The Premio Strega Ragazze e Ragazzi – the award dedicated to children's and young adult literature – celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. It is promoted by the Fondazione Maria e Goffredo Bellonci and Strega Alberti Benevento – organisers of the Premio Strega – together with the Centre for Books and Reading of the Ministry of Culture and BolognaFiere – Bologna Children’s Book Fair, in collaboration with BPER Banca, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), the Italian Education System in the World, with RAI as media partner and Feltrinelli Bookshops and SYGLA as technical sponsors.
To mark the milestone of its first decade, a showcase has been set up at the fair featuring all the winning titles from the first edition to the present day.
BEST NARRATIVE IN PICTURES CATEGORY
Niente draghi per Celeste, by Ole Könnecke and Nikolaus Heidelbach, translated by Chiara Belliti (Beisler).
The picture book by Heidelbach and Könnecke is both amusing and surprising, characterised by a dual visual register that allows the authors to experiment with a hybrid and complex textual form, remarkably original, based on a fascinating dialogue between expressive languages: comics and illustration. The simplicity of the plot – with a brother tasked with looking after his little sister while the parents attend a party at the neighbours’ house and putting her to bed – turns into a small domestic adventure, where reality and imagination, everyday life and the fantastical find a perfect balance through the encounter and clash between Könnecke’s comic strips, lively in their dialogue and wonderfully expressive in portraying the siblings’ personalities, and Heidelbach’s unsettling pages, where Boris’s frightening fantasies are confronted by the irreverent mockery of the wild and untameable Celeste. A splendid book both in terms of storytelling and visual style, revealing a clear and heartfelt view of childhood from the authors, who portray it with honesty and tenderness, embracing and respecting all its complex facets.
A special mention was awarded to Neil Packer for La parabola del panificio indipendente, translated by Sara Saorin (Camelozampa).
BEST DEBUT BOOK CATEGORY
Gatto Mo e gli amici del bosco, by Yeonju Choi, translated by Giuliana Parziale (Feltrinelli).
Gatto Mo e gli amici del bosco is a sweet, simple and profound tale that guides young readers on a journey of growth and discovery. Through a symbolic path in the woods, Gatto Mo meets various characters who help him face his fears – first and foremost, the fear of the unknown, represented by a bear feared by all but actually harmless. Each encounter becomes an opportunity for reflection, courage and hope, marking an important step in the protagonist’s path toward maturity. The narrative style is straightforward and accessible, enriched by illustrations inspired by the author’s real-life cat, which make the story even more engaging. A tender and compelling book, perfect for young readers in search of heartfelt stories.
The finalist titles in the 6+, 8+ and 11+ competition categories have been announced.
Category 6+
Katie Clapham, Una libreria molto speciale (Emme Edizioni), translated by Giuditta Campello, illustrated by Kirsti Beautyman
Heinz Janisch, Il re e il mare (Gallucci), translated by Angela Ricci, illustrated by Wolf Erlbruch
Puck Koper, L’acqua è per i pesci (Terre di mezzo Editore), translated by Olga Amagliani
Sara Marconi, I sogni di Yume (Lapis Edizioni), illustrated by Anna Curti
Category 8+
Ross Montgomery, Rebel (Piemme), translated by Maurizio Bartocci
Maria Parr, Oscar e io (Beisler Editore), translated by Alice Tonzig, illustrated by Ashild Irgens
Luca Tortolini, Un desiderio al giorno (Mondadori), illustrated by Giulia Vetri
Category 11+
Deborah Ellis, Le piccole astuzie (La Nuova Frontiera), translated by Federico Taibi
Jay Hardwig, Semplicemente Maria (Uovonero), translated by Sante Bandirali
Saša Stanišić, Il lupo (Iperborea), translated by Claudia Valentini, illustrated by Regina Kehn
Jacqueline Woodson, Proteggimi (Fandango Libri), translated by Chiara Baffa
The winners of each category will be chosen by 390 juries of girls and boys in Italy and abroad, composed of schools, libraries and reading groups – a total of over 6,000 students. The prizes will be awarded in Rome in December during Più Libri Più Liberi – the National Fair of Small and Medium Publishing.
The prizes for each competition category are offered by Strega Alberti Benevento. In the event that the most voted works are translations, equal prizes are awarded to the translators, sponsored by BolognaFiere.
Established with the aim of going to the roots of a passion for reading, promoting its formative and cultural value, and discovering the most loved stories by giving a voice to children aged 6 to 13, the Premio Strega Ragazze e Ragazzi was launched in 2016, the same year the Premio Strega celebrated its seventieth anniversary.
OPEN UP
GALLERIES
GLOBAL RIGHTS EXCHANGE
FAIRTALES