Cheng Puay Koon, Linda Yew named 2026 Illustrators of the Year at Singapore Children’s Book Festival

Linda Yew (left) and Cheng Puay Koon

jointly won the 2026 Illustrator of the Year Award.

 PHOTOS: COURTESY OF CHENG PUAY KOON, LINDA YEW

SINGAPORE – Cheng Puay Koon and Linda Yew have been named joint winners of the 2026 Illustrator of the Year Award. They were honoured for their artwork at the third annual Singapore Children’s Book Festival’s opening ceremony on June 19 and will split the $10,000 grand prize.

This is the first time there have been joint winners since the award was first given in 2024.

Open to Singapore citizens and permanent residents, the award recognises outstanding illustrations in works of children’s literature published locally in 2025.

Co-organised by the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, University of the Arts Singapore (NAFA-UAS) and the Singapore Book Publishers Association, the festival runs until June 21 with a line-up that includes book launches, workshops and storytelling sessions at NAFA Campus 2 in Bencoolen Street.

Cheng clinched the award for her work in Giant Clam Calamity, published by Graceworks. Co-authored by Pauline Loh and Emily Lim-Leh, the book follows two young classmates on an intertidal walk on Lazarus Island. Guided by Dr Mui, a character inspired by real-life local marine ecologist Neo Mei Lin, the story highlights the vital yet often-overlooked role giant clams play in oceans.

The book is the second title in the Earthkeepers series, which aims to educate young readers about the unsung creatures safeguarding the environment.

Neo previously praised Cheng’s drawings in an interview with The Straits Times, noting that they were “spot on” in capturing a marine scientist’s work.