor-Ballesteros, Chris. Out of Nowhere
Publisher: Nosy Crow. ISBN: 9781788008389

Nomoco (illustrator) Roberts, Tomos (author). The Great Realisation
Publisher: Farshore. ISBN: 9780755501502

Novgorodoff, Danica (illustrator) Reynolds, Jason (author). Long Way Down
Publisher: Faber. ISBN: 9780571366019

Packer, Neil. One of a Kind
Publisher: Walker. ISBN: 9781406379228

Percival, Tom. The Invisible
Publisher: Simon & Schuster. ISBN: 9781471191299

Pham, LeUyen. Outside Inside
Publisher: Andersen Press. ISBN: 9781839131172

Prabhat, Chaaya (illustrator) Alessio, Giovanna (author). The Culture of Clothes
Publisher: Templar. ISBN: 9781787411609

Preston-Gannon, Frann. Bird’s Eye View
Publisher: Templar. ISBN: 9781787416840

Rayner, Catherine (illustrator) Birkhead, Tim (author). What it’s Like to be a Bird
Publisher: Bloomsbury. ISBN: 9781526604125

Rayner, Catherine. Mini and Hardly and the Big Adventure
Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books. ISBN: 9781509804221

Riddell, Chris (illustrator) Gaiman, Neil (author). Pirate Stew
Publisher: Bloomsbury. ISBN: 9781526614728

Riddell, Chris (illustrator) Carroll, Lewis (author). Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books. ISBN: 9781529002461

Robinson, Christian (illustrator) de la Pena, Matt (author). Milo Imagines The World
Publisher: Two Hoots. ISBN: 9781529066319

Rodin, Al. Little Echo
Publisher: Puffin. ISBN: 9780241450871

Rong, Yu (illustrator) Goodfellow, Matt (author). Shu Lin’s Grandpa
Publisher: Otter-Barry Books. ISBN: 9781913074029

Rothery, Ben. Water World
Publisher: Ladybird. ISBN: 9780241435533

Sarda Portabella, Julia (illustrator) Dahman, Myriam and Digard, Nicolas (author). The Wolf’s Secret
Publisher: Orchard Books. ISBN: 9781408355299

Shireen, Nadia. Barbara Throws a Wobbler
Publisher: Jonathan Cape. ISBN: 9781780081366

Smith, Sydney (illustrator) Scott, Jordan (author). I Talk Like a River
Publisher: Walker. ISBN: 9781406397222

Teckentrup, Britta. Tiger Tiger Burning Bright
Publisher: Nosy Crow. ISBN: 9781788005678

Teckentrup, Britta (illustrator) Harding, Thomas (author). The House by the Lake
Publisher: Walker. ISBN: 9781406385557

Terrazzini, Daniela Jaglenka (illustrator) O’Farrell, Maggie (author). Where Snow Angels Go
Publisher: Walker. ISBN: 9781406391992

Van den Ende, Peter. The Wanderer
Publisher: Pushkin Children’s Books. ISBN: 9781782692867

Wilson-Max, Ken (illustrator) Bloom, Valerie (author). Stars with Flaming Tails
Publisher: Otter-Barry Books. ISBN: 9781913074678

Woodgate, Harry. Grandad’s Camper
Publisher: Andersen Press. ISBN: 9781783449835

2021 CLIPPA Poetry Award Winner

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Michael Rosen is the winner of the UK’s leading award for published poetry for children, CLiPPA (Centre for Literacy in Primary Education Poetry Award). He received the award, announced at lunchtime today, for his collection On the Move, Poems About Migration, (an ACHUKA Book of the Day on 8 Oct 2020), published by Walker Books and illustrated by Quentin Blake.

On the Move explores Michael Rosen’s own past, as the son of a Polish-Jewish family growing up in London, and includes poems about his “missing” relatives, who lost their lives in the Holocaust. After these very personal poems, the book’s last section, called On the Move Again, connects his experiences with migration around the world to explain that we are all, always, on the move.

Allie Esiri, chair of the judges, anthologist of the bestselling A Poem for Every Day of the Year series, says, “The very best poems are rockets which can propel us to worlds — real and imagined — that are different from our own, and maps which can guide us to better understand the emotional, social, or political terrain around us. The shortlist for this year’s CLiPPA was extremely strong, showcasing outstanding poetry, but the judges were unanimous in choosing On the Move as the winner for theway in which it situates us, with striking immediacy, within Michael Rosen’s own personal recollections of migration, and invites us to consider the plight of others forced to be on the move today. In a period in which migration is continuously reshaping our ideas of belonging, heritage and identity, this book serves as a timely — and timeless —reminder of our kinship with our fellow humans of all backgrounds for readers of all ages.”

