2016

LVM Jaunaudze Award has been presented for the best debut in children's literature

Vivianna Maria Staņislavska has received Jānis Baltvilks Children's Literature and Book Arts Award for her illustrations of Ieva Samauska's poetry collection “Skaļā klase” [The Noisy Class]. Already for the second year the prize for the best debut in children's literature was prepared by JSC "Latvia's State Forests" (LVM) with its Jaunaudze Award.

According to the jury of Jānis Baltvilks Award, the design created by the artist and illustrations to the collection of poems "Skaļā klase" are expressive, dense and intensive - just like school notes and school years. The prize was awarded to Vivianna for her ability to tasteful capture the entire complicated, emotionally and psychologically exuberant school life in just one book, expressed in visual language that is understood by both - school students and their teachers.

"Vivianna Maria Staņislavska is a young, perspective illustrator; her hair has been in different colours, even blue, and there is always a flower in it," says Rūta Briede, lecturer at the Art Academy of Latvia, book designer and illustrator.

The winner of LVM Jaunaudze Award received the "White Wolf" by artist Inese Brants, a prize-money in the amount of EUR 900, and a chance to reside and work at the International Writers' and Translators' House in Ventspils for one month, receiving a creativity scholarship.

On 24 July, the 72nd birthday of the distinguished Latvian poet Jānis Baltvilks (1944 - 2003), the International Jānis Baltvilks Baltic Sea Region Award was granted for achievements in children’s literature and book arts in Latvia. The Jānis 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 draw attention to the positive – a child, who is reading an interesting and beautiful book in Latvian.

Its aim 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 good quality books.