Tuesday, April 16, 2013

...the Peter Pan awardee

Filipino children’s book wins Peter Pan Prize

By MST Lifestyle
Posted on Apr. 14, 2013



Adarna House recently announced that the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Sweden has awarded this year’s Peter Pan Prize to Naku, Nakuu, Nakuuu!, written by Nanoy Rafael with illustrations by Sergio Bumatay III. The Swedish version was published by Bokförlaget Trasten.





The IBBY Sweden’s citation said that “The Filipino picture book Naku, Nakuu, Nakuuu! represents a part of the world not often seen in Swedish publishing for children. The theme, however, is universal: a child getting a younger sibling. The boy Isko’s anxiety about the changes he suspects will take place in his family is expressed by the recurrent cry of ‘Naku, nakuu, nakuuu!’ (roughly ‘My, my, oh my!’).

The illustrations mirror the main character’s apprehension, and visualize his fears in an imaginative and detailed way. Through a changing palette of colours the pictures follow Isko’s mood from anxious bewilderment to the harmonious final page.Here, the mask which Isko has worn throughout the book has been removed, and he seems to have grown into his role of soon-to-be older brother.”

According to their IBBY Sweden website, the Peter Pan Prize was established in 2000 by IBBY Sweden and the Göteborg Book Fair. The prize is awarded annually to a book for children or young adults of high quality in both literary and subject terms, satisfying one or more of the following criteria: by an author previously unpublished or little known in Sweden; from a country, language group or culture with limited representation in Sweden; with content concerning children or young adults in less familiar countries and cultures less familiar to Swedish readers.

Adarna House added that the Naku, Nakuu, Nakuuu! has won many awards including: the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) Silver Anniversary Salanga and Alcala Prizes in 2008 for the story and illustrations, and the Encouragement Prize for the 2008 Noma Concours for Children’s Picture Book Illustrations. In 2012, Metrobank Foundation’s Network of Outstanding Teachers and Educators chose the book as part of the National Book Development Board’s list of Highly Recommended Supplementary Materials.

Last year’s winner of the Peter Pan Prize was While We Were Out by Ho Baek Lee, and The Arrival by Shaun Tan in 2011.

 

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