2015

Young newcomer takes children's literature award

On the birthday of writer Janis Baltvilks, the International Children's Literature and Book Arts Award was presented for the eleventh time. The objective here is to motivate children to read books, praise works written by Latvian authors, and to encourage young writers and artists to create more new, interesting, and modern works for children. This year, the "Jaunaudze" Award of JSC "Latvian State Forests" was for the first time presented to a newcomer in children's literature - Martins Zutis.

The young man has created an exciting character and drawings for his book "Nenotikusais atklajums" (The Unaccomplished Revelation). Even the book's design is an inspiring example for a picture book, where intellectual romping transpires. "I was always moved by drawings. At first, they were graphic novels, and now – a book has been created. The drawing – it is my dialogue with the reader, everything starts from here. With "Unaccomplished Revelation", I am encouraging young readers to count, as I found it extremely difficult when I attended kindergarten, I did not like it," says the new author.

                                                                                                                                                    Attēls: LETA

The winner of LVM's award "Jaunaudze" received the "White Wolf" by artist Inese Brants, prize-money in the amount of EUR 900, and a chance to reside and work at the Ventspils International Writers and Translators House for one month, with eligibility to receive a scholarship. "I am happy and grateful for the award, thank you!" says Martins Zutis, promising to create more new and exciting picture stories.

The Janis Baltvilks Children's Literature and Book Arts Award ceremony was first held in 2004. Since 2008, the award is also given to one writer from the Baltic Sea region and translator of his or her work. The goal of the award is to focus society's attention to a positive purpose – a child, who is reading an interesting and beautiful book in Latvian.

The aim overall is to help Latvian children's literature enter a new development stage, attract the interest of talented writers and artists to children's books, and encourage children and their parents to choose high quality books.