CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals 
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News from CILIP 
Friday 30 April 2004 
For immediate release  (Please copy to online discussion lists) 

THE CILIP KATE GREENAWAY MEDAL SHORTLIST

Fantasy, Frogs and Fairy Tales

Twenty-first century twists on traditional fairy tales feature prominently on the shortlist for the 2003 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal, Britain's most prestigious award for children's book illustration, which is announced today. 

The shortlist showcases the incredible variety of style and content to be found in picture books today, for children of all ages.

Among the shortlisted titles are inventive re-workings of the well-loved stories of the Princess and the Pea and of Cinderella, along with a lesser-known tale about the mysterious Bob Robber. Elsewhere, we meet two nervous frogs on a lily pad; a small and very cute alien marooned on Planet Earth, and Otter, Mole and Hare as they grieve for their friend Fox. There is a life-changing visit to an art gallery, and finally, for older children, the grotesque and chilling story of what happens when the wolves come out of the walls.

"This year's shortlist is more diverse than ever," says Colin Brabazon, Chair of the Judges. "It offers an irresistible mix of new and established illustrators, and a particularly exciting spread of titles for children of six years and over, amply demonstrating that picture books are not just for the youngest age-groups, but appeal to older children too".

The Kate Greenaway Medal, established in 1956 and named in honour of the distinguished illustrator is awarded for "outstanding illustration in a children's book".  Sister award to the CILIP Carnegie Medal, it is judged by an expert panel of children's librarians, and follows the same unique process of nomination, and judging.  Since the bequest left in 2000 by children's book and illustration collector, Colin Mears, the winner receives a cheque for £5000 in addition to the coveted medal.  

Both the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals are awarded annually by CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals.  The 2003 winners will be announced at a celebrity led ceremony at the British Library on Friday 9 July 2004. For more information about the awards visit www.ckg.org.uk


THE CILIP KATE GREENAWAY MEDAL SHORTLIST 2003

ANTHONY BROWNE, The Shape Game  	
Doubleday, Age range: 7+ ISBN:0385601360 

ALEXIS DEACON, Beegu
Hutchinson, Age range: 3+ ISBN:0091768292
                	
DEBI GLIORI, Always and Forever (Text by Alan Durant)
Doubleday, Age range: 3+ ISBN: 038560503X

MINI GREY, The Pea and the Princess
Red Fox, Age range: 6+ ISBN: 0099432331

SHIRLEY HUGHES, Ella's Big Chance       	
The Bodley Head, Age range: 6+ ISBN:    0370327659

DAVE McKEAN, The Wolves in the Walls (Text by Neil Gaiman)
Bloomsbury, Age range: 9+ ISBN: 0747569533

BEE WILLEY, Bob Robber and Dancing Jane (Text by Andrew Matthews)
Jonathan Cape, Age range: 7+ ISBN: 0224064657

CHRIS WORMELL, Two Frogs
Red Fox, Age range: 5+ ISBN:  0099438623

NB - the age ranges have been suggested by the judging panel

Contact:        Louisa Myatt, CILIP Marketing Manager
                Tel: 020 7255 0650  Email: [log in to unmask]

Notes for Editors
*       This is the shortlist for the 2003 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal, announced in 2004. Books published between 01/01/03 and 31/12/03 are eligible. More information is available at www.ckg.org.uk
*       The winner of the CILIP Kate Greenaway also receives The Colin Mears Award of £5000, made possible by a bequest from Colin Mears, a collector of children's books. Mears, a Worthing-based accountant had a long-standing interest in children's illustration and was a keen collector of works by Kate Greenaway and Edward Ardizzone. 
*       Over 1600 reading groups in schools and public libraries have registered to take part in the shadowing scheme for the awards, involving over 30,000 children and young people.  For further information visit www.ckg.org.uk/shadowing
*       CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals is the leading professional body for Librarians and Information Managers. It was formed in April 2002 by the unification of The Library Association and the Institute of Information Scientists.
*       The Youth Libraries Group (YLG) is a Special Interest Group of CILIP. It works in a "pressure group" role, independently and with other professional organisations, to preserve and influence the provision of quality literature and library services for children and young people, both in public libraries and school library services.

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