Suzanne Barton’s The Dawn Chorus (Bloomsbury), Steve Antony’s The Queen’s Hat (Hodder / Hachette Children’s), and Victoria Turnbull’s The Sea Tiger (Templar) have been named in the six-person shortlist for the Best Illustrated Book category.
The three artists all graduated from Anglia Ruskin’s MA Children’s Book Illustration course, which has a strong track record of producing talented illustrators who go on to work with leading publishing houses.
Martin Salisbury, Professor of Illustration at Anglia Ruskin, said: “We are extremely proud of the fact that three of the six books on the Waterstones shortlist are works by our graduates, who once again are making a major a contribution to the global children’s publishing industry.
“Each of these very different books was originally developed and executed during the final stages of the MA course. Whatever the outcome at the Waterstones awards, we wish them continuing success in their careers.”
James Daunt, Managing Director of Waterstones, said: “Children are our most valued customers here at Waterstones as we strive to nurture the next generation of readers.
“Central to this is the passion with which our booksellers introduce them to wonderful reading, and in particular to the special thrill that comes with the discovery of new and extraordinary talent. The Waterstones Children’s Book Prize celebrates this mission and does so with a stunning shortlist of exciting, imaginative and beautiful children’s books.”
Six books are competing in each of the three categories – Best Illustrated Book, Best Fiction for 5-12s and Best Book for Teens – and each category winner will vie for the overall title of Waterstones Children’s Book of the Year 2015.
The winner of each category will receive £2,000, with the overall winner receiving an extra £3,000. The winners will be announced at an evening reception at the Piccadilly branch of Waterstones on Thursday, 26 March.
Image: Steve Antony’s The Queen’s Hat (Hodder / Hachette Children’s)
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For more press information please contact:
Jon Green on t: 0845 196 4717, e: jon.green@anglia.ac.uk
Jamie Forsyth on t: 0845 196 4716, e: jamie.forsyth@anglia.ac.uk
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