Early Years (0-7) shortlist
Billy Monster's Daymare
by Alan Durant and Ross Collins
About the book
Billy Monster can't sleep. There are chinks of scary light creeping into his bedroom and he has woken up twice after horrible daymares about boys and girls. Although Daddy Monster has tried howling a lullaby and making a soothing cup of cold slime, Billy is still worried. Just how will Daddy Monster reassure Billy and help him to sleep soundly through the day? Set in a topsy-turvy world where monsters are scared of children, this warm and funny story is perfect for raising a smile and chasing away bedtime fears.
What the shortlist judges said:
"This is a wonderful book, with delightfully engaging and humorous illustrations, which captivate the imagination and keep the reader searching on every page. It is a refreshing perspective on things that go "bump in the night" or even in the day!"
About the author
Alan Durant studied English at Keble College, Oxford and then lived in Paris for a couple of years. He has written picture books and young fiction, as well as a number of teenage novels and contributed to several anthologies. He frequently visits both primary and secondary schools to perform, give talks and run workshops.
He also writes poetry and has twice won the Kingston Borough/Waterstone's Poetry Competition.
About the illustrator
Ross Collins was born in Glasgow in 1972 and graduated from the Glasgow School of Art in 1994 with a First in Illustration. In the same year he won the MacMillan Children's Book Prize, an achievement that opened many doors. Ross then spent two years in London before returning to Glasgow, where he spends his time writing and illustrating children's books, and doing animation character development, He has illustrated over thirty children's books and his awards include the Blue Ribbons Award, Scottish Arts Council Book Award, Wild Raven Award and Oppenheim Award. Read more about Ross here ...
