2025 Klaus Flugge Prize Long List

 

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.

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 Children’s Books)

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 Kate Temple, editor Rob Airey, design by Leda Bartolucci (Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust)

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.” 

The shortlist will be announced on 15 May 2025 and the winner will be announced at an award ceremony on 10 September 2025.

The Extraordinary Gardener by Sam Boughton

Megan Daley (from Queensland, book blogger, Teacher-Librarian and podcaster) once talked about hosting an exhibition of picture book end papers. She probably only meant to include Australian books but if I could persuade her to look further the end papers in this book should be part of this (imagined) display.

As we have seen in many other books about greening an urban landscape this book begins with a seed. Joe can imagine his city filled with green plants and then one day he eats an apple and finds a seed. 

He "carefully planted the tiny seed. Then he fed it, and watered it, and quietly waited ... "

But nothing happened. Joe went away and forgot about his seed but actually the seed was growing. 

"He stepped outside and discovered that where he had planted the tiny seed now stood the most beautiful tree."

Joe has caught the bug. He gathers more seeds and soon, with his careful attention and nurture, he creates a huge garden. Of course other people notice it and soon every apartment has a balcony garden and the scene is SO huge that you have to fold open three pages. 

The more you look at this book, the more you see – the detail is awesome; and Sam Broughton’s way of using greyness and gradually bringing more and more colour into her scenes is wonderful, culminating in a glorious fold-out. Red Reading Hub

Joe’s story is full of warmth and hope but it’s the illustrations that take centre stage. The grey cityscape – created using techniques including washes, resist work, splatters and collage – forms a visually-accommodating backdrop for Sam's detailed pencil drawings of its wonderfully diverse community, and her colourful transformation of these streets and buildings (and people) is a joy to observe. Cast of Thousands

I also wanted to tell a story that was empowering for children. To show them that even if they have just ‘one’ small idea, with enough hard work they can make big changes. That their actions count and that community and nature is fundamental to our wellbeing. It felt such an important message to say, especially right now. Sam Boughton (Klaus Flugge prize short listed 2019)

Here is an interview with UK artist Sam Boughton about her book. 

Other books with the same theme/message:

The Secret Sky Garden

The Curious Garden

Amira's Suitcase (CBCA Honour Book Early Childhood 2022)

Rose's Garden

The Girl who Planted Trees

The Invisible

I was interested to read Sam Boughton loved Richard Scarry and Eric Carle as a child and today she admires Andrea D’Aquino and Canadian illustrator Sabrina Ward. Sam Boughton has some terrific looking board books - I am keen to see these:

Take a look at this Padlet of High Quality Picture Books for Cross-Curricular Planning by Matthew Tobin. There is a link (scroll down) to a set of very detailed ideas for using The Extraordinary Gardener with a group of students. 

While you're Sleeping by Mick Jackson illustrated by John Broadley

"Oh, there's plenty needs doing at night time. 

There's plenty going on."

Who works in the night? I'm sure you can easily make a list and then you might pause to think of these people and offer your thanks that they keep our cities, shops, hospitals, factories, electricity sub stations, ambulance drivers, phone support people, and other services humming along while we are all tucked up snug and warm in our beds. 

As with all of the best picture books you should begin by looking closely at the cover. The boy is asleep in a bed that is floating above the city.  It is night time but if you look really closely plenty of people are out and about and when you stretch the book out to look at the back cover, the illustration continues and street lights illuminate the scene along with lights in the windows of shops and the hospital allowing us to look inside and see some of the night workers who we are sure to meet inside this book. I love the way the barcode is presented as a sign on a truck.

Now turn to the end papers. YES they are fabulous. Small vignettes of each worker along with nocturnal creatures such as the owl and fox. There is a baker, mail sorter, window cleaner, and delivery person. When you read this book with a young Australian child you may need to talk about the word lorry or just stop and count all of the busy lorries driving through the night time rural landscape. 

To open this book is like opening a gorgeous box full of jewels – each page is stunning – so too are the endpapers, the cover: the entire production in fact and to read it is like being shown around a gallery by a wise, gently spoken curator eager to open our eyes to how the world works. Red Reading Hub

As you can see, the illustrations in this book are fabulous. Such a different style for your young reading companion to explore. I love the pastel colours and extensive use of patterns. I am also thrilled to report that this large hardcover book is available here in Australia for a very affordable price. On this page from the publisher Pavilion you can see inside John's studio.

