The Littlest Yak, illustrated by Kate Hindley, wins Oscar's Book Prize 2021

The Littlest Yak (Simon & Schuster Children’s Books), illustrated by Kate Hindley and written by debut author Lu Fraser has won the £10,000 Oscar’s Book Prize 2021. It is a “joyous, rhyming caper” that teaches little ones to celebrate their own unique talents, and follows the story of Gertie, the littlest yak in the whole herd. It was revealed as the winner from a six-strong shortlist by Princess Beatrice on 11th May.

Oscar’s Book Prize, which doubled its prize money this year, is awarded in memory of Oscar Ashton, who loved children’s stories. He died aged three-and-a-half of an undetected heart condition. The 2021 prize received the highest number of entries in its eight-year history with 143 submissions from children’s writers and illustrators across the UK.

The Littlest Yak was chosen from a shortlist featuring I’m Sticking With You by Smriti Halls and Steve Small (Simon & Schuster Children’s Books), Meesha Makes Friends by Tom Percival (Bloomsbury Children’s Books), Rain Before Rainbows by Smriti Halls and David Litchfield (Walker Books), The Hospital Dog by Julia Donaldson and Sara Ogilvie (Macmillan Children’s Books), and Would You Like a Banana by Yasmeen Ismail (Walker Books).