Ken Wilson-Max writes and illustrates books for children so that they can their friends can see themselves in stories. He also publishes both new and experienced creators, and advocates for a more balanced publishing industry, driven by empathy with the goal of creating children’s books with good representation.
Ken travelled to the UK to study and ended up working a publishing company. After a decade of designing books for children and young adults, he became a children’s author and illustrator. He also dreamt of publishing for a long time and finally got my chance in 2017 when he became the owner of Alanna Max Books. This independent publishing house specialises in telling stories for young children about people from different backgrounds.
Then, in 2021, Ken was hired by Harper Collins Children’s Books in the UK to set up and run their first official imprint and the focus of their move to publishing more inclusive books. The imprint is called Kumusha Books.
Kumusha is a Shona word from Zimbabwe describing the concept of home- it refers to more than a physical place. It is the place where you are pulled to every now and then, the place where you feel most safe. The imprint hopes to encourage children to feel at home with books byt telling stories about all children created by authors and illustarors from around the world.
Career Highlights
2024
Guest judge, Shirley Hughes Sketchbook Award
Longlisted for the Carnegie awards, UK
Shortlisted for the Inclusive Books Fro Children Award (UK)
Longlisted for the Derby Childrens picture Book Award (UK)
2023
Nominated, Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. (ALMA)
2022
- Made Patron of CLPE (Centre for Literacy in Primary Education)
- Illustrator of CLiPPA award winner, “Stars With Flaming Tales”
- Nominated for the Astrid Lingren Memorial Award (ALMA)
- Made Patron of the Jericho Prize (UK)
2021
Publisher Kumusha Books, Harper Collins Children’s Books (UK) first imprint
2020
- Nominated, Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award
- Winner of STEAM AWARD for Early Years Picturebooks 2020
- World Book Day Steering Committee
- Judge, Wales Book of the Year 2020
- Bank Street College (USA) – 20 best books of the Year
- Launched 17Promises magazine in partnership with United Nations, Govt of Zimbabwe
2019
- Nominated- Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Awards 2019 (UK)
- Mentor, Pathways into Publishing
- Included in ‘Breaking New Ground’ publication as one of the most influential black authors/illustrators in the UK
- Honourable Mention, Moveable Books Society Meggendorfer Prize for Best Paper Engineering (US)
2017
Owner & publisher, Alanna Max
2015
- Awarded one of the 50 best books on diversity in the last 50 years by the Guardian Newspaper
- Centre for Literature in Primary Education core list (Early Years) UK
- African American Literature Bookclub (AALB) Top 154 Recommended African-American Children’s Books
2014
- Launched Chicken Newspaper for Children. A quarterly printed tabloid-sized publication for primary school children.
1994
- First books for Children published
1984
- Silver Medal for illustration- Brno Biennale, probably the youngest person ever to win.
I am represented by Clare Wallace of Darley Anderson.
Here is a list of my books for children:
Download Ken Wilson-Max CV