It has been announced that Benji Davies has won Oscar’s Book Prize for a second time, with his picture story book, Tad. The £5,000 literary award, supported by Amazon and the National Literacy Trust is awarded to the best book of the year for under 5’s which has been published within the past year.
“Tad’s story is about taking your time to grow up, even though you are the smallest, slowest tadpole in the pond, or if you always feel like you’re at the back. Don’t worry because you will always get there in the end.”
– Benji Davies
The award that was created to honour the passing of Oscar Ashton was announced by HRH Princess Beatrice through the Oscar’s Book Prize website, in a video recorded from her home. The announcement also included endorsements from fellow judges Dermot O’Leary, and Francesca Simon, Jake Hope, Youth Libraries Group chair, Simon Johnson, Director, Amazon EU Books and Viveka Alvestrand and James Ashton Oscar’s parents.
“I felt so lucky to be able to read each of shortlisted books for Oscar’s Book Prize. This year the quality of entries was unprecedented, and the judges decided to extend the shortlist from five to six. Benji Davies, congratulations on what is a remarkable book of a lovely story. I had so much fun reading it myself.”
– HRH Princess Beatrice
“To win Oscar’s Book Prize in 2014 with The Storm Whale was an incredible feeling and I am very pleased to have won the Prize for a second time with Tad – I really can’t believe it. When I wrote the story, I wanted it to help small children navigate life in those early years. I couldn’t be prouder.”
– Benji Davies
