The Children's Literature Prize "Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Cento" is an international competition aimed at authors of

children's books A child ( : children) is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The legal definition of ''child'' generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younge ...

(

elementary Elementary may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * ''Elementary'' (Cindy Morgan album), 2001 * ''Elementary'' (The End album), 2007 * ''Elementary'', a Melvin "Wah-Wah Watson" Ragin album, 1977 Other uses in arts, entertainment, a ...

and

middle school A middle school (also known as intermediate school, junior high school, junior secondary school, or lower secondary school) is an educational stage which exists in some countries, providing education between primary school and secondary school. ...

) in

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

, original or translated.

Origins

The Prize Cento was established in 1979 on the initiative of the

Cassa di Risparmio di Cento Cassa di Risparmio di Cento S.p.A. (known as CR Cento or Caricento in short) is an Italian savings bank based in Cento, Emilia-Romagna, which serve the Province of Ferrara, Bologna and Modena. History The bank was found on 26 April 1844 in Cento, ...

and the Faculty of Education at the

University of Ferrara The University of Ferrara ( it, Università degli Studi di Ferrara) is the main university of the city of Ferrara in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. In the years prior to the First World War the University of Ferrara, with more than 5 ...

. Initially the winner was determined by a panel of experts chaired by

Gianni Rodari Giovanni Francesco "Gianni" Rodari (; 23 October 1920 – 14 April 1980) was an Italian writer and journalist, most famous for his works of children's literature, notably '' Il romanzo di Cipollino''. For his lasting contribution as a children's ...

; the current method of selection was adopted in 1981.Cassa di Risparmio di Cento
/ref> The award is currently sponsored and organized by the

Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Cento Cassa di Risparmio di Cento S.p.A. (known as CR Cento or Caricento in short) is an Italian savings bank based in Cento, Emilia-Romagna, which serve the Province of Ferrara, Bologna and Modena. History The bank was found on 26 April 1844 in Cento, ...

, with the support of the Region of

Emilia-Romagna egl, Emigliàn (man) egl, Emiglièna (woman) rgn, Rumagnòl (man) rgn, Rumagnòla (woman) it, Emiliano (man) it, Emiliana (woman) or it, Romagnolo (man) it, Romagnola (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title ...

, the

Province of Ferrara The province of Ferrara ( it, provincia di Ferrara; egl, pruvîncia ad Fràra) is a province in the region of Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Its provincial capital is the city Ferrara. As of 2016, it has a population of 354,238 inhabitants over an area ...

, the City of

Cento The Middle East Treaty Organization (METO), also known as the Baghdad Pact and subsequently known as the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO), was a military alliance of the Cold War. It was formed in 24 February 1955 by Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Tur ...

, of the

and

Bologna Bologna (, , ; egl, label=Emilian language, Emilian, Bulåggna ; lat, Bononia) is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy. It is the seventh most populous city in Italy with about 400,000 inhabitants and 1 ...

Method of selection

The competition includes a first phase of selection among all entries of two sets of finalists by a Selection Committee consisting of: Guido Clericetti ( cartoonist and scriptwriter), Fulvia Sisti (journalist), Giovanni Genovesi (

), Mario Schiavato (writer), Franco Frabboni (

University of Bologna The University of Bologna ( it, Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna, UNIBO) is a public research university in Bologna, Italy. Founded in 1088 by an organised guild of students (''studiorum''), it is the oldest university in continu ...

), Tiziana Ferrario (journalist), Paolo Valentini (journalist) and

Folco Quilici Folco Quilici (9 April 1930 – 24 February 2018) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He directed a total of 22 films between 1952 and his retirement in 2005, including '' Tiko and the Shark'' ( it). His 1955 film ''L'ultimo par ...

( documentary filmmaker). To determine the final ranking and then the winners, a second phase involves two juries, one made up of students in the last three grades of elementary school, the other of students in the first three years of secondary school. The top three authors in the two sections, are awarded respectively € 5,000, € 2,000 and € 1,000.

Curiosity

Among the best known writers to have won the Prize Cento are

Roberto Piumini Roberto Piumini is an Italian writer, known particularly for his children's stories. Life Roberto Piumini was born in the town of Edolo in northern Italy and graduated with a degree in pedagogy from the Università Cattolica in Milan. His first ...

(1979 and 1995), Bianca Pitzorno (1988),

Daniel Pennac Daniel Pennac (real name Daniel Pennacchioni, born 1 December 1944 in Casablanca, Morocco) is a French writer. He received the Prix Renaudot in 2007 for his essay '' Chagrin d'école''. Daniel Pennacchioni is the fourth and last son of a Cors ...

(1993), Susanna Tamaro (1995), and

J. K. Rowling Joanne Rowling ( "rolling"; born 31 July 1965), also known by her pen name J. K. Rowling, is a British author and philanthropist. She wrote ''Harry Potter'', a seven-volume children's fantasy series published from 1997 to 2007. The ser ...

(1998).

Hall of Fame

Notes

External links

premioletteraturaragazzi.com
{{portal bar, Literature, Children's literature Italian literary awards Children's literary awards Awards established in 1979 1979 establishments in Italy