Jacques Vriens got the very first, Francine Oomen won it nine times and this year Thomas van Grinsven and Rutger Vink win with their book The Magic Collar the Children’s Jury Prize 2022 in the age category 6 to 9 years. Kevin Hassing wins in the category 10 to 12 years with Sparrow & Captain Evil Beard and the Course to the Kraken† Children’s book critic Jaap Friso explains what makes these books popular.
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The winning books were announced today in Utrecht during the Great Children’s Jury Fest. The Children’s Jury is a public prize, so children decide which book wins. During the voting weeks they could vote for their favorite book, and 52,448 children did. A record number, according to organizer Stichting CPNB (Stichting Collectieve Propaganda of the Dutch Book).
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Why was there a massive vote for the YouTubers’ book and Hessing’s adventurous octopus book? Children’s book critic Jaap Friso has an idea. †The Magic Collar of YouTubers fits in well with what children like, and that is often watching YouTube videos. The success of these guys also explains why their book is so popular. That’s not a bad thing, on the contrary: these kinds of books really have their value. They are accessible, do not ask too much of a child from a literary point of view and hopefully it will be a stepping stone to books with a bit more layering.”
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This is not necessary, emphasizes Friso, but children who learn to love reading enjoy it a lot. “It stimulates your own imagination, broadens your vocabulary, develops empathy – it really helps if you like reading.” The winning book Sparrow & Captain Evil Beard and the Course to the Kraken is already more of a bulky reading book, Friso notes. “A really fun, lively and adventurous children’s book.”
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We really have a beautiful children’s book landscape in the Netherlands in which a thousand flowers bloom – and there are more and more
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sweet sisters
Other nominees for the Children’s Jury Prize 2022 were The Sweet Sisters are going on holiday by Hanneke de Zoete, Dwars & Co by Rico Hop, and Life of a Loser 15 – Submerged by Jeff Kinney. You notice that this prize is a popularity poll, says the children’s book critic. These books are light-hearted, made by YouTube heroes of children, because the Zoete Zusjes are known for their videos on their own YouTube channel, and they ensure that children are put to reading in any case – and that is a profit.
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“That books are read by children is good news. The series Life of a loser has been very popular for a long time and that can be explained: they do not ask too much of a child, they follow a fixed pattern and there is a lot of humor in them. Hopefully it inspires kids to read on!” What a good book must meet: this is how a children’s book is no different from a book for adults, says Friso. “Nothing has to be done. What you enjoy reading depends on your background, your hobbies, what kind of child you are. And also of the reading instruction you have had. In the Netherlands we really have a beautiful children’s book landscape in which a thousand flowers bloom – and there are more and more.”
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The YouTube success of these guys also explains why their book is so popular. That’s not bad, on the contrary
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Reading to your child is not only a pleasant moment together, it is also good for language development. Which book do you choose? View the top ten toddler and children’s books on Ouders van Nu.
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Pluk and Thea Beckman
Classics like Crusade in Jeans, war winter in Picking the Petteflet are missing from the Children’s jury list – but that doesn’t mean they are slowly becoming less popular, says Friso. These classics are, for example, in the De Grote Friendly 100, a list of the favorite children’s books of all time, chosen by the listeners of The Big Friendly Podcast and visitors to the book site hebban.nl.
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,,Last year the discussion flared up that parents and teachers are very much stuck in their own nostalgia and keep taking out those classics, while so much news appears. You can do both. Alternate Pluk with a beautiful picture book of this time, which also discusses diversity such as different origins or family situations, about illness and disabilities, children from the city or countryside and of different colors.”
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Guy and Lamp
Which books should not be missing on the shelf in the nursery? Friso has two tips. ,,The book Gozert by Pieter Koolwijk is highly recommended. It’s about a boy with an imaginary boyfriend. His parents want that to stop, because that friend does not exist and he is even admitted to a psychiatric institution. But what exactly is the problem? These are good questions to think about with your child.
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Also recommended according to the reviewer: light by Annette Schaap. Lampje lives with her father who drinks too much in a lighthouse. Her mother has died. Every evening Lampje has to turn on the light in the lighthouse, but one night she forgets and a terrible storm comes. “A truly beautiful book that you must read.”
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