Legendary HarperCollins children’s author Judith Kerr, who escaped from Hitler’s Germany as a child and went on to write over 30 children’s books, including one of the best-selling of all time, The Tiger Who Came to Tea, has been named BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award Winner 2016.
The award, which BookTrust set up to celebrate the body of work of an author or illustrator who has made an outstanding contribution to children’s literature, is being presented to Judith at a ceremony hosted by former Children’s Laureate and BookTrust President, Michael Morpurgo, at London Zoo today. Judith said:
œI am honoured and delighted that I have been chosen to receive the BookTrust’s Lifetime Achievement Award. I thank them very much, and as the presentation is to be at London Zoo, I’ll also be able to thank the tigers in the tiger enclosure who started it all.
Judith is best known for her children’s books, including the 17-strong Mog series and The Tiger Who Came to Tea, and her biographical trilogy Out of the Hitler Time, that tells the story of her family’s flight from Nazi Germany, and travel through Switzerland, France and eventually settling in England. She has sold more than nine million books world-wide and her works have been translated into 25 different languages. In 2012, Judith was awarded an OBE for her services to children’s literature and Holocaust Education.
BookTrust CEO, Diana Gerald, said:
œGreat authors and illustrators bring children to books and books to children. We know that books can be the life-changing milestone in children’s lives and we want to celebrate the work of authors whose books have that kind of impact.
œJudith is one of those people. Her fantastic stories and illustrations have enthralled children and their parents over several generations, and continue to do so to this day. Her remarkable life is only eclipsed by the remarkably enduring tales of her characters and creatures: Mog, the adventurous and engaging cat, and the tiger who came into so many of our lives when gatecrashing tea-time in Sophie’s household. We are truly thrilled to be here today to honour Judith’s life’s work with this award.
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