The Big Picture Campaign is doing a splendid job of drawing attention to the young talent emerging in British picture books.

The announcement of the 10 'best new illustrators' at the Bologna Book Fair on 31st March attracted a crowd of journalists, editors, illustrators, reading promoters and students, all eager to hear who had  been selected. Any list is bound to generate discussion, and that in itself is a good thing: there will be agreement and disagreement, some mild and some strong. Certainly all of the chosen deserved to be on the list but  personally I did  wonder at the decision for  including an addendum of two 'highly commended' names. A final list of 12 or a greater conviction in  the narrowing down to  the final 10 would have been my preference.

The omission of David Roberts from the final 10, was something of a surprise, if not shock. Roberts is a fine draughtsman and the output of his work since 2000 has been prolific. In addtiion to his well received picturebooks Rapunzel and Cinderella, Roberts is also the illustrator of Julia Donaldson's Tyrannosaurus Drip, Philip Ardagh's Eddie Dickens series and the Nestle Gold Prize winner Mose Noses on Toast.  I wonder if a large output sometimes works against illustrators when it comes to awards. The ubiquitous Tony Ross is also often overlooked when it comes to awards -  but what would the children's book scene look like without Ross's illustrations for Horrid Henry, The Little Princess or the sharply witty picturebooks produced in  partnership with Jeanne Willis?

Personal thoughts aside,  one has to accept that an illustrious panel comprising Anthony Browne (illustrator) Nicolette Jones (Sunday Times journalist) Anotonia Byatt (Director of Literature Startegy, Arts Council) John Huddy (Founder, The Illustration Cupboard) Malorie Blackman (author) knows what it is talking about and that the decision making will have been carefully considered.

Making the announcement, Children's Laureate Michael Rosen said:  “This is a great time for the picture book. A new generation of artists in command of all the new technologies and with an up-to-the-minute view of the world has arrived. Every one of these makers of picture books deserves a place on a child's bookshelf with the inventiveness, wit and wonder they have given us.”

Write Away congratulates all of  the lauded illustrators.

Ian Beck in The Times

Grand Dame of children's book illustration, Shirley Hughes commented: “The varied talents of these ten new illustrators represent the marvellous vitality of our profession. In an era in which we are bombarded by moving electronic imagery, looking at picture books is not only a vital part of learning to read but offers a lifelong pleasure in itself.”

I was disappointed not to be treated to a slideshow of the illustrators' work or display of books at the Big Picture announcement, so here are book jackets from the final 10. I strongly urge you to go in search of their books, if you do not already know them.

Mini Grey: Traction Man

Joel Stewart: Big Blue Beastie

 David Lucas: Big Blue Whale

Polly Dunbar: Penguin

 Oliver Jeffers: Lost and Found

Lisa Evans: The Flower

Emily Gravett: The Odd Egg

Vicky White: Ape

Catherine Rayner: Augustus and His Smile 

 Alexis Deacon: While You Are Sleeping