Lucy Brader was twelve-years old when she won the 2018 YWA Children’s Picture Book Award. Lucy’s story was inspired by the challenges and misconceptions her younger brother Max, who is Autistic, faces on a daily basis., “Sometimes people with disabilities are underestimated and their potential is crushed by the fact that they ‘Just want to be a normal kid’.

This story is about learning to stop, and, appreciate other people’s gifts, even if the gifts don’t seem as great as getting an Xbox for Christmas!” Nancy Bevington was a little older then Lucy when she took on the creative challenge of creating illustrations for ‘different’. Nancy is a talented illustrator and also recognised for her distinctive large-scale paintings.

Her artistic career spans over three decades. Nancy has worked extensively in the publishing industry. Illustrating children’s books are a real passion. She created the book series ‘Mad Dog the Chef’ which proved extremely popular with children and adults, both in Australia and overseas. She was also the codeveloper of another popular children’s book series ‘Zen Tails’ which has sold worldwide.