Evaluation of the work of writers and illustrators and translations of valuable children’s literary works of European countries by a professional jury has always contributed to the further publication of quality literature in the Latvian language and Latvia’s active participation in European cultural processes. LBJLP is active in Internationalin the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). This gives an opportunity to promote international recognition of Latvian children’s and youth literature. Among the laureates of the award, candidates are selected and nominated for the most prestigious children’s literature awards in the world – the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award and the IBBY Honor List.
This year, the award jury, which included literary scholars Ilze Stikāne and Rudīte Rinkeviča, art historian Baiba Nurža, artists Indra Sproģe and Dace Ziemele, as well as director Krista Burāne, has read and evaluated 84 books, paying attention to the quality of the text, while 55 additional editions were read and reviewed. , looking for an applicant for the book art award. There are more than 20 debuts in writing and illustrating.
Estonian writer Juhani Pitseps has become the international laureate of the Jānis Baltvilkas Award in 2022 with his novel There is a golden ship of the moon (Jāņa Rozes pubg, 2021), as well as its translator Marika Muzikante.
Candidates for the Jānis Baltvilkas Prize in children’s and young people’s literature are:
- Inese Paklone Animal feeding (Petergailis, 2022);
- Lot Vilma Vītiņa Water tower (Big and small2021);
- Ines Zander Two Almas (Big and small2021);
- Laura Vinogradova Dad and Dog (Star ABC2021);
- Louise Pastore Children of happiness (Big and small2021).
Candidates for the Jānis Baltvilkas award in book art:
- Anna Vaivare for the illustrations for Guntas Šnipke’s poems Inese’s house (Big and small2022);
- Gundega Muzikante for the illustrations for Juhani Pitsep’s novel There is a golden ship of the moon (published by Jāņas Rozes2021) and for the collection of poems by Inese Paklone Animal feeding (Petergailis2022);
- Anete Bayare-Babchuk for the illustrations for Ines Zander’s book Two Almas (Big and small, 2021);
- Ūna Laukmane for the illustrations for the collection of poems by Arnold Auziņš Trick and trick (Big and small2021);
- Sabine Baumane for the illustrations for Renate Berant’s book Where was I when I wasn’t, or the story of Monte (Monte Stories, 2021).
Applicants AS Latvian state forests for the award Youth for a debut in children’s/youth literature and book art:
- Evija Pintāne for the illustrations for Louise Pastore’s long story Children of happiness (Big and small, 2021);
- Renāte Bērante and Sabīne Baumane for the book Where was I when I wasn’t, or the story of Monte (Monte Stories2021);
- Iveta Troalik about the novel It will be better immediately (Mansard2021).
In cooperation with the portal LSM.lv, starting from July 11, there will be an opportunity to participate in the readers’ vote and choose the best and most beautiful children’s or young people’s book from this year’s nominated works.
Every year, in connection with the Jānis Baltvilkas award, readings of the latest children’s literature are held, in which the laureates and nominees of the previous years’ Baltvilkas award, as well as debutants, participate. In this year’s readings With bees… and cats, which will be more in the spirit of supporting Ukraine, will be attended by writers Halina Vdovichenko and Tanya Postavna and their book translators Maris Salejs and Mara Poliakova. International laureate Juhani Pitseps will also take part in the readings with an application for a new children’s book translated by Marika Muzikantes.
As every year, the award ceremony will have a musical premiere of solo songs created especially for this event with the poetry of Jānis Baltvilkas. The author of the songs is composer Olesya Kozlovska, they will be performed by soprano Katažina Dudareva. The award ceremony will be led by Ance Strazda and Klāvs Mellis.
Cooperation partners from AS Latvian Media, promoting the International Jānis Baltvilkas Award in children’s literature and book art, have prepared a special newspaper Latvian newspaper weekly supplement Cultural signs special number. It will feature interviews, reviews and an essay by Laura Bockish on fathers and book reading.
Event times:
- on July 24 at 11.00 a.m. in the LU Botanical Garden, Kandavas iela 2, ŠķĚNĪ International readings of children’s literature With bees … and cats. Free entrance.
- on July 24 at 14.00 Jānis Baltvilkas memorial moment in I Meža cemetery.
- on July 24 at 18.00 award ceremony in the LU Botanical Garden, participation in it by invitation after prior registration.
You can follow the news of the Jānis Baltvilkas award on the LBJLP social media accounts Facebook and Instagram.
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