Grey (2025 Carnegie Medal for Illustration Nominated)

An iconic picture book collaboration about feelings and acceptance from two of the most beloved voices in children's literature.

Beautifully crafted compositions together with simple die-cut design, reveal the story of a child who feels as though all their colours have disappeared. Despite the joyful orange balloon, the huge yellow sun and the bright green trees, the child still feels grey. That is until a reassuring hand reaches out and shares words of kindness. Soon the child begins to see the warmth of colour again, and understands that their colours will always be there and that they will always be loved, whether they feel grey or sunshine yellow. Laura and Lauren have created a beautiful book full of empathy and understanding that will provide comfort and hope to readers of all ages.

Laura Dockrill, a graduate of the Brit School of Performing Arts, is a performance poet, an author and an illustrator. At the age of twenty-two, she was named one of The Times’ "Top Ten Literary Stars". She is the author of the bestselling Darcy Burdock series, the first of which was shortlisted for the Waterstones Book of the Year prize. Her adult book What Have I Done is an honest memoir about suffering post-natal mental illness. Her debut picture book, and first collaboration with Maria Karipidou, was Angry Cookie. Find her online at lauradockrill.co.uk and on Twitter and Instagram as @LauraDockrill.

Lauren Child is an award-winning artist and writer. She is the creator of many much-loved characters, including Clarice Bean, Charlie and Lola, Hubert Horatio and Ruby Redfort. Lauren won the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal in 2000 for I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato, the first of her Charlie and Lola picture books. In 2010 she was awarded an MBE for Services to Literature, and was announced as the tenth Waterstones' Children's Laureate in 2017. Her books have sold over 15 million copies worldwide. Find her online at milkmonitor.me and on Instagram as @laurenchildthatsme.