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LVM Jaunaudze Award has been Presented for the Best Debut in Children's Literature

Already for the 13th time, to mark the birthday of Latvian poet Jānis Baltvilks, Jānis Baltvilks Award was presented for achievements in children’s literature and book arts. It is the third year that JSC "Latvijas valsts meži" (LVM) has prepared its special Jaunaudze award for the best debut.

This year, the jury recognised Rūta Briede as the best debutant. The winner received the award for her book "Kaiju karalienes noslēpums" (The Mystery of the Queen of Seagulls) (publishing house "Liels un mazs", 2017). The author has also illustrated the book herself. The jury described this work as "good-natured humour, social realism and witty description of the Latvian mentality dressed up in laconic text and precise format".

The winner of LVM Jaunaudze Award received the White Wolf made by artist Inese Brants, prize-money in the amount of EUR 900, and a chance to reside and work at the International Writers' and Translators' House in Ventspils for one month, receiving a creativity scholarship.

The goal of Jānis Baltvilks Children's Literature and Book Arts Award is to draw attention to the positive – a child, who reads exciting and beautiful books written in Latvian. The award was first presented in 2004. Since 2008, the award is also presented to writers and translators from the Baltic Sea Region.

Its aim is to help Latvian children's literature enter a new development stage, to attract the interest of talented writers and artists to children's books, and to encourage children and their parents to choose good quality books.