Celebrating picture books: with shortlisted Picture Book of the Year authors and illustrators

"Their brains can't get enough of it and neither can their hearts."

Eoin Colfer, author of Beanie the Bansheenie

Smaller children learn about their world primarily through sight and sound, and with picture books they get both the wonderful pictures of a skilled artist and the comforting voice of their caretaker reading the words. It is easy to see and understand children love hearing a story at night. Their brains can’t get enough of it and neither can their hearts.

When children eventually learn to read picture books for themselves they are comforted by the familiarity of the medium and enchanted by the wonderful stories and art between the covers.

I have always loved picture books since my parents read them to me as a child. My progression as a reader was from picture books to comic books to chapter books and the wonderful thing about that pattern is that every new step is incorporated into the whole, which means that even though I read mostly chapter books now that doesn’t mean that I ever stopped reading picture books and comic books because I didn’t.

I enjoy creating picture books now because it brings me closer to the people who create the art and in my opinion that is like hanging out with a wizard.VIEW BEANIE THE BANSHEENIE

"Picture books feel small, but they're amazingly powerful."

Patricia Forde, author of Letters to a Monster

Picture books are essential for so many reasons. They open the door to the world of make believe for children and to the world of literature. The fact that an adult or older sibling takes the time to read to a little one shows them that they are important and that they are loved. This feeling will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

Picture books are friendly and accessible. They build a love of story, a sense of beginning, middle and end and the incomparable feeling of being taken somewhere else. And they bring a small art gallery right into the hands of the reader.

Picture books feel small, but they’re amazingly powerful.

A handful of words, a few images—and somehow you get a whole emotional arc.

I love the collaboration between text and art. The best picture books are like an intricate dance between words and images. Sometimes the pictures contradict the text, or adds something totally new to the narrative.

I love the physicality: the heft of the book, the pacing of page turns, the way a double spread can break your heart wide open!

I love the power! When I write a picture book I am like a film director. I cast the actors, devise the setting and decide where to shine the lights. With every story, I have to decide where to put the camera. Should we look at that point of view, that emotion, that theme?

I love the constraint. My picture books usually come in under 500 words. That word count challenges you to see what is essential, asks you to think deeply about the weight of every word and at the same time to leave room for the illustrator.

I also love the absolute joy of seeing the illustrations for the first time and that feeling that someone has looked into your head and created a whole world.VIEW LETTERS TO A MONSTER

"I believe younger readers deserve detailed artwork, beautifully 'lit' artwork that hides unwritten details."

Sarah Warburton, illustrator of Letters to a Monster

We learn about the world around us as babies through images. Good picture books - engaging stories, great words and illustrations go hand in hand. The story entrances the reader, and the illustrations serve to fuel the growing imagination even more.

As a young child, my own excitement at reading was sparked by poring over the front cover of a new book or the drawings within. I think it's still the same for most children. Images can ignite an idea for a child, and reading and words can help them expand it. It's a perfect partnership, hopefully for life. 

Illustrating picture books allows me the opportunity to create complete little worlds. I believe that just because a book is aimed at very young children, it shouldn't mean that images are simple. I believe younger readers deserve detailed artwork, beautifully 'lit' artwork that hides unwritten details. When I'm working on a picture book, I get completely absorbed in each 'world', whether it's just one bedroom or a whole landscape. The most exciting time is the first read of a new picture book text. Images come to my head almost immediately. It feels like a tiny bit of magic!VIEW LETTERS TO A MONSTER

"When young readers love a book, they love it with every atom of their being."

Rashmi Sirdeshpande, author of This Is Who I Am

Picture books are a young reader’s first touchpoint with ART. They’re so varied too. They can entertain, inspire, comfort, spark wonder and everything in between.

Every page and page turn is a delight. Every book that resonates deeply in some way makes the reader ask for MORE. It’s how that love of reading begins. It starts with books feeling fun and wondrous and beautiful and irresistible.

I love creating books for young readers because they’re the best readers. When they love a book, they love it with every atom of their being. They’ll read it a hundred times and memorise and anticipate their favourite bits. They’ll fully appreciate every inch of the art.

It’s an honour to make books for these readers and extra special because of the impact picture books can have in terms of making children smile, laugh, think and feel and helping them to navigate this world and find their place in it.VIEW this is who i am