Local illustrator Alex T Smith launched this year's Coventry Inspiration Book Awards.

Coventry's cutting edge Book Awards are here again and with special guest, local artist and illustrator, Alex T Smith, it is set to be impressive.

Alex dreamt of being a few things as a child, a chef, a rabbit - but one dream that really took off was his interest in art and illustration.  Since his graduation from Coventry University Alex has risen in children's illustration and won awards including second prize in the Macmillan Prize for Children's Picture Book Illustration in 2006.

To celebrate being short-listed Alex  launched the Book Awards on National Bookstart Day, 10 October at Holbrook Primary School from 11.45am. The day will be full of entertainment including lunch, a reading from Alex and a presentation to the school of the 'What's The Story' set of short-listed books!

Alex has recently been commissioned to illustrate the new Baby Book Pack leaflet for Bookstart. The pack will launch in January 2009 and Alex's vibrant pictures will be seen by every family in the country! 

Alex is also one of the lucky short-listed authors in the Book Awards 'What's The Story' poll for children aged 4 – 7 (key stage 1) with his first published book Eliot Jones, Midnight Superhero.