Thursday, 17 June 2021

Sydney Smith wins The CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal!


Sydney Smith has WON The CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal for the second time, with his first author/illustrated book Small in the City!

This is an incredible feat, joining a prestigious list
of illustrators who have won twice, such as Helen Oxenbury, John Burningham,
Shirley Hughes, Anthony Browne – and Chris Riddell, who has won three
times!

It’s also a wonderful achievement for Walker Books, as this will make it our third Greenaway win in four years, and our 13th win overall! HUGE congratulations to both Sydney Smith on your win and fellow Walker Books author/illustrator Pete Oswald for being shortlisted for Hike!



 The CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal is one of the UK’s oldest and most loved children’s book awards, recognising outstanding reading experiences created through writing and illustration in books for children and young people.
‘With themes of freedom, the great outdoors and journeys through the natural world, we hope this year’s shortlists will inspire and empower young readers.’

Small in the City by Sydney Smith


Being small can be overwhelming in a city. People don't see you. The loud sounds of the sirens and cyclists can be scary. And the streets are so busy it can make your brain feel like there's too much stuff in it. But if you know where to find good hiding places, warm dryer vents that blow out hot steam that smells like summer, music to listen to or friends to say hi to, there can be comfort in the city, too. We follow our little protagonist, who knows all about what it's like to be small in the city, as he gives his best advice for surviving there. As we turn the pages, Sydney Smith's masterful storytelling allows us to glimpse exactly who this advice is for, leading us to a powerful, heart-rending realization...


About Sydney Smith

Sydney Smith has illustrated multiple children’s books, including Town is by the Sea, the winner of the 2017 Kate Greenaway Medal, The White Cat and the Monk, written by Jo Ellen Bogart, and the acclaimed Footpath Flowers, which was a New York Times Children’s Book of the Year and a winner of the Governor General Award for Illustration. Born in Nova Scotia in Canada, Sydney now lives in Toronto with his wife and son. Find him online at sydneydraws.ca and on Twitter and Instagram as @sydneydraws.


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Small in the City is available to buy from all good booksellers!