Here is an interview with John Broadley where he talks about his work on this book. I love the word breather he uses here: A book with no breather between this amount of intensity might have been too much, plus, in the passages where several things are mentioned (buses, cleaning the streets, trains etc) I thought it would add variety to have these as shaped vignettes. 

While you're Sleeping was one of just five books shortlisted for the 2021 Klaus Flugge prize. “Each year the Klaus Flugge Prize celebrates the art of picture book illustration and puts the brightest new talent in the spotlight. The illustrators on this year’s shortlist demonstrate extraordinary skill and their very different books bring light, colour, warmth and laughter to readers of all ages. Congratulations to them all and very special thanks again to Klaus Flugge who has done so much to support and promote illustrators throughout his career.”

Here is a new book just released by Mick Jackson and John Broadley.

Kate Milner books - My Name is not Refugee and It's a no Money Day

This book is a must have for every single school.  

A library Lady on It's a no Money Day

An outstanding book by an award-winning author/illustrator, which successfully presents this thought-provoking topic to a young audience and is full of hope for a brighter future. Book Trust

These are two of the most important books I have ever read. I have had both on my shopping list since I saw It's a no Money Day in a Melbourne book shop early in 2019.

My Name is not Refugee blurb from  Barrington Stoke: A young boy discusses the journey he is about to make with his mother. They will leave their town, she explains, and it will be sad but also a little bit exciting. They will have to say goodbye to friends and loved ones, and that will be difficult. They will have to walk and walk and walk, and although they will see many new and interesting things, it will be hard at times too.  A powerful and moving exploration that draws the young reader into each stage of the journey, inviting the chance to imagine the decisions he or she would make.

Here are some very detailed teachers notes for My Name is Not Refugee.

It's a no Money Day blurb from Barrington Stoke: A gentle, poignant and powerful exploration of foodbanks and life below the poverty line, from the Klaus Flugge Prize-winning creator of My Name is Not Refugee. Mum works really hard, but today there is no money left and no food in the cupboards. Forced to visit the local foodbank, Mum feels ashamed that they have to rely on the kindness of others. Maybe one day things will be different but for now together they brighten up even the darkest of days.

You can see inside these books on the publisher site.  If you are using these two books with students it would be good to view them side by side. Kate Milner has made these books with complimentary formats from the cover design; significant objects on the half title page; the design of the end papers using repeated patterns; the close relationship between the mother and child; the use of first person and the child as narrator; the middle page where we see a queue for the food bank and the line of people waiting outside the refugee camp; and make sure you look at the very last page in both books too.

These books have been written for young children aged 6+ but you could also read them to older students - in fact I am going to say you should read these to groups of older students in senior Primary classes. Read this interview with Kate Milner.

Companion reads for My Name is not Refugee:

Stepping Stones

Out

The Story Boat

Companion reads for It's a no Money Day

I saw Pete and Pete Saw me

Those Shoes

My name is not Refugee was the 2018 winner of the Klaus Flugge Prize. 

I need to investigate the titles on the 2021 long list:

One Fox: A counting book thriller by Kate Read

This beautiful book is SO MUCH MORE than a counting book. Here is the trailer from Macmillan. Look at the sub title - "thriller". There is some real drama and tension in this story. Next look at the end papers. One filled with fox foot prints and one with colourful chickens.

Here is some of the text:

1 One famished fox
2 Two sly eyes
3 Three plump hens
4 Four padding paws
5 Five snug eggs

Look at those wonderful words - famished; sly; plump; padding; snug.  There is also some perfect alliteration - famished fox; six silent steps; frightened fox. You can see Kate Read has included the numeral and the word and on each page there are several things to count which make this a book you can revisit again and again.

Now take a look at those sly eyes:

The illustrations in this book are so bright. Your young reader will want to reach out and touch the collages. Some pages have a bold black background and on the page with four padding paws the paws are nearly all you can see with the illustration placed right at the top of the page. You can almost hear the footsteps.

The last page of this book is sure to make every adult who shares this book with a young child roar with laughter!

One Fox is on the 2020 Klaus Flugge longlist and also nominated for the Children's Book Prize from Waterstones. "The Klaus Flugge Prize is awarded to the most promising and exciting newcomer to children’s picture book illustration. It honours Klaus Flugge, founder of publisher Andersen Press and a supremely influential figure in picture books."

Lovely, potent, brightly colored illustrations in a combination of textured collage and paint against white space transition to a dark, moonlit backdrop. Kirkus

It would be good to follow this book with Rosie's Walk by Pat Hutchins and for children who want to explore collage you could pick up a selection of books by Eric Carle.