Steve Antony

STEVE ANTONY’S Work With The UK School Library Association

In recognition of his support of School Libraries Steve was named School Library Association’s ‘School Libraries Champion’ in 2023. His cover illustrations for the SLA’s quarterly magazine, The School Librarian, pay tribute to real-life School Librarians.

The School Library Association (SLA) is a not-for-profit which supports schools develop their school library, establish a reading culture and deliver independent learning skills. The SLA believe that all schools should have their own (or shared) staffed library to help all children and young people fulfil their potential. They currently have over 2,200 members and are the first port of call for schools and individuals wanting advice, resources and training. The SLA support schools to overcome their barriers - including time, money and space, amongst others – to ensure that no child gets left behind on their reading journey.

In 2023 Steve Antony started illustrated the front covers of the SLA’s magazine The School Librarian magazine: a quarterly publication that reviews and discusses the latest children's books. Each issue contains articles, regular features, reviews of new books - fiction and non-fiction - and reviews of apps, websites, and other media. Content often comes from outside sources, as journal publishers encourage writers to send in editorials, articles, and book and media reviews to the editors. Journal subscription comes at no cost to the members of the School Library Association. If you are interested in become a member, please visit their website.

Steve Antony’s cover illustrations often pay tribute to real-life School Librarians and literacy champions. In Feb 2024 he revealed the cover of the spring edition featuring all of the Secondary School Librarians who collectively won the SLA 2023 Community Award at the CLPE in London during a fundraising event.

Other cover illustrations have included the 2013-2023 SLA ‘School Librarians of the Year’, Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce and C of E Primary School’s award-winning Reading Den.