Fellow judge, Julie Blake, co-founder and Director of Poetry By Heart said, “These elegantly understated poems speak of the universal experience of migration that is to be found in every family’s history. Quentin Blake’s illustrations shimmer and haunt as much as the words, image and text connected and disconnected in a way that perfectly evokes the connections and disconnections of migration. This is a book to bring adults and children together to ask, “What’s my history, where have I come from?”

Michael Rosen has won the CLiPPA once before—in 2016, for A Great Big Cuddle, also published by Walker Books and illustrated by Chris Riddell—when the award was shared with Sarah Crossan for One (Bloomsbury). This year’s win comes after a life-changing eighteen months for Rosen, who fell ill with Covid-19 in March 2020, spending two months in a medically induced coma. He was just beginning his recovery when On the Move was published last October. His experiences are described for children in a forthcoming picture book, Sticky McStickstick (Walker Books) in which he describes having to learn to walk again.

His win was revealed today, Monday 11October, in a live Poetry Show, part of The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival and introduced by Allie Esiri and CLiPPA judge, poet Zaro Weil, winner of the 2020 CLiPPA.

Louise Johns-Shepherd, Chief Executive at CLPE said, “Poetry for children is booming. It was another record year for submissions and the 2021 shortlist is outstanding. Here are five books that in their different ways show children just what poetry can do, bringing both joy and understanding. The direct involvement of children is central to the CLiPPA and it is inspiring to see more and more schools participating in our Shadowing Scheme. We were extremely moved that Michael took part in the announcement of the shortlist at the Poetry By Heart ceremony at The Globe, performing in front of a live audience for the first time since falling ill and that he is here today to perform live at The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival. Michael has done so much to inspire children with a love of words and poetry and On the Move is a collection that will be read and shared for many, many years to come.”

Michael Rosen receives a trophy and a cheque for £1000. As part of the prize he will also be recorded for the prestigious National Poetry Archive.

The CLiPPA is delivered in partnership with the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) and
supported by Arts Council England.

UKLA 2022 Awards Longlists

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Longlist 3-6+ 

Books Make Good Pets written by John Agard, illustrated by Momoko Abe, (Orchard)

It’s Only Stanley written and illustrated by Jon Agee (Scallywag Press)

Fred Gets Dressed written and illustrated by Peter Brown (Templar)

Clean Up! written by Nathan Bryon, illustrated by Dap Adeola (Puffin)

The Little Girl Who Was Afraid of Everything written and illustrated by Aurora Cacciapuoti (Tate Publishing)

What Happened to You?  Written by James Catchpole, illustrated by Karen George (Faber)

Luna Loves Art written by Joseph Coehlo illustrated by Fiona Lumbers (Andersen Press)

Stuck Inside written by Sally Anne Garland, (Sunbird Books)

Shu-Lin’s Grandpa written by Matt Goodfellow, illustrated by Yu Rong (Otter-Barry Books)

Too Much Stuff written and illustrated by Emily Gravett (Two Hoots)

Who’s Your Real Mum? Written by Bernadette Green illustrated by Anna Zobel, (Scribe)

What We’ll Build written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers (HarperCollins)

The Little War Cat written by Hiba Noor Khan, illustrated by Laura Chamberlain (Macmillan)

Freedom We Sing written by Amyra León and illustrated by Molly Mendoza, (Flying Eye)

Pip and Egg written by Alex Latimer, illustrated by David Litchfield (Scholastic) 

Taking Time written and illustrated by Jo Loring-Fisher, Jo (Lantana Publishing)

I’m (Almost) Always Kind written by Anna Milbourne, illustrated by Asa Gilland (Usborne)

The Invisible written and illustrated by Tom Percival (Simon & Schuster)

Arlo the Lion Who Could Not Sleep written and illustrated by Catherine Rayner, Catherine (Macmillan)

Barbara Throws a Wobbler written and illustrated by Nadia Shireen, (Puffin)

The Capybaras written and illustrated by Alfredo Soderguit, translated by Elisa Amado (Greystone Kids)

