The Nordic Council Children and Young People's Literature Prize is awarded for a work of

children's A child () is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The term may also refer to an unborn human being. In English-speaking countries, the legal definition of ''child ...

young adult In medicine and the social sciences, a young adult is generally a person in the years following adolescence, sometimes with some overlap. Definitions and opinions on what qualifies as a young adult vary, with works such as Erik Erikson's stages ...

literature written in one of the languages of the

Nordic countries The Nordic countries (also known as the Nordics or ''Norden''; ) are a geographical and cultural region in Northern Europe, as well as the Arctic Ocean, Arctic and Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic oceans. It includes the sovereign states of Denm ...

. It was established by the

Nordic Council The Nordic Council is the official body for formal inter-parliamentary Nordic cooperation among the Nordic countries. Formed in 1952, it has 87 representatives from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden as well as from the autonomo ...

in 2012 after an initiative by ministers of culture in the Nordic countries. The prize was first awarded on 30 October 2013.

Nomination and selection process

In each of the Nordic countries, there is a national adjudication committee which chooses nominations. The committee's members are selected by the

Nordic Council of Ministers The Nordic Council of Ministers is an intergovernmental forum established after the Helsinki Treaty. The purpose of the Nordic Council of Ministers is to complement the Nordic Council and promote Nordic cooperation. Structure The governm ...

and each member must be an expert in their country's literature as well as other Nordic literature from other countries. The councils for

Denmark Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...

Iceland Iceland is a Nordic countries, Nordic island country between the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Europe. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the regi ...

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...

, and

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...

are made up of two main members and one deputy member, and they must nominate two works each. The council for

Finland Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...

contains one member and one deputy member for each of the languages Finnish and Swedish, and the council must nominate one work in each language. The

Sami Acronyms * SAMI, ''Synchronized Accessible Media Interchange'', a closed-captioning format developed by Microsoft * Saudi Arabian Military Industries, a government-owned defence company * South African Malaria Initiative, a virtual expertise ne ...

Greenland Greenland is an autonomous territory in the Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark. It is by far the largest geographically of three constituent parts of the kingdom; the other two are metropolitan Denmark and the Faroe Islands. Citizens of Greenlan ...

ic, Faroese, and

Åland Åland ( , ; ) is an Federacy, autonomous and Demilitarized zone, demilitarised region of Finland. Receiving its autonomy by a 1920 decision of the League of Nations, it is the smallest region of Finland by both area () and population (30,54 ...

ic writers' associations may also submit one nomination per year. The Nordic Adjudication Committee is made up of two ordinary members of each national adjudication committee and selects the winner based on the nominations. The award is given to new fiction written for children and young people that demonstrates good quality fiction and

illustration An illustration is a decoration, interpretation, or visual explanation of a text, concept, or process, designed for integration in print and digitally published media, such as posters, flyers, magazines, books, teaching materials, animations, vi ...

s. The prize is awarded during the annual autumn session of the

. The recipient receives a monetary award, underscoring the significance of the contribution to children’s and young people’s literature. During the fall session of the

, the prize and are given to the winner. The Nordic House provides the prize money.

Prize recipients

Nominated works

2013

: ''Søndag'' by

Kim Fupz Aakeson Kim Fupz Aakeson (born 1958) is a Danish writer, illustrator, and screenwriter. Early life Kim Fupz Aakeson was born in 1958. Career Aakeson is a Danish writer, illustrator, and screenwriter. He is the co-author of a series of children's book ...

and Eva Eriksson (ill.); ''Biblia Pauperum Nova'' by Oscar K. and Dorte Karrebæk (ill.) *

: ''Karikko'' by Seita Vuorela and Jani Ikonen (ill.); ''Allan och Udo'' by Minna Lindeberg and

Linda Bondestam Linda is an English feminine given name, derived from the Spanish word , meaning "pretty." Linda may also refer to: Names * Linda (given name), a female given name (including a list of people and fictional characters so named) * Linda (singer) ...

