We are so incredibly proud of illustrator Sher Rill Ng, who has been bestowed with the illustrator award in The Australian branch of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) 2024 Ena Noël Award.

Established in 1994, the biennial Ena Noël Award is granted to Australian emerging writers and illustrators under the age of 35 who have had books published in the two years prior to the award closing date. This is the first year the award is presented to both authors and an illustrator, after IBBY announced the change to two prizes last year, in recognition of the importance of visual literacy and the role that illustration plays in complementing the textual narrative in children’s and young people’s literature.

Sher Rill Ng won for her work on the picture-book title Be Careful, Xiao Xin! (Working Title Press, Harper Collins) written by Alice Pung. The picture-book was also shortlisted in The Danz Children’s Book Award 2024, and has seen Sher Rill and Alice team-up once again, on an illustrated middle-grade series; Millie Mak the Maker also with Harper Collins.

We extend hearty congratulations to Sher Rill Ng, who is a singular and wonderful talent with a long and storied career ahead of her.