The international project Tiny Books from Baltic Authors created by Lithuanian, Latvian, and Estonian organizations promoting children’s literature received the PETIT PEN prize created by the Catalan Writers Association. The project connected writers and illustrators from three Baltic States who created 18 tiny books on topics of human rights and diversity. In Estonia, the project was managed by the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre.
The PETITE PEN PRIZE was created by the Catalan Writers Association, PEN Català. The award winners were announced during the 12th edition of the Children and Young Adults Arts and Literature Festival FLIC (Festival de literatura i arts infantil i juvenil). The Catalan writers association promotes literature and defends freedom of expression, in the framework of the European project (“Be (P)Art. Grow With Arts”). The aim of the award is to recognise the contribution of a European entity, organisation, or initiative working towards creating more free and diverse children’s and young adult literature.
The jury honoured the project Tiny Books from Baltic Authors, for offering an accessible programme of reading promotion to children and youth audiences that invites reflections on diversity and human rights. Additionally, the project raises awareness of the developments in Baltic children’s literature and encourages cooperation among its creators, with the intention of showing their work in the Baltic States, as well as the rest of the world.
The winners of the award were selected by a jury managed by Gemma Rodriguez. The jury awarded the 2022 PETITE PEN award to the international project Tiny Books from Baltic Authors, as well as the Hungarian association Labrisz Leszbikus Egyesület. The prize amount is 2,000 euros.
The Estonian coordinator of the project and the foreign relations manager of the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Ulla Saar says that the prize is an important recognition for the project: “We are very happy that both Baltic authors, as well as the topics discussed in their tiny books have been noticed.” By the beginning of the year 2023 the books will be translated into 15 languages, they are public domain and therefore, available to many children. Even to those who can normally not afford to buy books. Saar added that, “the books might be tiny but their contents are big”.
The project was developed by three Baltic organizations: the Lithuanian reading promotion programme Children’s World, launched by the public organization Centre for School Improvement; the Latvian Section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY); and the Estonian Children‘s Literature Centre and was supported by the Baltic Culture Fund. The aim of the project was to create literature that discusses the important topics of human rights and diversity. Writers and illustrators from three Baltic States created foldable tiny books that explore human rights and social justice related topics including equality, cultural diversity, freedom of expression, disability, gender roles, and ageism. Additionally, the books are accompanied by methodological materials prepared for parents and educators to encourage adults to explore the stories together with children.