Where is the Dragon? written and illustrated by Leo Timmers, translated by James Brown (Gecko Press)

I Can Catch a Monster written and illustrated by Bethan Woolvin (Two Hoots)

 

Longlist 7-10+ 

Brand New Boy written by David Almond illustrated by Marta Altes (Walker Books)

October, October written by Katya Balen (Bloomsbury)

I Am Every Good Thing written by Derek Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C James, (Farshore)

Stars With Flaming Tails written by Valerie Bloom, illustrated by Ken Wilson-Max  (Otter-Barry Books)

Noah’s Gold written by Frank Cottrell Boyce illustrated by Steven Lenton, (Macmillan)

The Elephant written by Peter Carnavas (Pushkin Press)

Moo written by Sharon Creech (Guppy Books)

The Soup Movement written by Ben Davies (OUP)

Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow written by Benjamin Dean, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat (Simon & Schuster)

The Barnabus Project written and illustrated by Eric, Terry and Devin Fan (Frances Lincoln)

Voyage of the Sparrowhawk written by Natasha Farrant (Faber) 

When Life Gives You Mangoes written by Kereen Getten (Pushkin Press) 

A Clock of Stars: The Shadow Moth written by Francesca Gibbons, illustrated by Chris Riddell (HarperCollins)

When Stars are Scattered written by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed, illustrated by Iman Geddy (Faber)

Across the Risen Sea written by Bren MacDibble (Old Barn Books)

A Kind of Spark written by Elle McNicholl (Knights Of)

Lori and Max and the Book Thieves written by Catherine O’Flynn (Firefly Press)

The Valley of the Lost Secrets written by Lesley Parr (Bloomsbury)

The Incredible Record Smashers written by Jenny           Pearson, illustrated by Erica Salcedo (Usborne)

How to Save the World with a Chicken and an Egg written by Emma Shevah (Chicken House)

Starboard  written by Nicola Skinner(HarperCollins)

Front Desk   written by Kelly Yang (Knights Of)

 

Longlist 11- 14+ 

No Country  written by Joe Brady, illustrated by Patrice Aggs (David Fickling Books)

The Short Knife written by Elen           Caldecott (Andersen Press)

We Were Wolves written and illustrated by Jason Cockcroft (Andersen Press)

The Girl Who Became a Tree written by Jospeh Coehlo illustrated by Kate Millner (Otter-Barry Books)

Cardboard Cowboys written by Brian Conaghan (Bloomsbury)

The Rules written by Tracey Darnton (Little Tiger)

Boy, Everywhere written by A.M Dassu (Old Barn Books)

Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town written by Bonnie Sue Hitchcock, (Faber)

When the World Was Ours written by Liz Kessler (Simon & Schuster)

The Wolf Road written by Richard Lambert (Everything With Words)

The Supreme Lie written by Geraldine McCaughrean (Usborne)

I Am the Minotaur  written by Anthony McGowan (OUP)

The Swallow’s Flight written by Hilary  McKay (Macmillan)

The Silent Stars Go By written by Sally Nicholls (Andersen Press)

After the War: from Auschwitz to Ambleside          written by Tom Palmer (Barrington Stoke)

The Great Godden written by Meg Rosoff (Bloomsbury)

The Acrobats of Agra written by Robin Scott- Elliot (Everything With Words)

Tsunami Girl written by Julian Sedgwick, illustrated by Chie Kutsuwada,(Guppy Books)

The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne written by Jonathan Stroud (Walker Books)

Cane Warriors written by Alex Wheatle (Andersen Press) 

Talking to Alaska written by Anna Woltz, translated by Laura Watkinson     (Rock the Boat)

Punching The Air written by Ibi Zoboi and  Yusef Salaam (HarperCollins)

 

Longlist Information Books 3-14+ 

Fourteen Wolves written by Catherine Barr, illustrated by Jenni Desmond (Bloomsbury)

How Do Bridges Work?   Written and illustrated by Roman Belyaev (bsmall publishing)

Britannica All New Children’s Encyclopedia          edited by Christopher Lloyd, illustrated by Mark Ruffle and Jack Tite (Brittanica Books)

I am not a Label written by Cerrie Burnell, illustrated by Lauren Baldo (Wide Eyed Editions)

Escape- One Day We Had to Run written by Ming & Wah Chen, illustrated by Carmen Vela (Lantana Publishing)

