Dinosaurs, Storytelling, and the Little Hare Illustration Prize 2025

My full colour spread - Dino Picnic - Created Digitally

This year I once again took on the challenge of the Little Hare Illustration Prize, and what a joy it was. The 2025 text, Dinosaur Stomp by the brilliant Sandhya Parappukkaran, was a gorgeous story about a little girl with a big love for dinosaurs. As soon as I read it, I knew it would be an inspiring text to bring to life through illustration. I have a couple of little dinosaurs who love to stomp and roar around my house so I knew I would have a lot of inspiration to draw upon.

My black and white spread - Stomp and Roar - created digitally

As with my previous entry in 2023, the process stretched and strengthened my skills as an illustrator. It pushed me to think more deeply about character design, narrative flow, and visual storytelling. Although I wasn’t shortlisted this time, I’m genuinely proud of the work I created. Each piece represents growth, and I can see how my visual voice continues to evolve.

Character sheet - Dino Lover - created digitally

One of the most exciting parts of the competition is seeing the shortlist announced and watching how different illustrators interpret the same story. It’s incredible to witness the diversity of styles, palettes, and storytelling approaches—each one offering a new window into the text. You can check some out yourself by looking up the hashtag #littlehareillustrationprize

While there can only be one winner, the experience of entering is rewarding in itself. For me, it was another step forward in my creative journey and a reminder that sharing stories through pictures is what I love most.

Congratulations to this year’s winner, Wenwen Chen, and all the shortlisted illustrators. I can’t wait to hold Dinosaur Stomp in my hands when it’s published!