Hachette Aotearoa NZ and the Margaret Mahy Estate are thrilled to announce Jessica Twohill as the winner of the Margaret Mahy Illustration Prize 2022.
The judging panel said Twohill’s illustrations of Margaret Mahy’s iconic children’s book The Witch in the Cherry Tree were
“thoughtful, full of humour and packed with detail.”
The judging panel also loved the world building created by the illustrations: “Everywhere you looked was a richness of an imaginary world, the reflections, the shadows and the tree that became a doorway.”
Bridget Mahy, from the Margaret Mahy Estate, loved the joy created by the facial expressions and the humour the witch injected into the story: “Even the house was so interesting and quirky, which separated this entry from the rest of the pack.”
Fellow judge and children’s entertainer Suzy Cato, was charmed by the cheekiness of the characters:
“The main character David is full of life and joy, just what you want from a children’s book”
The Margaret Mahy Illustration Prize 2022 includes:
A $1000 cash prize, books valued at $500, a handcrafted Tōtara trophy and an invitation to discuss with Hachette NZ the possibility of developing the submission into a publication.
Hachette Aotearoa NZ and the Margaret Mahy Trust would also like to congratulate the Runners Up of The Margaret Mahy Illustration Prize 2022
Cesar Lador
Sarah Trolle
Each runner-up will receive a prize of $250 worth of Hachette books.
Cesar Lador
Judge’s comment: “Brilliant movement with lots of delicacy coming through into the final art. There was a fantastic use of scale presented in each image
