Scholastic Picture Book Award (SPBA)

The Scholastic Picture Book Award (SPBA) is a joint initiative between the Singapore Book Council and Scholastic Asia and it is presented biennially to an outstanding unpublished picture book with distinct Asian themes by an Asian team of writers and illustrators.

Objectives

  • To encourage and inspire the publications of more Asian-themed picture books
  • To stimulate public interest and support for picture books with Asian themes
  • To recognise and award a prize to an excellent picture book with an Asian theme each year
  • To recognize both the author and the illustrator’s contributions to the creation process

The Scholastic Picture Book Award offers a total of S$10,000 for the first place to be shared equally between the writer and the artist.

SPBA Winner List

Shortlists below are not listed in order of merit.

Winners

Winner

The Girl on the Roof and the Boy on the Beach

Author: Vu Thuy Ngoc Ha

Country: Vietnam

1st Runner-up

Orang & Hutan

Author: Joo Hong Low

Country: Singapore

2nd Runner-up

My Grandfather's Rojak

Author: Emily Lim and Alycia Teo

Country: Singapore

Shortlist

Let's Try Planting Flowers

Author: Nayong Lim

Country: South Korea

My Grandmother's Yellow Goat

Author: Şafak Okdemir

Country: Turkey

Nimboda

Author: Ishan Trivedi

Country: India

Pahiyas; Planting Rainbow Seeds

Author: Eugene Evasco and Joffrey Zamora Atienza

Country: The Philippines

Winners

Winners

The Little Durian Tree

Author: Ho Jia En, Sabrine Ong, Shona Menon, Wong Shu Jing and Melodie James

Country: Singapore

1st Runner-up

The Treasure of Kancil

Author: Maria Karina Putri

Country: Indonesia

2nd Runner-up

The Whale Whisperer

Author: Le Thi Bich Khoa

Country: Vietnam

Shortlist

How Rooster Became the Zodiac Animal

Author: Emila Yusof

Country: Malaysia

Poorni and her Peepal Leaf

Author: Anuradha Ananth Huggler and Shailja Jain Chougule

Country: India

The Flying Grandpa

Author: Aytul Akal, Mavisel Yener, Kubra Nur Ozkececi and Yasemin Yener

Country: Turkey

Winners

Winner

The First Journey

Author: Phung Nguyen Quang and Huynh Kim Lien

Country: Vietnam

1st Runner-up

Pandu, The Ogoh-Ogoh Maker

Author: Ary Nilandari and Dewi Tri K.

Country: Indonesia

2nd Runner-up

Purchased Dream

Author: Ichinnorov Ganbaatar and Bolormaa Baasansuren

Country: Mogolia

Shortlist

Somi and the Clouds Gardener

Author: Kim Seon Young

Country: South Korea

The Bundle

Author: Roya Yadollahi Shahrah and Vajihe Golmazari

Country: Iran

Longlist

Mooncake Panda

Author: Emily Lim and Patrick Yee

Country: Singpaore

The Janggan Dragon Kite

Author: Shoba Dewey Chugani and Lyly Young

Country: Indonesia

The Small Fox

Author: Jina Heo

Country: South Korea

Wandering Off

Author: Wendy Aw and Alan Choong

Country: Singapore

Winning Writer

If I Were...

Author: Debra Chong

Country: Singapore

Shortlisted Writers

Cap Go Meh

Author: Sophie Dewayani

Country: Indonesia

Don’t Eat That, Phoenix!

Author: Swapna Haddow

Country: United Kingdom

Old City

Author: Ganbaatar Ichinnorov

Country: Mongolia

Utan For Marcia

Author: Maria Agnes Du’a Bewa

Country: Indonesia

Wayang Night

Author: Lak-Khee TAY-AUDOUARD

Country: Singapore

Winning Illustrator

Old City

Author: Bolormaa Baasansuren

Country: Mongolia

Shortlisted Illustrators

Cap Go Meh

Author: Gina Eugenia

Country: Indonesia

Wayang Night

Author: Lak-Khee TAY-AUDOUARD

Country: Singapore

Who Knows Mr. Pink

Author: Reza Dalvand

Country: Iran