The

Carmelite Picture Book Prize

, now in its fourth year, is an exciting award created to recognise excellence in children’s book illustration, with the aim of encouraging and inspiring the next generation of illustrators for children’s stories.

Acclaimed author

Kes Gray

has written the text for a new and original picture book called

ZEBRACADABRA

and the Prize is inviting students, aged 18 and over, who are studying illustration and design at a further or higher education institution in the UK, to submit their illustration ideas for this book.

Any medium may be used

, but final artwork must be flat so it can be scanned. Illustrations with novelty elements or 3D structures will not be eligible.

The judges are looking for a series of original and outstanding illustrations demonstrating competency and creativity in visual storytelling for children. The illustrations should show characterisation, continuity and progression, plus a range of emotion and pace appropriate to the text. Originality is key as is the consideration for text placement and page design.

Only one entry per person allowed.

There is no entry fee

.

Eligibility

Open to all students, aged 18 or over, who are studying illustration and design in the UK in further or higher education during the academic year

2017/2018

.

Prize

The competition winner will receive

1,000 GBP

(

approx. 1,270 USD

) and may be selected to work with Hodder Children’s Books on the final illustrations for

ZEBRACADABRA

. Moreover, the winner’s Course tutor will receive a

500 GBP

donation towards their students final year show.

In addition to this, the first one hundred entrants to send in their work will be invited to an afternoon seminar on Careers in Publishing, on

12th September 2019

, at Carmelite House, London.

There are also

two runners-up

prizes of 500 GBP and 250 GBP respectively and, in addition to this, the top 5 entries (

including the winner and the two runners up

) will be invited to show their illustration portfolios to Art Directors from

Hachette Children’s Group

for advice and feedback.