An award ceremony for The Big Picture took place in London on Thursday 22nd May. Sarah McIntyre  was at the event and sent this report for Write Away.

John Huddy at The Illustration Cupboard hosted the award ceremony for The Big Picture national campaign. Anthony Browne presented the silver stars to 'The Best New Illustrators', ten rising stars chosen from 250 put forward by publishers. Nominees had to be published in the UK only since 2000, and winners were chosen by a panel of Browne, Huddy, Sunday Times journalist Nicolette Jones, author Malorie Blackman, and director of literature strategy at Arts Council England Antonia Byatt.

 Their top ten were:

• Alexis Deacon
• Polly Dunbar
• Lisa Evans
• Emily Gravett
• Mini Grey
• Oliver Jeffers
• David Lucas
• Catherine Rayner
• Joel Stewart
• Vicky White

 David Roberts and Sam Lloyd received honourable mentions.

 Director of Booktrust, Viv Bird, said a few words about the importance of this prize in highlighting illustration in relation to children's books, and to help people find another pathway into reading. She said that the prizes had been awarded for originality, craftsmanship and a real understanding of the relationships between word and text. Bird announced the publication of 'The Rough Guide to Picture Books', a free booklet which will come out in October and be stocked by Tesco, Waterstone's and other major retailers, written by Julia Eccleshare and with a forward by Allan Ahlberg.

 In an informal conversation, Egmont director Cally Poplak talked about taking off her publisher hat and putting on her Booktrust hat, as one of the active members pushing forward this campaign. She welcomed controversies surrounding the jurors' choices, saying that debate and discussion are just what children's books need right now to make people think hard about reading and what makes a great picture book.

David Roberts, Joel Stewart, Sue Eaves, Sarah McIntyre

Polly Dunbar, Joyce Dunbar

John Huddy and Oliver Jeffers

Writer Sue Eves in a fan shot with David Lucas

Oliver Jeffers, Mini Grey

Polly Dunbar, Alexis Deacon