Celebrating the birthday of the writer Jānis Baltvilks, the International Jānis Baltvilks Prize in various nominations in the field of children’s literature was solemnly presented for the 16th time in a special ceremony on Friday at the Botanical Garden of the University of Latvia.
The Baltvilka Prize in Writing was awarded to Rasa Bugavičute-Pēce for the long story “Boy Who Saw in the Dark”, published by Latvijas mediji.
Lote Vilma Vītiņa was honored as the best illustrator of children’s and youth books for the book “Poet and Smell” published by “Aminori”.
Ieva Jurjāne received the special prize of the jury for illustrations in Kārlis Ķezbers’ book “Takšelis Makšelis”, published by “Mansards”.
The international winners of the Baltvilka Prize – Lithuanian writer Jurge Vile and illustrator Lina Itagaki, as well as translator Dace Meijere for the Lithuanian children’s literary work “Siberian Haiku” published by the publishing house “Big and Small” – have already been named before.
The White Wolf Award is a porcelain “White Wolf” boat and cash award created by the artist Inese Brants.
At the solemn ceremony, the SJSC “Latvian State Forests” (LVM) award “Jaunaudze” for the debut in children’s and youth literature was also presented. This award was given to Viesturs Ķerus for the story “Meža meitene Maija”, published by the publishing house “Liels un mazs”. Ķerus, who is also an ornithologist, refused the prize, instead asking LVM to save an old corner of the forest and name it Baltvilks. The laureate explained that he does not support LVM’s deforestation policy.
As the representative of the Latvian Council for Children and Youth Literature (LBJLP) Silvija Tretyakova informed LETA, the task of the award is to promote the development of children’s literature in Latvia, evaluate the work of writers and illustrators, as well as strengthen reading traditions in society.
This year, the jury included art historian Austra Avotiņa, literary critic Ilze Stikāne, art education expert Ilze Kupča, literature lecturer Aija Kalve, director Valters Sīlis with children, international literature project manager Ieva Hermansone with her daughter Ella, who read 78 works. The “short list” included 14 works.
According to Tretyakov, the competition for translated literature was very fierce – a total of 29 translations from English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Spanish, Polish, Italian, Dutch, Russian, Lithuanian and Estonian. For the second time, Lithuanian authors have won the largest children’s literature award in Latvia. It was the first time in 2010 by Ķēstutis Kasparavičs with the book “White Elephant”, translated by Indra Brūvere.
Osvalds Zebris, together with the laureate Bugavičuti-post, also applied for the Baltvilks Prize in Children’s and Youth Literature with his work “Māra”, published in the publishing house “Dienas grāmata”, Inese Zandere’s “Bērs, kas neeksrita” publishing house “Big and small”. Agnese Vanaga’s “Plastic Hooligans”, published by “Jāņa Rozes charges”, and Arno Jundze’s “Šušnirks and Underground Bubbles”, published by “Zvaigzne ABC”, also applied for the award.
In addition to the laureate Vītiņa, Gundega Muzikante for illustrations for illustrations for Ieva Samauskas’ book “Seven Winged Findings in a Small Bag” published by Zvaigzne ABC, Jurjāne for illustrations for the book “Takšelis Makšelis”, Mārtiņš Zutis for illustrations Pirates of the Ice Sea ”published by“ Jāņa Rozes apgāds ”and Andris Manfelde for illustrations for the book“ Lilac Slots Drawings ”published by“ Latvijas mediji ”.
Candidates for the LVM Award “Jaunaudze” for debut in children’s literature and book art together with the laureate Ķerus were Dāvids Vikmanis and Marina Heniņa with the book “Roņpils: Purva story” published by “Jāņa Rozes apgāds” and Kristīne Martinova for illustrations for the book “Blue Planet Story” published by Big and Small.
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