What does your picture book The Curiosities mean to you? The only times I feel like book awards are fulfilling their function in a culture is when they give them to me. Honestly, I try not to think about it, except that I do, every day, while listening to “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” on repeat. Oh god, I had to lie down in a cool dark place after seeing this question! I think sometimes the purpose of book awards is to celebrate art that moves the lines marking the outer limits of their medium, and other times to celebrate books that have coloured very beautifully inside of them.

Imagine if books were judged pre-publication, pre-reviews, pre-marketing and publicity, with no author/illustrator/publisher details and just in manuscript form! How amazing would that be?! I would also love the idea of a prize in which the authors/illustrators remained anonymous.

Any prize money could be split among the authors, the public gets an immediate TBR pile, and stories – in all their forms – could be celebrated. It is a thrill and an honour and invariably leads to more readers, but I would love to see an award that stops at the longlist – ‘Here are the eight books we loved most this year’. I also love a good dose of magic, but for another reader, any or all of those attributes might be a negative.Īs an author I love having a book listed for an award. I love when illustrations tell the unwritten parts of the story. And this connection, this resonance relies so much on personal experience and preference. Having also been a judge for various awards though, the first test for me is whether or not a story connects. I know it’s not an easy question but what do you think makes an award-winning book?Īwards are such tricky beasts! So often, wonderful books don’t make the cut, and I am often stumped as to why. Congratulations on that honour, as well as for the other commendations that your books have received. I’ve been on judging panels for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards when you’ve both had books shortlisted. Thank you for speaking to PaperbarkWords, Zana and Phil. It will reward multiple readings and encourage contemplation of creative, thoughtful and deep ideas. Perfect confluence of words and illustrations makes The Curiosities an exceptional picture book. He could whisper up waves and weave clouds to make stories for the wind.” ( The Curiosities) “Miro could swim with the stars and tickle the songs from the earth. The Curiosities by Zana Fraillon, illustrated by Phil Lesnie, published Lothian Children’s Books

The Way of Dog by Zana Fraillon