BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award: In pictures

Published on: 7 Gorffennaf 2016 Author: James Doherty

Judith Kerr was presented with her BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award yesterday at London Zoo by an actual tiger.

The Mog creator was surrounded by friends and peers as she became the second ever recipient of the BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award.

In a very funny yet poignant speech, Judith said:

When a prize is given for a lifetime's achievement, age is going to play a part and I may have an unfair advantage. Inevitably the judges must say: 'She's 93, she might not be around to give it to next year', which is acutely unfair to young illustrators and authors in their 80s.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea author also commented on her early life:

I owe thanks to this country which let me in when I came as a child refugee from Hitler... I love my work and I still do it.

Being presented with the award was not the end of Judith's day. The illustrator was then reunited with two tigers - one in an enclosure and one in costume. She was quite safe throughout...

See pictures from the day below.