NEW YORK, NY (October 31, 2023)—Little, Brown Book for Young Readers has selected artist Shuyan Chen as the winner of the sixth annual Little, Brown Emerging Artist Award. This year’s judge and mentor is New York Times bestselling and Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator Dan Santat. The award seeks to recognize a previously unpublished creator whose work amplifies and portrays a distinct and diverse cultural point of view, identity, or background. The program also provides valuable mentorship by an acclaimed illustrator and a group of children’s book professionals.
Shuyan Chen is an illustrator based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her submission, The Brilliant Journey of Jeanne Baret, was inspired by the real story of an 18th century female botanist who led an unconventional, adventurous life against all odds. Her story celebrates the love for nature and the beckoning of the wider world. Shuyan graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design where she studied Illustration. She is currently continuing her studies in the field of bookbinding and conservation.
Celebrating the sixth annual winner of the Little, Brown Emerging Artist Award, Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator, judge, and mentor Dan Santat raves: “Shuyan Chen has a head-turning style that’s distinctly her own, a remarkable blend of classic sensibility and modern flair. Her breathtaking skill with linework, narrative detail, design and ornamentation—combined with an inviting, accessible palette and child-friendly character design—results in a work that appeals to a tremendous range of readers of all ages. Her nonfiction picture book, The Brilliant Journey of Jeanne Baret, is truly accomplished, thoughtfully recounting the little-known story of a hidden female figure from history that also demonstrates the wonder and empowerment of stepping out of one’s comfort zone, beyond society’s limitations and expectations. Shuyan is definitely an exceptional talent to watch!”
ABOUT THE LITTLE, BROWN EMERGING ARTISTS AWARD
Qualifying submissions for the Little, Brown Emerging Artist Award draw from the rich cultural experiences of this country—whether they manifest in character, theme, setting, or plot, or are derived simply from the artist’s own experience of identity. This includes literal or metaphorical inclusion of characters of underrepresented ethnicity, religious background, gender identity, class, mental or physical disability, or of any other nondominant population.
The individual who submits the most accomplished picture book idea, in the form of a mock-up, is honored with a mentorship with a professional children’s book design and editorial team and distinguished artist mentor. The winner will also have their submission reviewed by the Little, Brown Books for Young Readers editorial team for possible future publication. Additional prizing for the Emerging Artist Award includes an American Express Gift Card in the amount of $1,500 and a portfolio review by the artist mentor and LBYR publishing staff.
Previous winners include Jin Xiaojing, whose debut picture book, I Miss My Grandpa, went on to be named a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book in 2019, as well as Cathy Wu, whose debut Popo and Meimei Can Help is scheduled to release in April 2024.
Artists must be previously unpublished and not currently represented by a publishing agent. One winner will be selected by a panel of three representatives from the Little, Brown Books for Young Readers editorial team along with an artist mentor. Submissions are judged based on the quality of
their text, art, and storytelling; the incorporation of diversity; and the originality and creativity of their work. For more information and to enter, artists may visit LBArtistAward.com.
ABOUT THIS YEAR’S WINNER, SHUYAN CHEN
Shuyan Chen graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design where she studied Illustration. She is currently continuing her studies in the field of bookbinding and conservation. She invites you to visit her online at shuyanchen.com and on Instagram @kalimeris.indica.
ABOUT THIS YEAR’S JUDGE AND MENTOR, DAN SANTAT
Dan Santat is the Caldecott Medal–winning and New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, Are We There Yet?, and After the Fall, as well as the graphic novels A First Time for Everything and The Aquanaut. He is the illustrator of many other picture books, including Drawn Together and Lift by Minh Lê, Because I’m Your Mom and Because I’m Your Dad by Ahmet Zappa, The Alphabet’s Alphabet by Chris Harris, No More Poems! by Rhett Miller, and the Crankenstein series by Samantha Berger. Dan lives in Southern California with his wife, two kids, and various pets. He invites you to visit him at dansantatbooks.com, or on X and Instagram at @dsantat.
ABOUT LITTLE, BROWN BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers is a division of Hachette Book Group, a leading U.S. general-interest book publisher made up of dozens of esteemed imprints within the publishing groups Basic Books Group, Grand Central Publishing, Hachette Audio, Hachette Books, Hachette Nashville, Little, Brown and Company, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Orbit, Running Press Group, and Workman Publishing.
For more information, visit hachettebookgroup.com.