A Southampton author has been named winner of the Illustrated Books category at the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2023 for her picture book, Gretel the Wonder Mammoth.

Kim Hillyard, an author and Illustrator who was born in the city, won a £2,000 prize and the promise of ongoing commitment to her writing and illustrating career.

Having worked as a music journalist for nine years at the likes of Time Out and the BBC, Kim wrote picture book, Gretel the Wonder Mammoth to help little ones embrace their feelings and inspire children and adults to talk about anxiety.

As the last woolly mammoth on earth starts to get a bit nervous about her place in the herd, this book teaches young readers that perhaps the bravest act a person (or mammoth!) can do is ask for help.

Talking about the book that was reviewed as a “bold, funny, creative and lovely take on managing anxiety”, Kim said: “I wanted to write a book that helps children and grown-ups start a conversation about anxiety.

“When Gretel breaks free from the ice after a very long sleep, she's excited to be back but soon realises the world is not quite how she remembers it.

“Anxiety can be incredibly isolating; Gretel discovers the bravest thing she can do is ask for help and I hope this book encourages all of us to do the same.”

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Florentyna Martin, Waterstone’s head of children’s said: “We are all Gretel the Wonder Mammoth at some point in our lives.

“Emotion-led picture books are on the rise but Hillyard’s creatively sharp storytelling is as encouraging and vibrant as her protagonist.

“This sweet, uplifting tale proves Kim Hillyard is a rising star in Picture Books; her characters and illustrations will be on every home bookshelf before too long.”

Other winners at the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2023 were Nura and the Immortal Palace by M.T. Khan which won the Younger Readers’ category.

Whilst, The Cats We Meet Along The Way by Nadia Mikail won the Books for Older Readers’ category and went on to be crowned as overall winner of the 2023 Waterstones Children’s Book Prize.