Michael Rosen’s Sad Book

Michael Rosen’s Sad Book, illustrated by Quentin Blake, has won a special award for being “an outstanding book” from the English Association, which presents its English 4-11 Picture Book Awards this week. The association’s fiction award winners are One More Sheep by Mij Kelly, illustrated by Russell Ayto (Hodder Children’s Books) for key stage 1 and Unwitting Wisdom: an anthology of Aesop’s Fables retold and illustrated by Helen Ward (Templar) for key stage 2. The non-fiction winners are Voices of the Rainforest (pictured) by Mick Manning Brita Granstrom (Watts) for key stage 1 and Erika’s Story by Ruth Vander Zee, illustrated by Roberto Innocenti (Jonathan Cape) for key stage 2. The judges welcomed among the non-fiction entries “fewer of the old ‘bread and butter’ fact books that give information but afford few surprises. Quality illustrations and imaginative design... offer something distinctive in an increasingly varied market.”

Meanwhile, the Branford Boase Award, unique in rewarding both the authors who represent new talent in children’s fiction and the editors who have nurtured them, also has an eye on the next generation. See www.branfordboase award.org.uk for details of the partner award for under-19s, closing date May 27. Six winners will get copies of the shortlisted first-time novels (details of these are on the site, too) and an invitation to the BBA ceremony in London in June.