About the Hampshire Illustrated Book Award

The Hampshire Illustrated Book Award, run in partnership with the Hampshire Library and Information Service, is an annual award for picture books for older readers

All primary schools subscribing to the School Library Service can apply to take part

The judges are Year 5 pupils in participating schools.

The shortlist is announced in the summer term and judging takes place in the autumn.

Aims of the award

• To promote the enjoyment of reading

• To develop children's visual literacy skills

• To develop pupils' critical ability, using listening and speaking skills

• To draw attention to the genre of picture books for older readers

• To promote pupil use of the public library

2008 Shortlist

• Varmints - Helen Ward and Marc Craste
  "There was once only the sound of bees and the wind in the wiry grass...." that was until the others came and the noise began.  Can you picture a world so moisy that people can't think straight so they stop thinking? How would you rescue yourself from this big, dark, noisy city?
• We're riding on a caravan - Laurie Krebs and  Helen Cann
  'We're riding on a caravan, a bumpy, humpy caravan to places far away."  This book will take you on an adventure from Xian in China along the silk route as far as Kashgar.  Find out what they trade their silks for at the end of this colourful adventure with camels,donkeys, caravans and the whole family of traders as they hump and bump along the route.
• Meerkat mail - Emily Gravett
  Sunny longs for some peace and quiet from his brothers and sisters, so he packs his bags and starts his journey.  Travel with Sunny and decide which would be your favourite place to stay.  There are seven postcards written by this brave meerkat who wants a gap year from the Kalahari and the family who 'stay safe, stay together'.
• The flower - John Light and Lisa Evans
  Imagine a world without colour and a man called Brigg who lives in a small room in a big city.  Brigg works in a library where dangerous books are stored, books which are marked 'Do not read'.  I wonder what you would do if you found a book marked 'Do not read'?  Will Brigg discover the mystery in this dangerous book?  
• Scoop: an exclusive by Monty Molenski - John Kelly and Cathy Tinknell
  Read all about it!  Will Monty (Mole) Molensky finally get his big break, his 'scoop'?  Join Monty as he decides to follow his fellow workmates with his trusty camera in the hope that he can uncover just what is going on.  What does 'F.P.' stand for?  Mondy has to dig deep to find out the truth down at the Daily Roar.
  Dali and the path of dreams - Anna Obiols and Joan Subirana
  Little Salvi finds a key gleaming in the sea.  It unlocks a fantastic world where you can ride a long-legged elephant past a clock-tossing chef or ride a boat through the air to a mysterious red tower with eggs on top.  What a journey this book will take you on!  Does your favouirite picture look like your dreams?

Previous winners

• 2007 - Castles by Colin Thompson
• 2006 - The Whisperer by Nick Butterworth
• 2005 - The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds
• 2004 - The adventures of a nose - Vivianne Schwarz and Joel Stewart