(ill.) *

: ''Skrímslaerjur'' by

Áslaug Jónsdóttir Áslaug Jónsdóttir (born 31 March 1963) is an Icelandic writer of children's books, illustrator and playwright. Early life and education She grew up near Borgarfjörður in west Iceland and then attended Menntaskólinn við Hamrahlíð in Reykja ...

(ill. and text), Kalle Güettler (text) and

Rakel Helmsdal Rakel Helmsdal (born 25 September 1966) is a Faroese author and artist. She writes novels, short stories, plays, poems for all age groups, as well as being a visual artist who illustrates some her books. She is the current chair person for the ...

(text); ''Ólíver'' by Birgitta Sif *

: ''Inn i elden'' by Aina Basso; ''Fallteknikk'' by Inga Sætre *

: ''Vita Streck och Öjvind'' by

Sara Lundberg Sara Caroline Lundberg (born 18 May 1971) is a Swedish illustrator and writer. Biography Sara Lundberg was educated at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland, where she earned a bachelor's degree in theatre and art in 1994, at Konstfack in S ...

; ''Pojkarna'' by Jessica Schiefauer *

Faroe Islands The Faroe Islands ( ) (alt. the Faroes) are an archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean and an autonomous territory of the Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark. Located between Iceland, Norway, and the United Kingdom, the islands have a populat ...

: ''Skriva í sandin'' by

Marjun Syderbø Kjelnæs Marjun Syderbø Kjelnæs (born 1974) is a Faroese poet, playwright and novelist. She is the author of several works in different genres. Among these are her two novels ''Óendaliga'' ''vera'' (2016) and ''Marta, Marta'' (2024) as well as her thre ...

: ''Hermelinen'' by Nuka K. Godtfredsen (ill.) and

Martin Appelt Martin may refer to: Places Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Europe * Martin, Croatia, a village * Martin, Slovakia, a city * Martín del Río, Aragón, Spain * Mart� ...

: ''Joels färger'' by Isela Valve * Sami language area: ''Mánugánda ja Heike'' by Signe Iversen and Sissel Horndal (ill.)

2014

* Denmark: ''Halli! Hallo! Så er der nye firkantede historier'' by Louis Jensen and

Lilian Brøgger Lilian Brøgger ( Brinch; born 1950) is a Danish illustrator known for illustrating children's books. Biography Born on 27 January 1950 in Nordby on the Danish island of Fanø, Brøgger was brought up in Copenhagen where she studied at the Danis ...

(ill.); ''To af alting'' by Hanne Kvist * Finland: ''Råttan Bettan och masken Baudelaire. Babypoesi och vilda ramsor'' by Annika Sandelin and Karoliina Pertamo (ill.); ''Vain pahaa unta'' by Ville Tietäväinen and Aino Tietäväinen * Iceland: ''Tímakistan'' by

Andri Snær Magnason Andri Snær Magnason (born 14 July 1973) is an Icelandic writer. He has written novels, poetry, plays, short stories, and essays. Andri is also a director and producer of three documentary films that have premiered in IDFA and CPH:DOX. His ...

; ''Stína stórasæng'' by Lani Yamamoto * Norway: ''Krigen'' by

Gro Dahle Gro Dahle (born 15 May 1962) is a Norwegian poet and writer. Early life Dahle was born in Oslo, and is the daughter of businessman Øystein Dahle. She grew up in Tønsberg, Aruba and New Jersey. She began studying psychology and English lite ...

and Kaia Linnea Dahle Nyhus (ill.); ''Brune'' by Håkon Øvreås and

Øyvind Torseter Øyvind Torseter (born 2 October 1972) is a Norwegian artist, illustrator, comics, comic book artist and writer. For his lasting contribution as a children's illustrator, Torseter was a finalist in 2014 for the biennial, international Hans Chris ...

(ill.) * Sweden: ''Olli och Mo'' by

Eva Lindström Eva Lindström (born 1952) is a Swedish illustrator and author. Her work is known for its humorous and dark style. Life Lindström was born in Västerås in 1952. She attended the art school Konstfack in Stockholm from 1969 to 1974, where she stu ...

