Zeynep Ozatalay’s My Name is Samim longlisted for the Jhalak Prize

We are proud to share that My Name is Samim, written by Fidan Meikle and illustrated by our talented Zeynep Ozatalay, has been longlisted for the Jhalak Prize. The prize celebrates literary and artistic work that champions diversity, inclusion and equity.

Zeynep shared some words about what this recognition means to her:

“I was incredibly happy to learn that 'My Name is Samim' has been longlisted for the Jhalak Prize. I believe that children who read Samim's story will change the way they view other children around them. I currently live in Turkey, a waypoint on the migration route for many families affected by war, and unfortunately, I have witnessed a great deal of pain and hardship over the years.

When we collaborated with the Kelpies team on the cover of this book, our aim was to capture a glimmer of hope, and I hope we have achieved that. Children like Samim, who are starting anew from difficult circumstances, need hope, and the children who meet them also need to cultivate empathy and love in their hearts.

I am extremely proud to be part of this book, and I hope Samim's story reaches as many readers of all ages as possible.”

If you’d like to work with Zeynep, please contact: [email protected]

At illo agency, we pride ourselves in representing a collation of global illustrators, distinctly diverse in creativity and uniquely celebrated by like-minded clients across a range of commercial markets.