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St James’s Palace to host Oscar’s Book Prize

Princess Beatrice, pictured with the Duchess of York, will announce the award: Dave Benett/Getty Images
Princess Beatrice, pictured with the Duchess of York, will announce the award: Dave Benett/Getty Images

Top children’s authors and illustrators will enjoy a trip to St James’s Palace after it was revealed that the royal setting is to be the venue for this year’s Oscar’s Book Prize.

Princess Beatrice, who is patron of the £5,000 award, will announce the best book for under-fives. The shortlist, revealed today, pits two sea-faring adventures against tales featuring a goose, a pig and a babysitting bear.

The fifth winner of the annual prize — set up in memory of Oscar Ashton, who died of a heart condition in December 2012 aged three and a half — will be announced on May 14.

Shortlisted: Lucie Goose by Danny Baker and Pippa Curnick (Hodder) Viveka Alvestrand: “Such fun to read aloud and make all those roaring noises with children, especially when they already know some of the fairy tales.”
Shortlisted: Lucie Goose by Danny Baker and Pippa Curnick (Hodder) Viveka Alvestrand: “Such fun to read aloud and make all those roaring noises with children, especially when they already know some of the fairy tales.”

This year’s judges spent a lively hour and a half last week arguing over the merits of a good story over lively illustrations, an important message over a quirky tale, and problem-solving over facing our worst fears.

BBC presenter Katie Derham said choosing the final five from a longlist of 13 books “was an incredibly hard decision”, while Julia Eccleshare, children’s director of the Hay Festival, alluded to the “robust sense of humour” of many of the titles.

Shortlisted: Sunk! by Rob Biddulph (HarperCollins) Brigitte Ricou-Bellan: “I fell for this vibrantly illustrated story about friendship and teamwork, and I can imagine young children leaping on the tempo and quickly learning the rhymes.”
Shortlisted: Sunk! by Rob Biddulph (HarperCollins) Brigitte Ricou-Bellan: “I fell for this vibrantly illustrated story about friendship and teamwork, and I can imagine young children leaping on the tempo and quickly learning the rhymes.”

They were joined on the judging panel by Brigitte Ricou-Bellan, UK director of books at Amazon, which, together with the National Literacy Trust, is supporting the prize for the second year running.

The Secret of Black Rock by Joe Todd Stanton (Flying Eye Books) Katie Derham: “Hugely imaginative, intriguingly bonkers, linguistically rich and I loved the gorgeous illustrations.”
The Secret of Black Rock by Joe Todd Stanton (Flying Eye Books) Katie Derham: “Hugely imaginative, intriguingly bonkers, linguistically rich and I loved the gorgeous illustrations.”

Also judging were Oscar’s parents, Viveka Alvestrand and Evening Standard columnist James Ashton.

There were a record 100 entries this year, and the longlist was chosen with help from the Eveline Day Nursery in Wimbledon which book-loving Oscar attended.

Shortlisted: There’s A Pig Up My Nose by John Dougherty and Laura Hughes (Egmont) Julia Eccleshare: “The surprise comes right at the start, and what a wonderfully dotty premise to begin a story with, about problem-solving in the classroom.”
Shortlisted: There’s A Pig Up My Nose by John Dougherty and Laura Hughes (Egmont) Julia Eccleshare: “The surprise comes right at the start, and what a wonderfully dotty premise to begin a story with, about problem-solving in the classroom.”

The prize is designed to celebrate a child’s love for magical stories and highlight the importance of parents reading with children in the early years.

That Bear Can’t Babysit by Ruth Quayle and Alison Friend (Nosy Crow) James Ashton: “The chaotic and mischievous storyline will appeal to small children, while the debate about what they can get away with is beautifully addressed in this lovely story with a happy ending.”
That Bear Can’t Babysit by Ruth Quayle and Alison Friend (Nosy Crow) James Ashton: “The chaotic and mischievous storyline will appeal to small children, while the debate about what they can get away with is beautifully addressed in this lovely story with a happy ending.”

The shortlist of pre-school titles first published in 2017 includes Lucie Goose, a first children’s picture book by radio DJ and comedy writer Danny Baker.

Last year’s prize was won by Rachel Bright and Jim Field for The Koala Who Could. The St James’s Palace event will host former winners, book charities, publishers and educators.