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David Litchfield

David Litchfield lives in Bedfordshire UK where he first started to draw when he was very young, creating Star Wars and Indiana Jones ‘mash up’ comics for his older brother and sister. Since then David’s work has appeared in magazines, newspapers, children’s books and on T-shirts. He has also exhibited his illustrations in both solo and group shows in the U.K, Europe and America.

David’s award winning debut author/illustrator picture book ‘The Bear & The Piano’ and its follow up ‘Grandad’s Secret Giant’ are out now. David loves to illustrate fiction covers, non-fiction and full-color picture books. His worldwide publishing clients include QuartoKids, Faber & Faber, Penguin Random House, Candlewick Press, Henry Holt, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, HarperCollins and Hachette.

http://www.davidlitchfieldillustration.com

David Litchfield is represented by Anne Moore Armstrong — to work with David please email Anne

Reviews

'Profoundly moving and full of depth' - The Guardian: ‘In illustrator David Litchfield’s hands, sadness takes the form of a scribbly sort of bean with long limbs and a radiant heart in Anne Booth’s timely A Shelter for Sadness (Templar). Several recent releases have depicted tricky emotions as blobs, or creatures hiding in the shadows, but this one stands out. Profoundly moving and full of depth, it gently explores the need to accept sorrow, live alongside it, rather than chase a cure.’

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Starred Review for 'Hats Off to Mr. Pockles!' from Kirkus: “Vibrant mixed-media illustrations…impart a fairy-tale aura to the setting.”

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"Magical and heart-warming" — The Sunday Times, Books of the Year: “Magical and heart-warming with rich and somewhat surreal images of cosy interiors, city - and seascapes, starlit skies and buildings.” — Nicolette Jones for The Sunday Times. Also selected for The Times Books of the Year

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“Simple but important lessons about friendship and belonging.” — The Guardian: “The Bear & The Piano provides simple but important lessons about friendship and belonging.” — Ruth Swindon, The Guardian (selected for The Best New Children’s Books of Summer 2016) for ‘The Bear and the Piano’
“Litchfield’s poignant debut picture book celebrates both the wonders of wandering far in pursuit of one’s dreams...” — Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review: “Litchfield’s poignant debut picture book celebrates both the wonders of wandering far in pursuit of one’s dreams and the sweet comfort of returning home.” — Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
"Litchfield’s illustrations are very special indeed.” — Lovereading4Kids: “It’s a beautiful story, and illustrates perfectly the effect of music on performer and audience. Litchfield’s illustrations are very special indeed.” — Lovereading4Kids

Awards

CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal - Longlist 2021: Longlisted for the 2021 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal for ‘Lights on Cotton Rock’, published by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Oscar's Book Prize 2021 - Shortlist: Shortlisted for the Oscar’s Book Prize 2021 for ‘Rain Before Rainbows’. Written by Smriti Halls, published by Walker Books.
Nature Generation Green Earth Book Award 2021 - Longlist: Longlisted for the Nature Generation ‘Green Earth Book Award 2021’ for ‘Ocean! Waves for all’. Written by Stacy McAnulty.
Foreword INDIES - Finalist: Finalist for the 2020 Foreword INDIES award for ‘Rain before Rainbows’.
EMPATHYLAB - READ FOR EMPATHY COLLECTION 2021: Chosen for the 2021 Read for Empathy Collection for ‘Rain Before Rainbows’, written by Smriti Halls and published by Walker Books.
Rain Before Rainbows: BookPage Best Book of 2020: “Litchfield’s color-saturated illustrations are stunning, and Prasadam-Halls’ spare benediction of gentle comfort will settle quietly into your heart.”

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Stanford Children’s Travel Book of the Year - Shortlisted: ‘Fire Girl, Forest Boy’ was shortlisted for the 2020 Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards in the Children’s category
The CILIP Greenaway Medal Nomination for 2020: Nominated for the CILIP Greenaway Medal 2020 with ‘War is Over’ written by David Almond, publisher Hodder Children’s Books
The Kate Greenaway Award 2019 – Nominated: Nominated for The Kate Greenaway Award 2019 for ‘Space Tortoise’, published by Faber & Faber.

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Independent Bookshop Week Book Award 2018 - Shortlisted: Shortlisted for the picture book category of the Independent Bookshop Week Book Award, with ‘Grandad’s Secret Giant’ published by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books.

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World Illustration Award 2016 - Shortlisted: Shortlisted for the Association of Illustrators World Illustration Awards 2016 for ‘The Bear and The Piano.’
Independent Bookshop Week (IBW) Award 2016 — Nominated: Nominated for Independent Bookshop Week (IBW) Award 2016 with The Bear and the Piano
The Waterstones Children’s Book Prize: Best Illustrated Book 2016 — WINNER: For ‘The Bear and The Piano’. The Waterstones Children’s book prize has each 3 categories each with a winner, with one of these winning the overall title. Only debut talent can be entered for this award.