The Kurt Maschler Award (1982 to 1999) was a British literary award that annually recognised one "work of imagination for children, in which text and illustration are integrated so that each enhances and balances the other." Winning authors and illustrators received £1000 and a bronze figurine called the "Emil".[1]
The Award was founded by Kurt Maschler, best known as the publisher of Emil and the Detectives by Erich Kästner (1929). By the time it was discontinued after covering 1999 publications, it was run by Booktrust and Tom Maschler, a British publisher and the son of the founder. At that time it was announced in December of the publication year.[1]