What’s the T? written by Juno Dawson, illustrated by Soofiya (Wren & Rook)

Making A Baby: An Inclusive Guide to How Every Family Begins written by Rachel Greener illustrated by Clare Owen (Nosy Crow)

Modern Art Explorer written by Alica Harman illustrated by Serge Bloch (Thames and Hudson)

The Black Friend written by Frederick       Joseph (Walker Books)

Kay’s Anatomy written by Adam Kay, illustrated by Henry Paker (Puffin) 

Fashion Conscious written by Sarah Klymkiw illustrated by Kim Hankinson, (Red Shed)

The Bird Within Me written and illustrated by Sarah Lundberg, translated by B.J. Epstein (Book Island)

Question Everything written by Susan Martineau, illustrated by Vicky  Barker, (bsmall publishing)

Who Makes a Forest written by Sally Nicholls, illustrated by Carolina Rabei (Andersen Press)

Black and British- a short essential history written by David Olusuga (Macmillan)

Plasticus Maritimus: An Invasive Species written by Ana Pêgo & Isabel Minhós Martins, illustrated by Bernardo P Carvalho, translated by Jane Springer (Greystone Kids)

Climate Crisis for Beginners written by Andy Prentice and Eddie Reynolds, illustrated by El Primo (Usborne)

Fossils from Lost Worlds written and illustrated by Hélène Rajcak and Damien Laverdunt, translated by Daniel Hahn (Gecko Press)

The Great Barrier Reef written by Helen Scales, illustrated by Lisk Feng (Flying Eye)

Interview With a Tiger: And Other Clawed Beasts Too written by Amy Seed, illustrated by Nick East (Welbeck Childrens)

Dosh written by Rashmi Sirdeshpande, illustrated by Adam Hayes (Wren & Rook)

Ultimate Gamer- Career Mode written by Craig Steele illustrated by Berat Pekmezci (Kingfisher)

Fox: A Circle of Life Story written by Isabel Thomas illustrated by Daniel Egnéus  (Bloomsbury)

Nano  written by Dr Jess Wade illustrated by Melissa Castrillon (Walker Books)

Winner Of Klaus Flugge Prize 2021

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© Klaus Flugge Prize

Things are going well for Flavia Z. Drago. A week ago she discovered her book Gustavo The Shy Ghost was No. 1 on the New York Times Children’s Bestseller list and now she has won the UK’s 2021 Klaus Flugge Prize for the most exciting and promising newcomer to children’s picture book illustration.  Gustavo the Shy Ghost (Walker Books) is about a little ghost who, despite being so shy he is invisible to the other monsters, eventually finds a way to make friends.

Gustavo The Shy Ghost is just out in paperback but ACHUKA thinks picture books are always best in hardback.

Flavia was born and raised in Mexico City and her book takes inspiration from her favourite Mexican tradition, The Day of the Dead celebrations, particularly in its bright pink and orange palette. Sharp-eyed readers will spot references to other influences on Flavia, including horror films and books, and The Smiths.

She says that she sees herself in little Gustavo. “When I started work on the book, I didn’t notice how much I had in common with Gustavo, but as I got to understand him, I realised that telling this story was important for me because I wanted to show that being shy doesn’t mean that you don’t enjoy the company of people – or in this case, monsters! – it just means that you find it difficult to connect with others. Some of the things that happen to Gustavo are based on my own experiences. When I was in kindergarten – just like Gustavo – I sat by myself during lunch breaks, watching children play while being amazed by the fact that they seemed to be completely happy to talk and play with each other. The main difference between Gustavo and me, is that, sadly I cannot do the ghostly things like walking through walls, making objects fly, glowing in the dark or playing the violin. However, drawing became a way in which I could connect with others. In a sense our love for art has been the thing helping us both to connect with others.”

The  judges loved the balance of fun and fright in the book, and admired Flavia’s superb control of pace and the composition of her illustrations. The winner of the 2020 prize, Eva Eland said: “There is so much to admire and enjoy in Flavia’s book. From the carefully selected colour palette of muted tones combined with bright orange and pink, to the myriad little details in the illustrations and her endearing and fun characters. Flavia has great control of many different facets of illustration and storytelling, including pacing, colour and a strong sense of design. She also has great drawing skills. She delivers a powerful and universal story, whilst maintaining a light-heartedness and a playful touch that will speak to many little children.” Fellow judge, Posy Simmonds summed up, “I love Gustavo, the Shy Ghost: it’s fresh, witty, well-paced and a visual treat.”

