Illustrator of the Year
WINNER JUDITH KERR
What do you give the nonagenarian who has everything? Industry recognition. Ninety-five-year-old Judith Kerr is The British Book Awards’ Illustrator of the Year, following in the pen-strokes of Axel Scheffler. Kerr's first book is also her most famous: The Tiger Who Came to Tea
began as a bedtime story for her daughter; first published in 1968, it has sold more than five million copies. She wrote and illustrated the success- ful Mog series (revived in 2017 with Katinka's Tail), and her semi- autobiographical Out of the Hitler Time trilogy, which includes the classic novel When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit. Like Scheffler, Kerr is an emigré. She grew up in Berlin, but in 1933
her family fled the Nazis, arriving in London in 1936. She has always drawn, and says she “can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to draw”. Among the few possessions packed when she left Germany were some of her early drawings. Kerr still works every day; she has a unique and expressive style,
with an eye for colour and movement, and a sense of humour is appar- ent in all her work. Judith started her books working with inks and pen- cils, but has moved on to mostly coloured crayons and pencils; layering the colours until she is happy with the effect. She illustrates her fiction in pencil, in black and white. She creates her books with the reader in mind, taking care to ensure they are interesting and useful for those learning to read, or learning about her life and the war she lived through. Last year was The Tiger Who Came to Tea’s 50th anniversary, with
her publisher HarperCollins celebrating this golden occasion with a range of commemorative editions, and the publication of The Tiger Who Came to Tea Party Book. Events and promotional activity ran through- out the year, including the celebration of Kerr’s birthday at The Savoy hotel, and the publication of her latest book, Mummy Time.
Classic The Tiger Who Came to Tea celebrated its 50th year in 2018
Kerr, who emigrated to London in 1936, is still publishing at the age of 95
Backlist stalwarts Mog and Out of Hitler Time continue to find readers
WITH THANKS TO: THE QUARTO GROUP
The Quarto Group are the leading global illustrated non-fiction book publishers. The Quarto Group creates a
wide variety of books and intellectual property products for global distribution, with a mission to inspire life's experiences. Produced in many formats for adults,
children and the whole family, our products are visually appealing, information rich and stimulating.
THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS WINNERS 2019 39
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