; ''En sekund i taget'' by

Sofia Nordin Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain, in the western part of the country. The city is built west of the Iskar river and has many mineral springs, such as the ...

* Faroe Islands: ''Flata kaninin'' by

Bárður Oskarsson Bárður Oskarsson (born 18 July 1972 in Tórshavn) is a Faroese children's writer, illustrator and artist, who has won several literary awards. His books have been translated into Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic, French, German and Czech. Biograph ...

* Greenland: ''Nasaq teqqialik piginnaanilik'' by

Kathrine Rosing Katherine (), also spelled Catherine and other variations, is a feminine given name. The name and its variants are popular in countries where large Christian populations exist, because of its associations with one of the earliest Christian sa ...

and Nina Spore Kreutzmann (ill.) * Sami language area: ''Ilmmiid gaskkas'' by

Máret Ánne Sara Máret Ánne Sara (born 1983) is a Sámi- Norwegian artist and author. Her work explores political and ecological issues affecting the Sámi and Indigenous communities of northern Norway. Career Sara's art focuses on Sámi identity and liveli ...

2015

* Denmark: ''Ella er mit navn vil du købe det? Æske med løsblade og poetsne'' by

Mette Hegnhøj Mette is a female given name of Scandinavian origin. It is descended from the name Margaret and is also considered a variant of Matilda. Notable people *Mette Abildgaard (born 1988), Danish politician * Mette Andersen (born 1974), Danish cyclist ...

; ''Ud med Knud'' by Jesper Wung-Sung * Finland: ''Maresi. Krönikor från Röda klostret'' by Maria Turtschaninoff; ''Leonardo oikealta vasemmalle'' by Marjatta Levanto and Julia Vuori (ill.) * Iceland: ''Maðurinn sem hataði börn'' by Þórarinn Leifsson; ''Vinur minn, vindurinn'' by

Bergrún Íris Sævarsdóttir Bergrún Íris Sævarsdóttir (born 1985) is an Icelandic author and illustrator. In 2020, she won the Icelandic Literary Prize and the West Nordic Council's Children and Youth Literature Prize for her book ''Langelstur að eilífu''. Works * '' ...

* Norway: ''Joel og Io. En kjærlighetshistorie'' by Geir Gulliksen and Anna Fiske (ill.); ''De som ikke finnes'' by Simon Stranger * Sweden: ''Jagger, Jagger'' by Frida Nilsson; ''Mördarens apa'' by

Jakob Wegelius Jakob may refer to: People * Jakob (given name), including a list of people with the name * Jakob (surname), including a list of people with the name Other * Jakob (band), a New Zealand band, and the title of their 1999 EP * Max Jakob Memorial Awa ...

* Faroe Islands: ''Åh, min kære mor!'' by Elin á Rógvi and Marjun Reginsdóttir * Greenland: ''Aqipi – til sommerfest'' by Naja Rosing-Asvid * Sami language area: ''Durrebjørnen og skuterløypa'' by

Veikko Holmberg Veikko is a male Finnish given name. Notable people with the name include: * Veikko Aaltonen (born 1955), Finnish director, editor, sound editor, and production manager * Veikko Asikainen (1918–2002), Finnish footballer * Veikko Ennala (1922 ...

and Sissel Horndal (ill.) * Åland: ''Alberta Ensten och uppfinnarkungen'' by Malin Klingenberg

2016

* Denmark: ''Magnolia af Skagerrak'',

Bent Haller Bent may refer to: Places * Bent, Iran, a city in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran * Bent District, an administrative subdivision of Iran * Bent, Netherlands, a village in the municipality of Rijnwoude, the Netherlands * Bent County, Colorad ...

and Lea Letén (ill.); ''Da Gud var dreng'', Sankt Nielsen and Madam Karrebæk (ill.) * Finland: ''Koira nimeltään Kissa'', Tomi Kontio and Elina Warsta (ill.); ''Dröm om drakar'', Sanna Tahvanainen and Jenny Lucander (ill.) * Iceland: ''Koparborgin'', Ragnhildur Hólmgeirsdóttir; ''Sölvasaga unglings'',

Arnar Már Arngrímsson Arnar is a given name. Notable people with the name include: *Arnar Freyr Arnarsson (born 1996), Icelandic handball player * Arnar Freyr Frostason (born 1988), an Icelandic rapper (also known as Arnar Úlfur) * Arnar Grétarsson (born 1972), Icela ...

