The winners of the 2020 English 4-11 Picture Book Awards were announced yesterday – and we’re delighted that The Suitcase, by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros has won in the Fiction 4 – 7 years category!
Established in 1995, the awards are presented by the English Association to the best children’s picture books of the year. Awards are given in fiction and non-fiction categories across various age groups, judged by a panel of teachers, primary school children and Primary specialists. It’s an honour to have this book recognised!
The judges said: “This gentle and genuinely moving picture book is a story of new beginnings… It is about opening both our hearts and our minds… This is a powerful and important book which, due to its apparent simplicity and synchronicity of text and illustration, is accessible to all.”
Written in response to the refugee crisis, The Suitcase is a touching tale about the importance of kindness, understanding and friendship. When a strange-looking animal arrives pulling a big suitcase, the other animals are curious. What on earth could be inside that suitcase? A teacup? Maybe. A table and chair? Perhaps. A whole home and hillside with trees? But when the animals break into the suitcase and discover a very special photograph, they begin to understand what the strange creature has been through…
Take a look inside the book:
Buy the book.
And watch Chris reading the book below:
You can find out more about the English Picture Book Awards winners, and read the full review of The Suitcase, here.
Congratulations Chris!