Wednesday, February 08, 2012

The Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2012

I found out recently that 'The Pirates Next Door' has been shortlisted for the The Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2012. The prize aims to "champion new and emerging talent in children's writing" and I'm hugely excited to be shortlisted!

yeh, I know... Same old Picture....

So here's another one!



This year the prize was opened up to include picture books, and is now split into three age categories: Picture Books, 5-12 years and Teen fiction.

My fellow Arena artist, Alex T.Smith has also been shortlisted in the 5-12 category for 'Claude in the City'. Alex produces wonderful illustrations and stories that are full of humour, and his picture book 'Home' is a particular favourite of my daughters. Daisy's due to start reading 'Claude in the City' as soon as she finishes 'Fantastic Mr.Fox'....

I mentioned last week that the first edition hardback of 'The Pirates Next Door' is out of stock at Templar. The hardback is still available in book shops, and there may be the odd copy online at some retailers. But if it's difficult to get hold of, the paperback is now available to buy from Waterstones HERE, or in-store.

I think Templar are also planning to do a second, smaller run of hardbacks which should be available in April or May.

13 comments:

Emerson Fialho said...

Muito legal! Sou fã do seu trabalho, parabéns, Jonny!!!
Sucesso e muita paz.

Ben Clanton said...

Congrats! A well deserved honor. :)

Love your books and Alex T. Smith's too!

Craig Knowles said...

Congrats man! Well deserved!

Charles Eubanks said...

Wow, congrats again! BTW, that picture of Matilda from your previous post is my new desktop background. Love it! :)

Thomas Soltis said...

I like how the cover shows the Pirates driving a WWII Duck!

jonny duddle said...

Thanks everybody!As I said in the post, I'm VERY excited.

Ben, Alex's work is brilliant and funny, and he's a very nice chap too...

Charles, haha, I hadn't thought of stuff like that for desktops, maybe I should make some. But I suppose a tall thin image like that leaves loads of space for icons and shortcuts.

Thomas, Well spotted. I love old cars, and military vehicles, and figured that a pirate family would need an amphibious car! The first sketch of the cover had them in an amphicar, but I thought they'd need something a bit bigger and sturdier. I also look at the German WWII Schwimmwagen, but it was bit diddy and less obviously amphibious. I found loads of reference online and also bought a Tamiyta model to try and keep the duck accurate. The proportions are all to pot, but I had to fit it on the cover.

Black William Vane said...

lovely colours!congratulations jonny!

Nene said...

I love this book!

It's AWESOME!!

Charles Santoso said...

Hi Jonny! Congrats for the awards! :D All the best with the next book, mate.

-Charles (from IMC 2011)

Charles Eubanks said...

Hey, I just saw the news that you won! Congratulations! Very well deserved!

jonny duddle said...

Thanks for the comments!

And hello Charles Santoso! Thanks for looking in, and I hope stuff's good with you! I look at your blog quite regularly... As you know, I love your stuff...

And Charles Eubanks... Thank you!

Matthew said...

Johnny, thank you so much for these books. I absolutely loved the pirate cruncher but the pirates next door has blown it away. I've just read it to my daughter and now I'm going to read it again for me.

Do you sell prints or posters of your works as I want a pirate themed bedroom for my little boy (too young for bedtime stories yet) but thete really isn't that much out there.

Thanks again for the wonderful books, can't wait to see what you do next.

C.Deboda said...

Just saw this book recently at a local bookstore...thought I'd recognize the style. Very nice! Long time admirer from some of the early IFX issues.