ACHUKA loves it too and we cannot wait for Flavia’s next picture book.
Check out this recent Meet An Illustrator feature:
https://www.achuka.co.uk/blog/meet-an-illustrator-28-flavia-z-drago/

The shortlist for the Klaus Flugge Prize was announced at midday on Wednesday 19 May). Established in 2016, the prize was set up to honour Klaus Flugge, founder of Andersen Press and an extremely influential figure in children’s picture books. It is awarded to the most promising and exciting newcomer to children’s picture book illustration.

From a longlist of twenty picture books by debut illustrators, the panel of judges comprising award-winning illustrator Posy Simmonds, Eva Eland (2020 Klaus Flugge Prize winner), Darryl Clifton (Illustration Programme Director at Camberwell College of Arts), Fleur Sinclair (owner of Sevenoaks Bookshop) and Mat Tobin of Oxford Brookes University, shortlisted  five titles.

Child of Galaxies Charlotte Ager, written by Blake Nuto, editor Emily Ball, art director Lilly Gottwald (Flying Eye Books)

While You’re Sleeping John Broadley, written by Mick Jackson, editor Neil Dunnicliffe, designer Sarah Crookes (Pavilion) [An ACHUKA Book of the Day 15 Oct 2020]

Gustavo the Shy Ghost Flavia Z Drago, editors Tanya Rosie and Maria Tunney, art Director Anne-Louise Jones (Walker Books)

I’m Sticking with You Steve Small, written by Smriti Halls editor Helen Mackenzie Smith, designer Jane Buckley (Simon and Schuster) [An ACHUKA Book of the Day 13 May 2020]

My Red Hat Rachel Stubbs, editor Denise Johnstone-Burt, designer Charlie Moyler (Walker Books)

THE ILLUSTRATORS

Charlotte Ager graduated from Kingston University with a BA in Illustration Animation in 2017. She is drawn to the poetry in everyday experience and the ways in which people can create narrative in spaces, both real and imagined. She loves that drawing has the ability to be moving and soft but also utterly silly. Originally from the Isle of Wight, she now lives in London.
https://www.instagram.com/charlotte.ager/

John Broadley has been active in illustration and small press publishing since the mid 1990s. He works mostly in pen and ink and collage. His work has recently been used to decorate the interiors, menus and branding for Quo Vadis restaurant Soho. He has designed a range of packaging and ceramics for the Fine Cheese Company and also wine labels for Gabb Family, Berry Bros & Rudd, and Fortnum & Mason. John has illustrated several food and historically themed books, as well as many magazines.
https://www.instagram.com/john.broadley.77/

Flavia Z. Drago was born and raised in Mexico City. As a child, she wanted to be a mermaid. When that didn’t happen, she began her career as a graphic designer and a children’s book illustrator. She has an MA in Children’s Book Illustration from Cambridge School of Art and was shortlisted for the 2018 Sebastian Walker Award. She loves colours, textures, and shapes and enjoys creating them with different materials and a bit of digital sorcery. She lives between the UK and Mexico.
https://www.instagram.com/flavia_zdrago/

Steve Small has worked in animation for over thirty years as a director, designer, and animator and was BAFTA nominated for his animated sequences for the BBC drama Black Earth Rising. The work has varied from working on Disney features to designing and directing shorts, TV series, and commercials and he created the hugely successful Mr Bean animated series. Steve lives in London.
https://www.instagram.com/stevesmalluk/

Rachel Stubbs is a London-based illustrator who loves observing human behaviour and interaction. After studying illustration in Falmouth, Cornwall, she went on to work as a freelance illustrator before joining the Cambridge MA in children’s picture books to refresh her creative practice. Here she rediscovered the joy of drawing from life in her sketchbook, which has now become the foundation of all her work. Upon graduating from the MA, Rachel was awarded the Sebastian Walker Award for Illustration.
https://www.instagram.com/rachelstubbs_/

CLiPPA Shortlist Announced

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The 2021 shortlist for the CLiPPA (CLPE Children’s Poetry Award)—the UK’s only award for poetry published for children—was announced yesterday.

