Writer Pieter Koolwijk has with his book Gozert won the Gouden Griffel, the most important Dutch literature prize for children’s books.
The book, with illustrations by Linde Faas, is about the experiences of protagonist Ties and his imaginary friend Gozert. Together they do things that are not always wise. Because Ties’s parents don’t know how to deal with Ties and his made-up boyfriend, they decide to take him to an institution.
According to the jury, Koolwijk proves in his book “that imagination has a right to a place in reality”. Fidelity rather praise the humor of Gozert, “with wonderfully disarming characters”.
The 46-year-old Koolwijk has written five other children’s books in recent years. In each of the books the role of fantasy in everyday reality plays a role.
The author combines his writing with his work as an IT specialist at the municipality of Emmen, where he also lives. Gozert is the first book with which Koolwijk wins the Gouden Griffel. The book is written for children between the ages of 9 and 12.
Gold Brush
The prize for the best illustrated children’s book, the Golden Brush, goes to Ludwig Volbeda. He made drawings for the book Whole stories for half a soldier, written by Benny Lindelauf.
Whole stories for half a soldier is about six brothers who are each drafted into the army. The brothers each have to pass a border post, where they tell stories in order to get through. They tell about these experiences in the letters they send to the brothers who are still at home. The story has been “atmospherically depicted” by Volbeda with “intriguing drawings”, according to the jury.
Children’s book week
The prizes were awarded on the eve of Children’s Book Week. It will start tomorrow. This year’s theme is ‘Be what you want’. Writer Bette Westera, who last year won the Gouden Griffel, wrote the children’s book week gift: ‘Tiril and the magic potion’.
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