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This year’s winner of the Klaus Flugge Prize, which honours publisher Klaus Flugge, a majorly influential figure in picture books, has been won by Forest Xiao for her delightful book Seven Babies.
Judges, Emma Farrarons, Rob Biddulph, Shelley Jackson and Vanessa Lewis said that ‘Forest takes you on a heartwarming, original, tender and chaotic adventure with seven adorable babies, starting with a knock at the door. We found her artwork very exciting. It’s bold, playful, and full of feeling. Her choice of art materials, balancing of line work and textures, and shapes all painted in a zingy colour palette enhance the drawings beautifully.
Forest Xiao describes herself as an image maker, storyteller and treasure finder. She studied at Camberwell College of Art which led her to the MA in Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art. Forest was mum to a small baby when she was creating the book and has said that although there was just one baby there, looking around her house felt like it had been invaded by a whole army of them. “My sketchbooks from that time are full of babies – playgroups, children’s centres, playgrounds, parks, and all sorts of kids’ activities. They became a visual database for me. 90% of what the babies do in the book is inspired by real baby life.
For me, becoming a new parent has been the most unpredictable journey I have ever been on. It is a season of vulnerability, growth, and shifting identity—an ongoing lesson that is teaching me to be present, to embrace the beautiful chaos, and to accept my own limitations. It often feels impossible to balance it all: a constant see-saw between family life and my creative ambitions. And out of that came Seven Babies.
It is a celebration of the discoveries, the busyness, and the exhaustion of new parenthood — and a celebration of these all-powerful, magical little humans who change our lives forever.”
Forest was joined by her family during her acceptance speech, to the delight of the crowd
The £5,000 Klaus Flugge Prize is the only prize specifically to recognise a published picture book by a debut illustrator and is one of the most important and influential awards thanks to its spotlight on exciting new talent.
Chair of the judges, Julia Eccleshare says: “We are delighted to be celebrating Forest Xiao together with this year’s Klaus Flugge Prize shortlisted picture book illustrators Becky Colvin, Laila Ekboir, Thekla Priebst, Justin Worsley and Circle Yuen. We will follow all their careers with huge interest and anticipation. Special thanks as always to Klaus Flugge who has done so much to support and promote illustrators throughout his long career and to bring outstanding illustration to children.”
Laila Ekboir and Justin Worsley are members of the AOI and we send them our proud congratulations for making the Shortlist for 2026!
September 2026