The five books on the shortlist are:

Slam! You’re Gonna Wanna Hear This, chosen by Nikita Gill, Macmillan

Bright Bursts of Colour, Matt Goodfellow, illustrated by Aleksei Bitskoff, Bloomsbury Education

Run, Rebel by Manjeet Mann, Penguin

Big Green Crocodile Rhymes to Say and Play, by Jane Newberry, illustrated by Carolina Rabei, Otter-Barry Books

On the Move, Michael Rosen, illustrated by Quentin Blake, Walker Books

Allie Esiri, chair of the judges, said ‘If you think your child doesn’t like poetry, please share the books on this year’s CLiPPA shortlist. They are varied – a picture book, an anthology, outstanding single collections and a verse novel – but each one reminds us what the best poetry for children can do. The poets capture real life experiences that will excite their audience and speak directly to them; they plant images and ideas and allow them space to grow. Poetry demands more than other kinds of literature but gives back more too and there are poems in these books that will remain in the minds of their readers forever. I’m particularly pleased that there is a book for the very young on the shortlist, but all these collections could start a lifetime of poetry pleasure.’

This year the judges are poets Zaro Weil, who won the 2020 CLiPPA with her collection Cherry Moon and Amina Jama; Julie Blake, co-founder and Director of Poetry By Heart; and Charlotte Hacking, Learning Programmes Leader at CLPE. Allie Esiri, aka the ‘poetry powerhouse’, whose poetry anthologies include A Poem for Every Day of the Year and regularly top the bestseller lists, is chair of the CLiPPA 2021 judging panel.

The winner of the 2021 CLiPPA will be revealed at the The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival, on Monday 11 October, in a Poetry Show introduced by CLiPPA judges, Zaro Weil and Allie Esiri, and featuring performances by the shortlisted poets. Schools across the UK and beyond will be able to watch the show on The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival platform and access poetry CPD sessions created by CLPE.

Branford Boase Award 2021 Winner

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Struan Murray is the winner of the 2021 Branford Boase Award for the year’s outstanding debut novel for children for  Orphans of the Tide.

Set in the last city of a drowned world, the book opens with a dead whale washing in with the tide, only for a living boy to climb out. The City’s religious authorities believe his body to house The Enemy, the god they hold responsible for putting the world in its watery grave but Ellie, a young inventor, is convinced he’s innocent. The award is shared with Murray’s editor, Ben Horslen, of Puffin.

The announcement was made by Liz Hyder on Thursday 15 July as part of a public event presented by the LoveReading LitFest. The event featured contributions from all the shortlisted authors plus previous winners and culminated in a discussion with Struan Murray and his editor Ben Horslen.  Struan Murray received a cheque for £1,000 and both author and editor were given engraved trophies.

The 2021 shortlist was particularly strong. Described as ‘a showcase for all that children’s literature can be’ it featured powerful contemporary stories, a wildly energetic comedy adventure, an ‘own voices’ novel starring a young girl with autism, a dark story of witches and witchcraft in the 17th century, and the first verse novel to feature in the award’s history. Orphans of the Tide was the only fantasy adventure on the list and impressed all the judges with its originality and the beauty of its writing.

The full shortlist consisted of:

  • When Life Gives You Mangoes
    by Kereen Getten, edited by Sarah Odedina (Pushkin Children’s Books)
  • Witch
    by Finbar Hawkins, edited by Fiona Kennedy (Zephyr)
  • And the Stars Were Burning Brightly
    by Danielle Jawando, edited by Jane Griffiths (Simon and Schuster)
  • A Kind of Spark
    by Elle McNicoll, edited by Eishar Brar (Knights Of)
  • Run, Rebel
    by Manjeet Mann, edited by Carmen McCullough (Penguin)
  • Orphans of the Tide
    by Struan Murray, edited by Ben Horslen, illustrated by Manuel Sumberac (Puffin)
  • The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates
    by Jenny Pearson, edited by Rebecca Hill and Becky Walker, illustrated by Rob Biddulph (Usborne)

Judge Liz Hyder, author of Bearmouth and winner of the 2020 Branford Boase Award winner said of Orphans of the Tide, ‘This book utterly stole my heart. Exquisitely written, it’s a phenomenal page-turner with characters that leap off the page and straight into your imagination. Orphans of the Tideexplores lots of big themes – environmental issues, friendship and xenophobia to name but a few – all wrapped up in an utterly compelling tale told by a master storyteller. Struan is an exceptional talent and I can’t wait to read everything else he ever writes.’

