We’re celebrating at Firefly after the news that author Horatio Clare and editor Penny Thomas have won the 2016 Branford Boase Award with the wonderful Aubrey and the Terrible Yoot!

The 2016 winners of the Award, given to the author and editor of an outstanding debut novel for children, were announced at a ceremony at Walker Books in London, with the prize presented by children’s laureate Chris Riddell.

The book, for 8-12 year olds, beat off strong competition from other shortlisted titles and publishers including Penguin Random House and Harper Collins.

The judges said Aubrey and the Terrible Yoot was ‘something very special … it stood out from the first and the author’s voice is very exciting.’  

And they added: ‘Horatio Clare writes about animals as well as T.H. White. This is a very fine book with real quality in the descriptions – it comes from the heart of someone who loves landscape and wildlife. A book that is both pensive and sparkling with originality and life. It is a testament to the healing power of the imagination.’

Horatio Clare has won several awards for his books for adults. Of writing for children he said: ‘I am absolutely lit up about writing for children. I feel there are no limits, their imaginations are so powerful, and I love being in dialogue with an imagined child reader. It is the most exciting writing I have yet discovered. It’s an honour to win such a prestigious prize and I am particularly delighted to win an award which recognises the role of editors in children’s fiction. We would be nowhere without them!’

Penny Thomas said: ‘Aubrey and the Terrible Yoot is a wonderful book, a future children’s classic: funny, magical and profound, and we are delighted for Horatio who is a superb writer. This award is particularly exciting for Firefly too, as we’ve only been publishing for three years and we were up against some terrific shortlisted titles. 

‘It shows that great books can come out of Wales as well as great football!

‘I’d like to thank the Branford Boase judges, and the Welsh Books Council for their support in helping us commission this title, as well as the whole Firefly team, particularly my fellow editor and director, Janet Thomas – publishing this book has been very much a team effort.’

Aubrey and the Terrible Yoot tells the story of rambunctious child Aubrey and his determination, with the help of the animals of Rushing Wood, to save his father, Jim, when he falls under the spell of the spirit of despair itself, the Terrible Yoot!

Beautifully illustrated by Jane Matthews, it has been praised as ‘a sheer joy’ by former children’s laureate Michael Morpurgo, and ‘A jewel not to be missed’ by the Sunday Times, which, along with the New Statesman, put Aubrey in its round-up of the best children’s books of 2015. 

Founded in 2000 the Branford Boase Award was set up to encourage new writers and to highlight the importance of the editor in nurturing new talent. It has an impressive record in picking out future stars. Frances Hardinge, winner of this year’s Costa Book of the Year won the Branford Boase in 2006 while Meg Rosoff, recent recipient of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, is also a previous winner, as are Marcus Sedgwick, Mal Peet, Siobhan Dowd and Kevin Brooks.

This year’s judges were Russell Allen, Simon Key, Marion Lloyd, chaired by Julia Eccleshare of the Guardian and Hay Festival. 

To buy Aubrey and the Terrible Yoot, go to http://www.fireflypress.co.uk/node/207