Who will win the 2013 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal?

The shortlist for the 2013 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal has been announced! Find out what we made of this year's shortlisted titles.

Lunchtime by Rebecca Cobb (Macmillan Children's Books)

A little girl is busy drawing. Even though it's lunchtime, she's not hungry. But then the crocodile, wolf and bear from her pictures come to life  - and it turns out they are starving!  Luckily they aren't interested in eating small children - what they really want is the little girl's delicious lunch.

This utterly charming picture book, which won the picture book category of the 2013 Waterstones Children's Book Prize, is gorgeously illustrated by rising star Rebecca Cobb. Both parents and children will enjoy the colourful, scribbly and smudgy textures of Cobb's deceptively naive drawings, as well as the delightful characters of bear, wolf and crocodile. Read the full review, read our interview with Rebecca Cobb and take a look at a gallery of her illustrations.

Again! by Emily Gravett (Macmillan Children's Books)

It's Cedric's the little dragon's bedtime, but before he goes to sleep, there's just enough time for mum to read him a bedtime story. Unfortunately for her, he enjoys the story so much that he wants to hear it again, and again, and again... with unexpected consequences.

Award-winning picture book creator Emily Gravett serves up yet another witty and original book in this, the story of a demanding young dragon whose insistence on reading a favourite story over and over again will be only too familiar to many parents! As with many of Gravett's books, there is a playful and mischevious quality to this beautifully-illustrated story.  Read the full review, read an interview with Emily, or take a look at a gallery of her illustrations.

Oh No, George! by Chris Haughton (Walker Books)

George is a dog with a big personality and he LOVES cake, rubbish bins and chasing Cat. After he behaves badly when his owner Harris is out, he tries harder on a trip to the park - but will he be able to resist temptation?

Being a Booktrust Best New Illustrator 2011, you'd expect Chris Haughton's artwork to be amazing - but the sophisticated rich jewel colour palette offers both adults and children something beautiful to look at. Shortlisted for the 2012 Roald Dahl Funny Prize, this book is sure to resonate with children, who will soon find themselves giggling over this gorgeous picture book, and joining in with the repeated refrain of 'Oh no, George!' Read the full review or take a look at a gallery of Chris Haughton's illustrations

It’s a bit of cliche to describe a collection of short stories as a ‘treasure trove’, but in this case it’s entirely appropriate. With tales that range from Mould’s own inventions, to excerpts from famous (and not so famous) adventures such as Treasure Island or Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Gold Bug’, through to the re-tellings of various nautical narratives from myths and folk-tales, each of the stories in this glittering hoard is superb. Mould’s scratchy illustrations are lively, funny, and slightly unruly, giving the book an appropriately roguish and disreputable character.

Narrated with verve and an ear for the piratical, this collection will appeal to the bloodthirsty buccaneer in would-be pirates from the age of 8 and up. Read the full review

King Jack and the Dragon by Peter Bently and Helen Oxenbury (Puffin)

Jack, little brother Casper and friend Zak spend a busy day building a castle out of a cardboard box, some sticks, some bin bags, some bricks and an old quilt. They are brave knights protecting their castle from dragon attacks until it’s time to for Zak to go home and Casper to go to bed and Jack is left on his own... when his imagination gets the better of him.

This is a beautifully-paced, reassuring picture book celebrating imaginative play. Peter Bently's wonderful rhyming text and Helen Oxenbury's charming illustrations combine to create a delightfully old-fashioned feel. Read the full review.

 

 

Black Dog by Levi Pinfold (Templar)

A black dog appears outside the Hope family's home. As each member of the household sees it and hides, the dog grows bigger and bigger. Only Small, the youngest Hope, has the courage to face the Black Dog. When it chases her through the forest she shows no fear, so it grows smaller and smaller. Finally, back to the size of a normal hound, the Black Dog is welcomed into the Hope household as their newest addition.

 

2011 Booktrust Best New Illustrator Levi Pinfold's beautiful, stylised illustrations work to great effect in this stunning picture book about the nature of fear and the power of our imaginations. Read the full review or view a gallery of Levi Pinfold's illustrations