Struan Murray said, ‘I am so honoured and thrilled to have won the Branford Boase Award. This award is extremely special as it celebrates not only the author but the editor too, and understands and recognises that writing is a collaborative process that wouldn’t be possible without the commitment, imagination and skill of the editor. Working with Ben has stretched me as a writer and his insight contributed so much to the world of Orphans of the Tide that I couldn’t imagine it without him.’

Ben Horslen commented: ‘The author-editor relationship lies at the very heart of our industry, and to have an award that celebrates and showcases that relationship is a very special thing indeed. To be nominated is a career highlight that every editor hopes for. To win is simply a dream come true.’

This year’s judges were:

  • Zoey Dixon, YLG Librarian of the Year 2020
  • Scott Evans, teacher, consultant and founder of TheReaderTeacher.com
  • Natasha Radford of Chicken and Frog bookshop, Brentwood
  • Liz Hyder, author of Bearmouth, winner of the 2020 Branford Boase Award.

The panel was chaired, as usual, by Julia Eccleshare, children’s director of the Hay Festival.

The Branford Boase Award is supported by Walker Books.

Founded in 2000, the Branford Boase Award was set up in memory of award-winning author Henrietta Branford and her editor Wendy Boase of Walker Books, who both died in 1999, and is unique in honouring editor as well as author. It is regarded as one of the most important awards in children’s books and has an impressive record in picking out star authors at the start of their careers. Previous winners include Meg Rosoff, Mal Peet, Siobhan Dowd, Marcus Sedgwick, M.G. Leonard and Frances Hardinge. Winning editors shape contemporary children’s literature and include J K Rowling’s editor Barry Cunningham, Philip Pullman’s editor David Fickling and Fiona Kennedy, publisher of Michelle Paver, Marcus Sedgwick and Sally Gardner.

 

 

 

 

Winners of the 2021 Henrietta Branford Writing Competition Announced

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Winners of the 2021 Henrietta Branford Writing Competition Announced

Ahead of this coming Thursday’s announcement of the winner of the Branford Boase Award for a first children’s novel, six young writers aged between 9 and 17 have been named the winners of the  Henrietta Branford Writing Competition for Young People which runs in conjunction with the main award and aims to encourage writers of the future.

Entrants were asked to complete a story begun by last year’s Branford Boase Award winner, author Liz Hyder. Liz often finds inspiration in graveyards – so many names waiting to be reused – and her opening paragraph, written in the graveyard of St Leonard’s Church, Ludlow, near to her home, caught the imagination of hundreds of young people.

Entrants followed Liz’s advice to take their story where they wanted, and the six winners are therefore very different but all of an exceptionally high standard. Prue Goodwin, lecturer in literacy and children’s books, judges the competition, which is now in its 22nd year, and declared the entries, ‘without a doubt, the best collection of stories’ that she has received.

The winners are:

Gracie Beirne aged 15 years from Fleetwood, Lancashire for Remember

Pascale Connors aged 10 years from London, for Last Days of Summer

 Finn Else-McCormack aged 17 years from London, for Endings

 Isabella Greenaway aged 15 years from Rickmansworth for Dear Tom

 Leonardo Teodoro aged 12 years from London for Twisted Time

 Euan Wood aged 9 years from Edinburgh for The Book of Crows.

You can read all the winning stories on the Branford Boase Award website and hear Prue Goodwin talking about the winners and their writing.

The judges also wanted to highlight the following talented young writers, whose stories are Highly Commended:

Lucie Bellamy age 8 years Cardiff

Lola Morgan age 13 years Milton Keynes

Jafar Alani age 12 years Potters Bar

Florence Johnson age 11 years Charles Kingsley Primary, Eversley

Elodie Dunn age 10 years Newton St Cyres

Darcey Prince age 9 years Wantage

Aishwarya Kozhikkottu Mundakkaparambil age 12 years Harrow

Millie Hargate age 14 years Great Sankey High School, Warrington

Maybelle Yang age 11 years London

Dhriti Mehrotra age 11 years Isleworth

Collette Foster age 16 years Bristol

Erica Cload age 12 years Inverness

The winners each receive signed copies of the books on the shortlist for the 2021 Branford Boase Award.

The winner of the 2021 Branford Boase Award will be announced on Thursday 15 July as part of a special public event/celebration presented by the LoveReading LitFest.