Dates of event :
5. 6. 2019
The International Centre for the Picture Book in Society based at the University of Worcester and IBBY UK (International Board of Books for Young People) are delighted to announce a collaboration to select UK illustrators for the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB) 2019.
BIB is one of the oldest international honours for children's book illustrators and one of the more prestigious. Eleven awards are made, including a grand prize for unique and outstanding illustration. The work is displayed in an exhibition in Bratislava from 18 October to 15 December 2019 and a catalogue is published. In 2015, the Grand Prix award was awarded to the UK’s Laura Carlin and a BIB Plaque went to Levi Pinfold.
As part of their shared commitment to diversity and promoting awareness of the international children’s book world, this collaboration is seen by both ICPBS and IBBY UK as a very important step. IBBY Chair, Pam Dix, says, “ I am very keen to increase awareness of the Bratislava award in the UK particularly because of the status it awards to children’s illustration. I look forward to this being an on-going collaboration between the two organisations”.
Each country can enter a maximum of 15 participants who can then submit up to 10 illustrations from up to 2 books. Tobias Hickey, Course Leader for Illustration at Worcester, says, “we have so many great illustrators to choose from and I am delighted by the range of subject matter and that engagement with current contemporary issues is especially apparent in the selection”.
The following illustrators and books have been selected for Bratislava 2019
Coralie Bickford-Smith
The Fox and the Star, Penguin Random House, 2016
The Worm and the Bird, Penguin Random House, 2017
Rebecca Cobb
The Day War Came, Walker, 2018
Benji Davies
Grandad’s Island, Simon & Schuster, 2015
The Grotlyn, HarperCollins, 2017
Marion Deuchars
Bob the Artist, Laurence King, 2016
Bob’s Blue Period, Laurence King, 2018
Eva Eland
When Sadness Comes to Call, Andersen, 2019
Petr Horacek
A First Book of Animals, Walker, 2016
Grumpy Duck, Walker, 2018
Poonam Mistry
You're Safe With Me, Lantana, 2018
You're Snug With Me, Lantana, 2018
Levi Pinfold
The dam, Walker, 2018
David Roberts
His Royal Tinyness, Walker, 2017
Suffragette, Two Hoots, 2018
Francesca Sanna
The journey, Flying Eye, 2016
Me and My Fear, Flying Eye, 2018
Maisie Paradise Shearring
Hello Monster, Thames & Hudson, 2018
Anna and Otis, Two Hoots, 2018
Pam Smy
Thornhill, David Fickling Books, 2017
Ed Vere
How to be a Lion, Puffin, 2018
Grumpy Frog, Puffin, 2017
Max & Bird, Puffin, 2016
Beth Waters Child of St Kilda, Child’s Play, 2018
Further information:
First granted in 1967 to Yasuo Segawa (Japan), BIB is one of the more prestigious children's book awards today, along with Hans Christian Andersen Award.
Artists are selected by central organisations within each country and an international jury decides the award winners. The original artwork is exhibited in Bratislava, Slovakia.
The winner of the Grand Prix BIB receives a financial award of 3.000 USD; the five Golden Apples BIB receive 1.500 USD each; and the five BIB Plaques receive 1.000 USD each.
BIB is sponsored by UNESCO and the Ministry of Culture, Slovakia.
The exhibition includes a programme of events, including a seminar for artists from developing countries, and will open on 25 October 2019 and run until 6 January 2020.
All UK entries will be featured on the IBBY UK website.
Web information:
