Nominees for the 2020 Nordic Council Children and Young People's Literature Prize
Icelandic nominations: Villueyjar (E. Kingdom of the Islands) by Ragnhildur Hólmgeirsdóttir & Egill spámaður (E. Egill) by Lani Yamamoto.
A modern fable about a duck who lives in the city and can no longer fly, poems about a domestic tyrant and his son in the form of a diary, and an indomitable pearl diver on the hunt for the elusive Treasure Pearl – these are just some of the stories among this year's 14 nominees for the 2020 Nordic Council Children and Young People's Literature Prize.
The nominees are usually announced at the international book fair for children's and young people's literature in Bologna. Sadly the event has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. In a time of quarantine and isolation, literature can help to open doors to new tales and adventures.
Here are the picture books, young adult novels, and poetry collections that have been nominated for this years children and young people's literature prize:
Iceland
Villueyjar by Ragnhildur Hólmgeirsdóttir. Young adult novel, Björt bókaútgáfa; Bókabeitan, 2019
Egill spámaður by Lani Yamamoto. Picture book, Angústúra, 2019.
Denmark
Ud af det blå by Rebecca Bach-Lauritsen and Anna Margrethe Kjærgaard (ill.). Pi… Min øjesten by Merete Pryds Helle and Helle Vibeke Jensen (ill.). Picture novel…
Finland
Vi är Lajon! by Jens Mattsson and Jenny Lucander (ill.). Picture book, Förlaget… Sorsa Aaltonen ja lentämisen oireet by Veera Salmi and Matti Pikkujämsä (ill.)…
Faroe Islands
Loftar tú mær? by Rakel Helmsdal. Picture book, Bókadeild Føroya Lærarafelags, …
Greenland
Orpilissat nunarsuarmi kusanarnersaat by Juaaka Lyberth and Maja-Lisa Kehlet (i…
Norway
Draumar betyr ingenting by Ane Barmen. Young adult novel, Gyldendal, 2019. Når er jeg gammel nok til å skyte faren min? by Åse Ombustvedt and Marianne Gre…
The Sami Language Area
Guovssu guovssahasat by Karen Anne Buljo and Inga-Wiktoria Påve (ill.). Picture…
Sweden
Hästpojkarna by Johan Ehn. Young adult novel, Gilla Böcker, 2019. Trettonde sommaren by Gabriella Sköldenberg. Young adult novel, Natur & Kultur,…
Åland
Segraren by Karin Erlandsson. Novel, Schildts & Söderströms, 2019.
The works have been nominated by the national members of the adjudicating committee for the Nordic Council Children and Young People's Literature Prize.
Winner to be announced on 27 October
The winner of the Nordic Council Children and Young People's Literature Prize will be announced on 27 October at an awards ceremony in Reykjavik in conjunction with the Session of the Nordic Council. The winner will receive the Northern Lights statuette and DKK 350,000.
About the Nordic Council Children and Young People's Literature Prize
The Nordic Council Children and Young People's Literature Prize was first awarded in 2013. The prize was born out of the long-standing desire of the Nordic ministers for culture to strengthen and highlight literature for children and young people in the Nordic Region.
In the Nordic countries, children and young people are regarded as active citizens in a democratic society. This is reflected in Nordic children and young people's literature, which is characterised by respect for the reader and their worldview, be this earthly everyday depictions, existential issues, or exciting adventures in unknown surroundings.
The purpose of the Nordic Council's five prizes is to raise interest in the Nordic cultural community and Nordic co-operation on the environment, as well as to recognise outstanding artistic and environmental efforts.
Find out more about the Nordic Council Children and Young People's Literature P… Find out more about the Nordic Council prizes Adjudication committee for the Nordic Council Children and Young People's Liter…