2025 CCBF New Dreams International Little Illustrators Competition

China Shanghai International Children's Book Fair (CCBF), New Dreams International Little Illustrators Competition (AKA "New Dreams Little Illustrators") is a unique global children's creative and aesthetic education platform organised by the Shanghai International Cultural Association and Shanghai Xinhua Distribution Group Co.,Ltd with the support of the Shanghai Press and Publication Administration. This annual event aims to connect young children worldwide through their mutual love of "reading + drawing".

Founded in 2019, the "New Dreams Little Illustrators Competition" is open to all children under 16. The "New Dreams Little Illustrators" brings together Master illustrators from China and overseas experts in aesthetic education to enable children to discover their artistic talent. In addition to nurturing their imagination and creativity and promoting cultural exchanges, the competition allows children to showcase their talents and fulfil their dream of being artists. Since its inception, the event has received enthusiastic participation from schools, aesthetic organisations, youth organisations and families worldwide. The event is supported by official bodies and attracted attention from the media.

"The New Dreams Little Illustrators advocates for children the joy of reading "To open up the world and use art to realise dreams through books". By collaborating with renowned domestic and international publishers and children's book experts, each year, we will recommend a series of books with a common theme through the "New Dreams Global Children's Reading Promotion Programme" to parents and children. It is hoped that the programme will allow children to draw inspiration from these books and enrich their knowledge while encouraging children to use their artistic skills to interpret their world.

In today's society, where technology is developing rapidly, the balance between human civilization and digital technology is not static. The relationship between the two will constantly change along with the social environment and technological iterations. In 2025, the competition aims to take "Integration and Coexistence: Artistic Encounters with Technology" as its theme, encouraging children and teenagers around the world to explore the integration of technology and human life through illustration art. It seeks to present modern or future scenarios such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, ecological technology, and cosmic exploration from a children's creative perspective, and to inspire society's imagination and reflection on technological development.

■ Competition is open to any individual child less than 16 years of age, irrespective of nationality. The competition is also open to entry by organisations. Entry is free of charge.

◆ Toddlers: Born after 1^st June 2019

◆ Children: Born after 1^st June 2015

◆ Teens: Born after 1^st June 2009

■ Original illustrations by children that fit the theme of the competition. We prefer to receive flat/2D works. There is no restriction on the type of medium or material. Children are encouraged to express themselves, using their own imagination to interpret the competition theme.

■ Entries should be based on a story, with text and audio story description text from the youngster, with the drawing as an artistic representation of the story text—original artwork size: Not greater than 260 mm*368 mm (Canadian Tabloid) size paper.

■ Works-of-art previously submitted to the New Dreams Little Illustrators competition will not be accepted.

■ Entries are open to individuals and institutions

■ Individuals can enter by clicking "I Want to Enter" page and completing the online application.

■ Organisation can enter by clicking "Organisation application" page and completing the online application.

■ Please keep your original artwork in a safe place and do not frame it

■ Original artwork must be provided for the finalists and winners and will not be returned; otherwise, it will be considered as forfeiting the award and the touring exhibition

■ The organising committee has authorised the establishment of the regional competition in places with a high concentration of applications. The organising committee will appoint an organiser to organise the submissions within these regional competitions.

From now to 31^st August (GMT +8, 24:00 )

Open for submission: From now to 31^st Aug 2025.
Outstanding Finalist announcement: Oct 2025.
Winners' announcement: Nov 2025.
Awarding e-certificate: Nov-Dec 2025.
Online Exhibition: Oct 2025 to Nov 2026.
Prizegiving and Exhibition of Outstanding entries work at CCBF: Nov 2025.

Official CCBF Certificate and Prizes (if won)
● Media Exposure
Be Featured on both national and international media
● Intl. Exhibition & cultural exchange prog.
Opportunity to be exhibited internationally and join with cultural exchanges prog.
● Bilingual Commemorative Picture Album
Be featured in a Bilingual Commemorative Picture Album（Note: The collection of works is not in the form of a yearbook. The organizing committee and the editorial board will select and compile from the award-winning works of previous years）
● Be a visual effect designer
Have a say in being a part of the design team for next year's show and be featured on our website
● Comments by international award-winning illustrators
Receive comments and guidance from international award-winning illustrators
● Popularity Award
Outstanding awards can be awarded The Popularity Awards via online voting

■ Outstanding Work Award
The best work of the competition selected by the Chinese panel of judges
■ Competition Winners Award
The winning entry of the competition selected by an international panel of judges
■ Grand Prize entry (will be invited to the 2025 Annual Exhibition)

◆ Best in Creativity Award
A work of art that is imaginative and be age-appropriate

◆ Artistic Beauty Award
Artwork that presents an integrated aesthetic in the visual arts

◆ Most Promising Artist Award
The work is unique and original in its concept or creative style, expressing the personality and inner thinking of the artist.

◆ Star of New Dreams Award
The work has a deep storyline, is in line with the competition's theme, and has infectious and positive power.

◆ Judges Special Nomination Award
Nominated by the international jury from among the winning entries

◆ Most Popular Entry Award
Chosen among the outstanding works of the competition through online voting

Nalok.Lok
(China HongKong)

His real name is Guan Weile. He is a renowned illustrator from Hong Kong, China and a writer of the "Soul Picture Book Series". Graduated from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University with a Master's degree in Design, and later received a scholarship to pursue a master's degree in Visual Arts at the Latvian Academy of Arts. It has won numerous awards. Its picture book "The Second I Jumped Down" won the Merit Award of the "6th Animation Support Program Startup Animation" in 2018. Furthermore, he has won The award Of "Illustrator Of The Year" from the Japan Illustrators Association twice, namely the "Best Published Illustration Award" in 2022 and the "Outstanding Illustrator of the Year" in 2023.

Margot Senden
(Netherlands)

Margot Senden is a Dutch illustrator and children’s book author known for her enchanting, nature-inspired artwork and educational picture books. Margot initially pursued music at the academy. However, her passion for visual arts led her to switch paths, she later pursued illustration and graphic design, published many books. She has also illustrated several titles in the acclaimed wantoknow series, such as stars and planets, in collaboration with author Pierre Winters.

Salikhova Inna
(Russia)

Inna Salikhova, Director of the Studio of Architecture and Design "FA-SAD", architect, designer, teacher, member of the Union of Architects and Union of Designers of Russia, member of the International Union of Artist Teachers, applicant of the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology of the Kazan Federal University, Russia. She is the author of educational programs for the development of creative thinking. She has won the "Teacher of the Year" competition and the pedagogical excellence competition, winner of regional and international professional competitions and festivals.