The Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize 2018 goes to Træið by the Faroese author Bárður Oskarsson

In a world in which we are constantly bombarded by stimuli, Bárður Oskarsson received the award for a tale that dares to take its time. His publisher, Niels Jákup Thomsen, accepted the award on his behalf.

In the face of constant demands to live our lives at an ever faster pace, we have chosen to honour a story that dares to take its time. In a world in which we are constantly bombarded by stimuli, we have selected a book that makes sparse use of words and unpretentious drawings to tell a tale that is both entertaining and profound. The book is notable for its highly accomplished artwork, as well as its great confidence in its readers’ imagination and ability to think for themselves. A chat between two friends raises the question of whether it is good enough just to make do with other people’s experiences, or whether we should take risks to satisfy our curiosity about what lies beyond our own horizons. Bárður Oskarsson presents a wealth of details and subtlety in his picture book Træið, which wins the prize this year for achieving the rare feat of being a remarkably enjoyable read for all ages.

The Nordic Council awards five annual prizes: the Literature Prize, the Children and Young People’s Literature Prize, the Music Prize, the Film Prize, and the Environment Prize. The DKK 350,000 prizes are awarded at a gala event during the annual Session of the Nordic Council.