Grahame Baker-Smith, the 2011 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal winner

It's the morning after, and we are still buzzing with the announcement that Grahame Baker-Smith is the winner of the 2011 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal for his incredibly beautiful and moving picture book, FArTHER.

When a father who dreams of flying does not return from the war, his son decides to make that dream come true.

Grahame Baker-Smith's moving story shows how, with love and a bit of ambition, you can reach seemingly impossible goals.




Here's the Greenaway press release:

Baker-Smith’s book was inspired both by his own father, and by being the father of a son himself.

Of this year’s winning book, Ferelith Hordon, Chair of the CILIP Kate Greenaway judging panel comments: “FArTHER is a beautifully conceived picture book with a dream-like quality that captures the imagination of readers of all ages. Its wealth of detail conveys both dark emotions: the storms of war and weather, and a powerful sense of loss and bereavement; but also a great sense of hope, particularly as vested in future generations”.

Grahame Baker-Smith lives in Bath and has been working as an illustrator for the past 30 years. His work includes several books, and an album cover for Robert Plant. Five years ago, he evolved a new way of working, and a striking change of style. His first “new look” book, Leon and the Place Between, was shortlisted for last year’s CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal, and FArTHER is his second. Both are published by Templar.

Inside FArTHER

On winning the CILIP Kate Greenaway, Grahame comments: “It’s been an extraordinary, painful, joyous, frustrating and wonderful trip, this making a living from my imagination. I am utterly amazed to win”.

The CILIP 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 from the Youth Libraries Group (YLG), and follows the same unique process of nomination, and judging. Since a bequest left in 2000 by children’s book and illustration collector, Colin Mears, the winner receives a cheque for £5,000 in addition to the coveted medal. Distinguished former winners of the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal, which celebrated its 50th birthday in 2007, include Shirley Hughes, Raymond Briggs and Quentin Blake.

That pretty much says it all really! Thank you to everyone who has sent messages of support, we are really proud publishers and know there will be many more incredible books to come from Grahame. For more information on FArTHER as well as other work by Grahame Baker-Smith, visit our website here.

Grahame Baker-Smith