Bookbug shortlist announced

Scottish Book Trust, the national charity transforming lives through reading and writing, has announced the shortlist for the 2020 Bookbug Picture Book Prize.

The Bookbug mascot jumped on board the Browns Book Bus to launch the annual prize, as the vote is opened to schools and the public.

Alastair Chisholm, Morag Hood and Meg McLaren have been shortlisted for the Bookbug Picture Book Prize, now in its fourth year. The award was established to celebrate the most popular picture books by Scottish authors and illustrators, and is run by Scottish Book Trust, with support from Browns Books for Students.

Children across the country can vote for the winner by submitting a class vote online or at home, via the Scottish Book Trust website.

THE BOOKBUG PICTURE BOOK PRIZE 2020 SHORTLIST IS:

• The Prince and the Witch and the Thief and the Bears by Alastair Chisholm, illustrated by Jez Tuya (Walker Books)
• Sophie Johnson: Unicorn Expert by Morag Hood, illustrated by Ella Okstad (Simon & Schuster)
• The Station Mouse by Meg McLaren (Penguin)

The winning book will be announced in an exclusive video to all registered groups on 29 January 2020. Shortlisted authors and illustrators receive £500 per book, and the winner will receive £3,000.

A free copy of each of the three books on the shortlist will be given to every Primary 1 child during Book Week Scotland (18 November – 24 November), in the Bookbug P1 Family Bag.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: “The Bookbug Picture Book Prize highlights some of the finest children’s books in Scotland.

“We are delighted to work with Browns Books for Students to make this award possible and celebrate the wonderful authors and illustrators working in the picture book industry.”

 Claire Smith, Sales Manager for Browns Books for Students, said: “Browns Books for Students are once again delighted to be working with Scottish Book Trust to highlight the Bookbug Picture Book Prize. 

“We are very honoured to be part of this literacy project, which is putting books into the hands of children and supporting a lifelong love of reading.”

Scottish Book Trust is supported with regular funding from Creative Scotland.

Alan Bett, Literature Officer at Creative Scotland, said: “Scotland has an abundance of talent when it comes to children’s authors and illustrators, from which three have been chosen by young readers and shortlisted for this prize.

“Creative Scotland is delighted to support this Scottish Book Trust initiative, one that recognises books that may well be among a young person’s first step into reading and which celebrates those who create them. Congratulations to all those shortlisted”

Alastair Chisholm is a children’s writer and puzzle creator. As a puzzle geek he has created a number of books of Sudoku, Kakuro and other puzzles for kids and adults.

The Prince and the Witch and the Thief and the Bears is his first picture book. Alastair lives in Edinburgh with his wife, two children and cat.

He said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be shortlisted with Jez Tuya, and in such fantastic company, too! Bookbug is such a great project – I remember my own daughters bringing home their Bookbug bags and books, and how pleased they were with them – and it’s brilliant to imagine my book becoming a part of this.”

Morag Hood is a children’s author and illustrator from Edinburgh. Her debut picture book Colin and Lee, Carrot and Pea was a runner up in the Macmillan Prize in 2014.

Morag studied Costume Design at Wimbledon College of Art and worked backstage in theatre before applying for the MA in Children’s Book illustration from Cambridge School of Art. After graduating in 2015 she moved back to her native Edinburgh where she now works with a view of the hills.

Morag said: “I am beyond delighted that Sophie Johnson: Unicorn Expert has been shortlisted for the Bookbug Picture Book Prize! It has been such a treat to work with Ella Okstad, and to have her brilliant illustrations bring Sophie to life – I am just thrilled that so many children will get to join Sophie in her hunt for Scotland’s national animal. The Bookbug bag is such an important initiative and it is a real honour to have a book of mine included for the second time.”

Meg McLaren graduated from the prestigious MA in Children’s Book Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art. Printmaker and illustrator she now lives in Inverness with her other half Jon and their impressive Lego collection.

Meg said: “I’m really thrilled that The Station Mouse has been shortlisted for the Bookbug Picture Book Prize.  It’s wonderful to know that not only is every Primary 1 child in Scotland going to read my book but that they are also going to get their very own copy to keep. That’s amazing!”