2017

The Third Jaunaudze Award has been Presented for the Best Debut in Children's Literature

As 24 July, the 73rd birthday of poet Jānis Baltvilks, is approaching, the winners of Jānis Baltvilks Prize in Children's Literature and Book Art have been announced. The prize named after the poet will be awarded for the 13th time. For the third year already, JSC "Latvijas valsts meži" (LVM) will also present its Jaunaudze award.

The Jaunaudze award is presented for the best debut in children's literature and book art. Five laureates nominated this year:

• Kristians Brekte for his illustration to the book “Pastaiga mirušo pilsētā. Pārupes spoku stāsti” (A Walk in the City of the Dead. Pārupe Ghost Stories) by Māris Rungulis, and for his illustrations to book No.85  Fricis Bārda “Vakars” (Evening) of the book series “Bikibuks”;
• Rūta Briede for her book "Kaiju karalienes noslēpums" (The Mystery of the Queen of Seagulls);
• Sanita Reinsone for the book “Kus mul patarei! Kā Igaunijas leļļi bēga uz Latviju” (Kus mul patarei! How Estonian Dolls Fled to Latvia);
• Toms Kalninskis for the book “Zaķa Garauša laimes zeme” (The Lucky Land of the Bunny);
• Dārta Stafecka for her illustrations to book No. 90 of the book series "Bikibuks"- Ilmārs Šlāpins “Es tiešām gribu sunīti” (I Really Want a Dog).

It is already known that the international winner of the 2017 prize is the German writer Annette Mierswa. The Latvian translation of this book by Inga Karlsberga will also be awarded.

For the award in original literature and book art, the jury has chosen ten candidates who have published children's books in Latvian during the period from May 2016 to May 2017. Unlike in the case of the international winner, the winner of this prize is not announced beforehand - only on the day of the ceremony.

The goal of Jānis Baltvilks Award in Children's Literature and Book Art is to draw attention to the positive – a child, who reads exciting and beautiful books written in Latvian. The award was first presented in 2004. Since 2008, the award is also presented to writers and translators from the Baltic Sea Region.

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