* Norway: ''Mulegutten'',

; ''Krokodille i treet'', Ragnar Aalbu * Sweden: ''Ishavspirater'', Frida Nilsson; ''Iggy 4-ever'', Hanna Gustavsson * Faroe Islands: ''Stríðið um tað góða grasið'',

* Greenland: ''Aima qaa schhh!'', Bolatta Silis Høegh * Sami language area: ''Čerbmen Bizi – Girdipilohta'', Marry Ailonieida Somby and Biret Máret Hætta (ill.)

2017

* Denmark: ''Dyr med pels - og uden'', Hanne Kvist; ''Heartstorm – Stormheart'', Annette Herzog, Katrine Clante (ill.), and Rasmus Bregnhøi (ill.) * Finland: ''Vildare, värre Smilodon'', Lindenberg Lucander and Jenny Lucander (ill.); ''Yökirja'', Inka Nousiainen and Satu Kettunen (ill.) * Iceland: ''Enginn sá hundinn'', Hafsteinn Hafsteinsson; ''Úlfur og Edda: Dýrgripurinn'',

Kristín Ragna Gunnarsdóttir Kristín Ragna Gunnarsdóttir (born 2 May 1968) is an Icelandic writer and illustrator of children's books. A literary scholar, she has lectured on creative writing and hosted art workshops. Kristín created and curated the exhibition ''Barnabók ...

* Norway: ''Far din'', Bjørn Ingvaldsen; ''Ungdomsskolen'', Anders Kvammen * Sweden: ''Djur som ingen sett utom vi'',

Ulf Stark Ulf Gottfrid Stark (12 July 1944 – 13 June 2017) was a Swedish author and screenwriter (he adapted several of his own books for film and wrote the screenplay for the 1999 film '' Tsatsiki, morsan och polisen''). Stark has collaborated with th ...

and

; ''Ormbunkslandet'', Elin Bengtsson * Faroe Islands: ''Hon, sum róði eftir ælaboganum'',

* Sami language area: ''Luohtojávrri oainnáhusat'', Kirste Paltto

2018

* Denmark: ''Lynkineser'', Jesper Wung-Sung and Rasmus Meisler (ill.); ''Hest Horse Pferd Cheval Love'', Mette Vedsø * Finland: ''Kurnivamahainen kissa'',

Magdalena Hai Magdalena may refer to: * Magdalena (given name), a feminine given name derived from Mary Magdalene (including a list of persons with the name) Entertainment * Magdalena (comics), an American comic book superheroine * ''Magdalena'' (film), a 19 ...

and Teemu Juhani (ill.); ''Pärlfiskaren'', Karin Erlandsson * Iceland: ''Vertu ósýnilegur – Flóttasaga Ishmaels'', Kristín Helga Gunnarsdóttir; ''Skrímsli í vanda'',

, Kalle Güettler, and

* Norway: ''Ingenting blir som før'', Hans Petter Laberg; ''Alice og alt du ikke vet og godt er det'',

Torun Lian Torun Lian (born 15 January 1956) is a Norwegian playwright, film director and novelist. She made her literary début in 1988 with the collection ''Tre skuespill'', for which she was awarded the Tarjei Vesaas' debutantpris. In 1995 she was awarde ...

* Sweden: ''Fågeln i mig flyger vart den vill'',

; ''Norra Latin'', Sara Bergmark Elfgren * Faroe Islands: ''Træið'',

* Sami Language Area: ''Joekoen sjïehteles ryöjnesjæjja'', Anne-Grethe Leine Bientie and Meerke Laimi Thomasson Vekterli (ill.) * Åland: ''Pärlfiskaren'', Karin Erlandsson

2019

* Denmark: ''Da Mumbo Jumbo blev kæmpestor'',

Jakob Martin Strid Jakob Martin Strid is a List of Danes#Artists, Danish cartoonist, who is known throughout Denmark for his successful series ''Strid'' in the Danish newspaper ''Politiken''. Before his mainstream success he drew for the socialist paper ''Socialiste ...

