On September 18, 2025, the Edgar Valter Illustration Award was presented at the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre. This year, the award was given to illustrators Catherine Zarip and Marja-Liisa Plats.
The expert jury selected the laureates from among 40 book artists, taking into account the books they illustrated over the past five years. Unlike in previous years, the jury did not nominate four candidates alongside the laureate but instead decided to recognize two outstanding illustrators with distinct artistic styles. The award includes a monetary prize of €3,500.
According to jury chair Triin Soone, it was a joy to see such a wealth of professional illustrators in Estonia:
“Estonian illustration art is surprisingly diverse – modern and fresh, yet at the same time charmingly traditional and timeless. We have many artists with distinctive styles and inquisitive spirits, who approach each new work as a challenge and experiment with various techniques. There is also richness across generations – those who have remained at the top for decades and others who have surprised us with just a few books. As always, making the choice was difficult, and this year two very strong illustrators with unique styles are awarded. Both began their careers in the early 2000s and have illustrated over two hundred stories each. They are both characterized by a strong sense of style and the ability to compose a book as a whole.”
Laureate Marja-Liisa Plats highlighted the central role of illustration in shaping children’s reading habits and imagination:
“Pictures activate children’s imagination and allow them to relate to the story. Through images, it is possible to introduce phenomena that might not even be mentioned in the text but which provide depth to the story – phenomena that may otherwise be too abstract or unfamiliar to the child’s environment. Perhaps a child cannot yet directly experience these things. Through an image, they can ‘touch’ them from afar.”
Catherine Zarip also emphasized the importance of illustration in a child’s development:
“Visuals are important at any age. Children absorb information from images even before they learn to read, and illustration certainly plays a significant role in a child’s growth and understanding of the world.”
Marja-Liisa Plats added She added that the award carries a deep personal meaning:
“We all need the Valter Award in the field of illustration, because illustrators often remain in the background. I already needed it before becoming a laureate. Today is a lucky day for me, because I believe luck also plays a part in such recognition. The Valter Award is a great honour, as Valter’s work was, in its time, a benchmark of mastery and kindness.”
The laureates were selected by a six-member jury: Triin Soone (jury chair, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre), Regina Lukk-Toompere (illustrator, 2019 laureate), Anne Pikkov (illustrator, 2021 laureate), Asta Trummel (Estonian Ministry of Culture), Bianka Soe (curator), and Jaanus Vaiksoo (children’s author).
The Illustration Award was established in 2019 with the aim of valuing and recognizing the work of Estonian book artists, fostering and supporting the development of Estonian children’s literature, and commemorating Edgar Valter. Previous laureates include Regina Lukk-Toompere, Anne Pikkov, and Piret Raud. The award is funded from Edgar Valter’s legacy, which has been managed by the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre since last year.
An overview of past laureates and nominees can be found here: https://elk.ee/lastekirjandus/auhinnad-voistlused/edgar-valteri-nimeline-illustratsioonipreemia/
Photo: Laureates Catherine Zarip and Marja-Liisa Plats at the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre. (Photographer: Jane Vogt-Jürjo)
Additional information:
Triin Soone
Director of the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Jury Chair
triin.soone@elk.ee
+372 5919 0363
