An author from Hitchin has won a national children's book award.

Chloe Savage, an author-illustrator, won the Illustrated Books Category at the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2024 for her picture book, The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish.

She takes home a £2,000 prize, and an ongoing commitment to her writing and illustrating career. The award was voted for by Waterstones' booksellers.

Chloe, who was born and raised in Stevenage, has a first class undergraduate degree in TV and Film Set Design from the University of Glamorgan and an MA degree in Children’s Book Illustration from The Cambridge School of Art.

The Comet: The book that won Chloe the award.The book that won Chloe the award. (Image: ARU)

She has worked for a number of years in opera, film and television, and found her way to her love for illustration and storytelling while doodling on call sheets.

The Search For The Giant Arctic Jellyfish tells a story of grit, endurance and self-belief to inspire young explorers and dreamers, chronicling a redoubtable scientist's quest to locate the titular sea creature.

Chloe said: “The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish is deeply inspired by my own experience of failure and resilience.

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"I love to make my work highly detailed, so that regardless of your reading ability, you will be able to find something to enjoy in the book. It is very important to me that my work is inclusive in this way.

"It is a huge honour to have my debut picture book recognised by the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. I am so grateful that I was able to make this book and share it with the world. Thank you.”

Nick Campbell, Waterstones children’s buyer, said: “The Search For The Giant Arctic Jellyfish is a unique story about insatiable curiosity, taking us on an expedition that we long to believe took place.

"It is full of fascinating illustrations that children will pore over and return to, from cutaways to evocative landscapes, and of course the elusive jellyfish that grown-ups never quite spot (or do they?).

"Infused with mystery, beauty and wit, it is a tale that will spark questions and ignite young imaginations.”

Rachel, from Waterstones Altrincham, said that she “especially loved the cross-section illustrations showing life on board the ship,” while Emily from Waterstones Tenterden said “I adored it completely!”.

This year was the 20th anniversary of the award, with the ceremony held on Thursday, March 21.