‘Ants’ Interactive Picture Book
‘Ants’ is an interactive illustrated book exploring the tiny world of ants and it was awarded the Macmillan Prize for Illustration 2021. The aim of the book was to replicate the feelings of exploring outside and encourage a fascination for and connection to nature. I hoped that by making ants the focus of this book, every reader would have be inspired to go and discover forms of tiny nature outside and have a greater sense of empathy for the tiny creatures we share our world with.
It will be publishing as A Little World of Ants in April 2024 by Two Hoots.
Macmillan Prize for Illustration Winner 2021
Chris Inns, art and design director at Macmillan Children’s Books and chair of the judges, said: “Cara’s wonderful illustration immediately caught the judges’ attention. The use of a bright, but not obvious, palette of eye-catching colours and bold compositions, evocative of Matisse, made this book stand out in a very strong field. Cara’s stylish work produced an instant, positive and unanimous reaction, spreading smiles across the judging panel’s faces.
Cara also added flaps and mechanisms to her book, making it interactive and further encouraging exploration and discovery through play. This aspect was integrated impeccably, making the book friendly and accessible for the very young."
Rooney added: “I am so delighted and grateful to have won the Macmillan Prize for Illustration this year and am very thankful for the judges’ feedback on my book. I have always had a fascination for the natural world and having loved interactive books and activity books since I was little, I wanted to create work that would combine children’s curiosity with playful formats, encouraging interaction with the reader. This feels so surreal after admiring and being inspired by amazing previous winners of the competition and reading their beautiful published children’s books to my little brother and sister too.”