; ''Styrke'', Cecilie Eken * Finland: ''Breven från Maresi'', Maria Turtschaninoff; ''Ruusun matka'', Marika Maijala * Iceland: ''Rotturnar'',

Ragnheiður Eyjólfsdóttir ''Ragnheiður'' is an opera in three acts by to an Icelandic libretto by . It tells the story of the romantic relationship between Ragnheiður, daughter of the Icelandic bishop Brynjólfur Sveinsson, and her teacher Daði Halldórsson, based on ...

; ''Silfurlykillinn'',

Sigrún Eldjárn Sigrún (Old Norse "victory rune"Orchard (1997:194).) is a valkyrie in Norse mythology. Her story is related in ''Helgakviða Hundingsbana I'' and ''Helgakviða Hundingsbana II'', in the ''Poetic Edda''. The original editor annotated that she wa ...

* Norway: ''Alle sammen teller'',

Kristin Roskifte Kristin Roskifte (born 30 April 1975) is a Norwegian illustrator and author of picture books. Biography Roskifte was born on 30 April 1975. She was awarded the Nordic Council Children and Young People's Literature Prize in 2019 for the pictu ...

; ''Det var ikke en busk'', Eli Hovdenak * Sweden: ''Den förskräckliga historien om Lilla Hon'', Lena Ollmark and Per Gustavsson (ill.); ''Risulven Risulven'', Nina Ivarsson. * Faroe Islands: ''Miljuløtur'',

and Kathrina Skarðsá (ill.) * Greenland: ''Tuttuarannguaq'', Camilla Sommer and Pernille Kreutzmann (ill.) * Sami language area: ''Šiellaspeajal'', Karen Anne Buljo * Åland: ''På en trollsländas vingar'', Ann-Christin Waller and Anni Wikberg (ill.)

2020

* Denmark: ''Ud af det blå'', Rebecca Bach-Lauritsen and Anna Margrethe Kjærgaard (ill.); ''Min øjesten'', Merete Pryds Helle and Helle Vibeke Jensen (ill.) * Finland: ''Vi är Lajon!'', Jens Mattsson and Jenny Lucander (ill.); ''Sorsa Aaltonen ja lentämisen oireet'', Veera Salmi and Matti Pikkujämsä (ill.) * Iceland: ''Villueyjar'', Ragnhildur Hólmgeirsdóttir; ''Egill spámaður'', Lani Yamamoto * Norway: ''Draumar betyr ingenting'', Ane Barmen; ''Når er jeg gammel nok til å skyte faren min?'',

Åse Ombustvedt Åse may refer to: People * Tone Åse (born 1965), Norwegian singer Given name * Åse Birkrem, Norwegian handball player * Åse Fosli, Norwegian politician for the Conservative Party * Åse Hedstrøm, Norwegian composer based in Stockholm, Sweden ...

and Marianne Gretteberg Engedal (ill.) * Sweden: ''Hästpojkarna'',

Johan Ehn Johan Ehn (born 2 July 1975) is a politician in Åland Åland ( , ; ) is an Federacy, autonomous and Demilitarized zone, demilitarised region of Finland. Receiving its autonomy by a 1920 decision of the League of Nations, it is the smalle ...

; ''Trettonde sommaren'', Gabriella Sköldenberg * Faroe Islands: ''Loftar tú mær?'',

* Greenland: ''Orpilissat nunarsuarmi kusanarnersaat'', Juaaka Lyberth and Maja-Lisa Kehlet (ill.) * The Sami language area: ''Guovssu guovssahasat'', Karen Anne Buljo and Inga-Wiktoria Påve (ill.) * Åland: ''Segraren'', Karin Erlandsson

References

{{Portal bar, Children and Young Adult Literature, Denmark, Finland, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway, Sweden Nordic Council prizes Nordic literary awards Awards established in 2012 Children's literary awards