Nominees for the 2020 Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize

The nominees are usually announced at the international book fair for children’s and young people’s literature in Bologna. Sadly the event has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. In a time of quarantine and isolation, literature can help to open doors to new tales and adventures.

Here are the picture books, young adult novels, and poetry collections that have been nominated for this years children and young people’s literature prize:

The works have been nominated by the national members of the adjudicating committee for the Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize.

The winner of the 2020 Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize will be announced on 27 October during a special television broadcast that can be watched throughout the Nordic Region. COVID-19 has meant that the awards ceremony can no longer take place in Iceland. The winners of the five Nordic Council prizes will instead be revealed during a digital ceremony. The winner will receive the Northern Lights statuette and DKK 350,000.

The Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize was first awarded in 2013. The prize was born out of the long-standing desire of the Nordic ministers for culture to strengthen and highlight literature for children and young people in the Nordic Region.

In the Nordic countries, children and young people are regarded as active citizens in a democratic society. This is reflected in Nordic children and young people’s literature, which is characterised by respect for the reader and their worldview, be this earthly everyday depictions, existential issues, or exciting adventures in unknown surroundings.
 

The purpose of the Nordic Council’s five prizes is to raise interest in the Nordic cultural community and Nordic co-operation on the environment, as well as to recognise outstanding artistic and environmental efforts.