The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) has announced that Chris Riddell is the winner of this year’s Kate Greenaway medal. His prize comes with a golden medal and £500 (approximately $740 USD) worth of books to donate to a library of their own choosing.
Riddell, the current Waterstones Children’s Laureate, was recognized with this award, his third Kate Greenaway medal, for his work in illustrating The Sleeper and The Spindle. This children’s book features a retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale written by Neil Gaiman.
According to the press release, Riddell gives credit to librarians for “turning children into readers by teaching them one of the most important life skills you can acquire, which is reading for pleasure. Not SATs tests, or attainment levels, or league tables but the joy of losing yourself in the pages of a good book.” (via The Guardian)