Oscar's Book Prize for Picture Books

If your little one loves picture books or you enjoy looking at some of the best examples of book illustration, check out the Oscar's Book prize shortlist for picture books, available to reserve on our catalogue.

Oscar's Book Prize is an annual children's book prize seeking to find the best illustrated UK pre-school book of the year.

The winner is...

• The Littlest Yak by Lu Fraser and Kate Hindley

Gertie is the littlest yak, feeling stuck in her smallness - she wants to grow up and have bigness and tallness. But when it turns out that there are some things that only Gertie can do, might she come to see that she's perfect, just the way she is?

Other shortlisted titles

• I’m Sticking with you by Smriti Halls and Steve Small

Wherever you're going, I'm going too. Whatever you're doing, I'm sticking with you. It's wonderful to have good friends to see you through the good times and the bad. But sometimes, friends can also be a bit - well - overbearing. This is a gorgeously warm, funny book about everything a friendship can be - for anyone who's ever had a friend.

• Meesha Makes Friends by Tom Percival

Meesha loves making things. But there's one thing she finds difficult to do - make friends. She doesn't know quite what to do, what to say or when to say it, and she struggles reading and responding to social cues. But one day she discovers that she has a special talent that will help her to navigate challenging social situations and help her to make friends. Wonderfully empowering and emotionally resonant, Tom Percival's 'Big Bright Feelings' series is the perfect springboard for conversations about mental and emotional health, positive self-image, building self-confidence and managing feelings.

• Rain Before Rainbows by Smriti Halls and David Litchfield

An uplifting, stunningly beautiful book about optimism in the darkest of places. A girl and her companion fox travel together from a place of loss and despair, through uncertain times, towards the hope of colour, light and life. Along the way, they find friends to guide and support them. Together, they build a glorious future and discover there is a way out of the darkness, into the light of the rainbow. A book with immense hope at its heart, this is a positive message for anyone who's ever gone through a tough time.

• The Hospital Dog by Julia Donaldson and Sara Ogilvie

Dot loves visiting the children of Wallaby Ward and they're always pleased to see her too; from a crying baby to a bored teenager - a pat, a stroke and a cuddle with Dot cheers everyone up. But the work of the hospital dog doesn't stop there and when one of her patients is in trouble, it's up to Dot to save the day!

• Would You Like A Banana by Yasmeen Ismail

Award-winning illustrator Yasmeen Ismail's delightfully funny picture book featuring a very stubborn gorilla will have the whole family laughing! Gorilla is hungry but there is absolutely no way he's going to eat a banana. Not even a teeny taste. Not with some bread or standing on his head. Even if you eat one too, which is something you might do.