Picture Book Award 2026 shortlisted title

To others, Miss Brown’s wild and overgrown house at the end of the road is scary, but to Holly it’s like something out of a fairy tale.

Holly reaches out to Miss Brown and discovers that she isn’t scary at all: her brain has been ill for a while, and the wildness has spilled out.

Can their budding friendship, and a bit of help with the butterflies in her garden, encourage Miss Brown to feel like herself again?

Published by Andersen Press

About the Author

Harry Woodgate (they/them) is a multi-award-winning author and illustrator, whose debut picture book Grandad’s Camper won the British Book Awards for Children’s Illustrated Book of the Year and the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, was shortlisted for the Polari Prize, and named as an ALA Stonewall Honor Book.

Harry’s work has also been shortlisted for the V&A Illustration Awards, and the Folio Society Book Illustration Competition twice.

When they’re not creating amazing books, they love writing music, cycling, baking and exploring independent coffee shops and bookstores.

Find out more about Harry Woodgate here: https://www.harrywoodgate.com/
Instagram: @harrywoodgateart

Harry says: “I’m delighted that The Butterfly House has been shortlisted for this year’s Shropshire Bookfest Picture Book Award, especially because the selection process for this award is entirely child-led, giving children the opportunity to choose their own reading journeys.

To know that kids have enjoyed reading this book is the highest praise I could ask for, and I hope it continues to be a source of entertainment and inspiration for them in the next stage of judging.”