The 13th annual Magic Pearl Awards – the only Bulgarian book award judged entirely by children – has opened for consideration.
The goal of the initiative is to encourage reading and increase functional literacy among young people.
This year’s shortlist includes 75 books for children and teenagers aged 3 to 16., with 16 entries by Bulgarian writers and artists. The award is open to all Bulgarian children, regardless of where they live. It was developed in line with global literacy research, with the idea that by giving children this kind of access to books they will be able to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare for the professions of the future.
The titles are divided into 6 categories:
The voting form at www.biserche.com is open until April 30, 2024.
The Magic Pearl Award is organised by the Children’s Books Foundation for the Promotion of Reading.
This year’s award is being held with financial support from Sofia Municipality, in partnership with the Bulgarian Library and Information Association (BLIA), Global Libraries Bulgaria Foundation, the Bulgarian Book Association, the Parents Association, and Orange bookstores.
Media partners are: Azcheta.com, Danybon.com, NGOBG.info, and the “Big and Small” Association
The Magic Pearl National Award is the first award in Bulgaria dedicated to contemporary children’s literature as judged by children. It was established in 2013 to mark International Children’s Book Day on 2 April. The name comes from the fairy tale Puk! by Valeri Petrov, which tells the story of the search for a magic pearl “that makes us better.”