The International Board on Books for Young people biannually compiles a list of outstanding picture books that represent the IBBY member countries. The three categories are Text, Translation and Illustration. We recently had the privilege to exhibit the books that were in the Illustration category, here at the Hive library in Worcester. These books are chosen because they are considered to be representative of the picture book culture in their respective countries.

Here are some pictures from the opening night of the Worldwide Picture Book Illustration Exhibition. A special thanks to Illustrator Alexis Deacon and Walker Book’s Louise Power for presenting the awards to all the winners. You can see all the winning entries at the Hive library, Worcester, up until the end of October.

In the 50th year of the existence of the BIB competition, a British illustrator Laura Carlin was awarded the Grand Prix for the best entry. This is very rewarding considering the UK’s limited participation or absence from the competition for many years. The record number of 12 UK entries this year, is a result of a combined effort by IBBY UK (International Board on Books for Young People) and the International Centre for the Picture Book in Society (University of Worcester) who are the official nominating bodies in the UK.

355 Illustrators from 50 countries entered 2,426 artworks from published books to be considered for the prizes. The prizes are: Grand Prix (Overall winner); 5 Golden Apples; 5 Bronze Plaques and 3 Honorary mentions to publishers and a children’s jury award.

The jury was: (Roger Mello, Hans Christian Andersen Winner (Brazil); Piet Grobler (UK); Anastasia Arkhipova (Russia); Helen Bergendahl (Sweden); Nazan Erkmen (Turkey); Karol Felix (Slovakia); Maria Jesus Gil (Spain); Agnes Gyr (Rwanda); Yukiko Hiromatsu (Japan); Frantisek Skala (Czech Republic); Nina Wehrle (Switzerland).

Here is the full list of winners with comments by the jury:

Grand Prix (Over-all winner)

Laura Carlin (UK) for Iron Man and A world of your own

The Iron Man and A world of your own are two diverse narratives, both created in a confident and highly skilled personal visual language in a variety of media.

Laura Carlin moves with ease, yet with great care between different moods, demonstrating both sensitivity and a sense of humour.

The smallest vignettes as well as double-paged illustrations are composed with care and the pages are paced to perfection. Innovative design-features are always functional, never applied in a flippant or gimmicky manner.

With a sense for detail as well as a clear view of the ‘whole’, these books are brilliant examples of a dialogue between technique and medium and an extensive frame of reference.

5 Golden Apples

Mirocomachiko (Japan) for Yellow and I

Contrasting colours and formats and a whimsical protagonist contribute to creating this generous and cheerful book. It delights the reader with its humorous tone and light and playful touch.

Elena Odriozola (Spain) for Frankenstein

This original and skillfully designed version of Frankenstein introduces a unique image-text relationship that results in the book becoming a theatre of sorts. Silent and static poses are being transformed into dynamic and dramatic moments by an uncanny skill for creating mood and atmosphere.

Xavier Zabala (Spain) for Bird in a cage

A distinct graphic sensibility and strong personal visual language transforms detail from biographical material into a gripping and well-paced tale. The confident technical execution and a nod to cubist – and other masters of twentieth century painting, confirms the status of the picture book as a work of art.

Ronald Curchod (Switzerland) for At night when I sleep

At night when I sleep, is a skillful synthesis of humour, fantasy and ‘silent’ story telling. This surreal, open narrative demonstrates very accomplished technique and a perfect understanding of pace, mood and hybrid-forms.

Bingchun Huang (China) for Braid

The classical medium of etching is being applied to a humorous contemporary picture book. Imaginative detail transforms the mono-toned images and the ordinary domestic subject matter into a lively and poetic tale.

5 Bronze Plaques

Annemarie van Haeringen (The Netherlands) for Snow White knits a monster

This humorous and accessible story demonstrates the author-illustrator’s confident and seemingly effortless use of watercolour and sensitive caricature. The pages of this skillfully composed book brim with enthusiasm and the joy of story telling.

Myung-Ae Lee (South Korea) for Plastic Island

Sustainability and environmental concerns are being dealt with sympathetically in a non-didactic manner – executed with great skill in lively, detailed drawings.

Natalia Salienko (Russia) for About one, two, three, four and five

A strong graphic sensibility and an economic use of colouring contribute to a well designed and a sophisticated picture book.  References to visual communication traditions of early 20th century Russia adds a touch of nostalgia and may suggest a range of potential interpretations.

Renate Wacker (Germany) for Mascha and the Bear

Mascha and the Bear is a whimsical contemporary retelling of a traditional folk tale. Bold and confident image making and an economic colouring sensibility add to a humorous and expressive mood.

Levi Pinfold (UK) for Black dog and Greenling

Magic realist and enigmatic story telling full of detail, persuades the reader to revisit each page. Pinfold creates an eerie and enigmatic tale in a setting reminiscent of the outback of the ‘New-Worlds’ in the first half of the twentieth century.

Honorary Mentions

Artforum, (Monika Kompaníková, Slovakia)

This skillfully made book is testament of dedicated and well-considered graphic design with a loyal commitment to the image-text relationship. The choice of paper, sensitive and economical use of colour and perfect binding, all demonstrates integrity and a love of book making.

Dar Onboz Publishing House, Lebanon

Modern and innovative illustrations with references to traditional art are sensitively composed with the typography to create a poetic and lyrical graphic narrative. An excellent use of materials, as well as high print quality contributes to the text‘s dialogue with the book as an object.

Kan Ya Ma Kan, Palestine – Rose Shoumali: The black fish

The bright colours and poetic image making emphasizes the hope that picture books can bring to children. We applaud the fact that the publisher keeps publishing picture books despite limited resources and difficult circumstances.

Children’s jury

Martijn van der Lindnen (The Netherlands) for Jona and the fishes of Kees Poon.