2015 was the 50th year of the existence of the BIB competition – the biggest and most influential international competition for published picture books in the world. The UK has not been present or prominent in this competition and often there were no UK entries at all. The record number of 12 UK entries in 2015, is a result of a combined effort by the International Centre for the Picture Book in Society and IBBY UK (International Board on Books for Young People) –  now the official nominating bodies in the UK for this competition. Laura Carlin and Levi Pinfold were awarded the Grand Prix and a bronze plaque respectively.

The 11 awarded illustrators as well as the other UK entries will be exhibited in the HIVE in May 2016.