Talented illustrator reaches book final

Liva Cabule was runner-up in an international competition to design a new cover for Roald Dahl’s chidren’s favourite James And The Giant Peach, which celebrates its 50th birthday this year.

The illustration student won £350 after coming second in the Puffin children’s section of the Penguin Books Design Award 2011.

The competition attracted more than 700 entries worldwide.

Liva’s design used the moon to symbolise James’ hopes and dreams and received glowing praise from the judges, including Roald Dahl’s widow, Felicity Dahl, who said: “What the book is about is his friends – and there they are!”

Anna Billson, art director for Penguin children’s books, called Liva’s design “a well-executed and original concept” and “intriguing and appealing”.

Liva said: “I did not want to characterise heroes because it would destroy the children’s own imagination, so I just created silhouettes of them. I was playing with lights, shadows and paper cut-outs to give a better feeling of the moonlight.”