The Picture Book Shortlist from 2018 is below – and the WINNER, with 27.3% of the vote was …
‘The Bear and the Piano’
‘A Child of Books’ by Oliver Jeffers
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I am a child of books.
I come from a world of stories.
A little girl sails her raft across a sea of words, arriving at the house of a small boy. She invites him to go away with her on an adventure into the world of stories … where, with only a little imagination, anything at all can happen.
Irresistibly engaging characters by Oliver Jeffers set sail and chart their way through Sam Winston’s fascinating typographical landscapes in this extraordinary ode to the power and promises of storytelling. Forty treasured children’s classics and lullabies are featured in the pictures, providing endless opportunities for discovery, memories and sharing.
Woven together by a simple story line, the one-of-a-kind illustrations in A Child of Books provide an unforgettable reading experience that will inspire and encourage readers of all ages to explore, question, and imagine timeless stories of their own.
- http://www.oliverjeffers.com/
- Twitter: @OliverJeffers
‘Pool’ by JiHyeon Lee
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What happens when two shy children meet at a very crowded pool? Dive in to find out! Deceptively simple, this masterful book tells a story of quiet moments and surprising encounters, and reminds us that friendship and imagination have no bounds.
‘Froodle’ by Antoinette Portis
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In a normal neighborhood, on a typical day, the birds chirp, the dogs bark and the cats meow. When Little Brown Bird decides she doesn’t want to sing the same old song, out comes a new tune that shakes up the neighborhood and changes things forever in this funny, innovative book that kids will love to read out loud.
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- http://www.antoinetteportis.com/
- Twitter: @aportisa
- Instagram: https://imgaddict.com/user/bathingonthemoon/3411187656
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/antoinette.portis
‘The Bear and the Piano’ by David Litchfield
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One day, a young bear stumbles upon something he has never seen before in the forest. As time passes, he teaches himself how to play the strange instrument, and eventually the beautiful sounds are heard by a father and son who are picnicking in the woods. The bear goes with them on an incredible journey to New York, where his piano playing makes him a huge star. He has fame, fortune and all the music in the world, but he misses the friends and family he has left behind. A moving tale of exploration and belonging from an exciting debut author-illustrator.
‘Emu’ by Claire Saxby and Graham Byrne
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Did you know it’s the emu father who protects the chicks? Follow a doting dad as he keeps his brood safe — from when they are granite-green eggs until they’re all grown up.
In the open eucalyptus forest of Australia, an emu as tall as a human settles down on his nest to warm and protect the eggs left by his mate. When they hatch, the chicks will be ten times bigger than domestic chicken hatchlings and covered in chocolate-and-cream stripes to provide camouflage in the grasslands. This unusual family sticks together until the hatchlings grow up, facing dangers that include eagles and dingoes. Ornithologically inclined youngsters will delight in this visually striking chronicle full of fun emu facts.
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- https://clairesaxby.wordpress.com/
- Twitter: @SaxbyClaire
- Instagram: clairesaxbyauthor
- Facebook: Claire Saxby
‘Ada Twist, Scientist’ by Andrea Beaty
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Scientist Ada has a boundless imagination and has always been hopelessly curious. Why are there pointy things stuck to a rose? Why are there hairs growing inside your nose? When her house fills with a horrific, toe-curling smell, Ada knows it’s up to her to find the source. What would you do with a problem like this? Not afraid of failure, Ada embarks on a fact-finding mission and conducts scientific experiments, all in the name of discovery. But, this time, her experiments lead to even more stink and get her into trouble!
- https://www.andreabeaty.com/
- @AndreaBeaty
- Pinterest @andreabeatypint