The best-loved picture book of the year - according to 23,000 children aged 3-7 - is a tale of a primate with a penchant for ice cream.

The 2018 Bookbug Picture Book Prize, which celebrates the most popular new picture books by Scottish authors or illustrators, has been awarded to Gorilla Loves Vanilla by Chae Strathie (pictured) and Nicola O’Byrne, it was announced today.

A record 22,857 votes were cast in the Scottish Book Trust contest by children aged 3-7, either at school or with help from parents.

Copies of the book and two other shortlisted titles - The Fourth Bonniest Baby in Dundee by Michelle Sloan and Kasia Matyjaszek, and Little Owl’s Egg by Debi Gliori and Alison Brown - were also sent to every pupil in the first year of primary school as part of the recent Book Week Scotland.

Winning author Chae Strathie said: “The most important thing is that the prize is decided by the children who read the books, rather than a panel of grown-up judges. It’s those children I write for, so getting the seal of approval from them means a great deal.”

‘Bookbug Bags’ scheme

He added that the awards and the “Bookbug Bags” scheme - which provides free books to every child in Scotland from birth to the first year of primary school -  play “a vital role in Scotland’s literary life, engaging with children across the country and encouraging them to enjoy books and reading - so we collectively owe the Scottish Book Trust a huge debt of gratitude”.

Earlier this month, North Yorkshire headteacher Simon Smith shared with Tes readers the 10 picture books that he believes every primary school should own.

He summed up the importance of picture books with a quote from Mathew Tobin, senior lecturer in English and children’s literature at Oxford Brookes University: “There is an accessibility to picture books that the written word cannot offer.

“With the very best picture books, our reading and interpretation of both picture and word can lead to a deeper response than a novel.”

The Bookbug Picture Book Prize is managed by Scottish Book Trust in partnership with Creative Scotland and Browns Books for Students.

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