TOKYO (Dec. 15, 2006)—Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., has published two winning works from the 22nd Nissan Children’s Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix held last year. The books will be published by BL Publishing Co., Ltd., and will retail at bookstores nationwide starting today.
The published books are titled “Mizuiro no Ashihire” (Light Blue Flipper) by Madoka Sato and “Haru to Kaminari” (Haru and Kaminari) by Minako Chiba – winners of the Children’s Storybook Grand Prize and Picture Book Grand Prize respectively. The former will be illustrated by Hiromi Ohnishi, winner of the Children’s Picture Book Grand Prize from the 2nd Grand Prix in 1985.
Prizes for the 22nd Nissan Children’s Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix were announced in March this year. The popularity of the Grand Prix continues to grow annually where a total of 2,375 storybook entries were collected in addition to 555 entries in the picture book category for last year.
To promote these exceptional works to a wider audience, Nissan will be donating copies of these books to about 3,550 libraries nationwide as well as 670 local nursery schools and kindergartens. Since the 1st Grand Prix started in 1984, Nissan has donated up to 143,000 books nationwide, bringing the educational benefit and joys of reading to children of all ages.
The Nissan Children’s Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix was inaugurated in May 1984 as a competition for original storybooks and picture books from amateur writers. The International Institute for Children’s Literature, Osaka, is the main organizer of the contest through Nissan's co-sponsorship. The Grand-Prix is designed to attract fresh talents and facilitate the discovery of outstanding new writers and works, and to provide children with more inspiring and imaginative storybooks and picture books. Each year, the contest invites a wide spectrum of writers to submit their storybooks and picture books, and receives a large number of entries. A special feature of this Grand Prix is the publication of the winning works, which provides an opportunity for new writers to enter into the competitive arena of children’s book publishing and eventually become professional writers.
Submissions for this year’s 23rd Nissan Children’s Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix ended on October 16. The award ceremony is scheduled for next March at the International Institute for Children’s Literature, Osaka.
Information about the Grand Prix is available at the following site:
www.nissan-global.com/JP/CITIZENSHIP/FAIRYTALE/index.html (Japanese only)
- Children’s storybook
- Title: “Mizuiro no Ashihire”
- The main character is Shunya, who loses the flippers his father bought him one day at the beach. The story really begins when he meets Ryota.
- Author: Madoka Sato
- Lives in Italy. Winner of the 22nd Nissan Children’s Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix.
- Illustrator: Hiromi Ohnishi
- Lives in Osaka. Winner of the Children’s Picture Book Grand Prize in the 2nd Nissan Children’s Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix for “Futa wo Tottara Bin no Naka”.
- Format: 24×18cm, 32 pages, 4-color printing
Price: 1,300 yen (tax excluded)
- Picture book
- Title: “Haru to Kaminari”
- Main character Haru encounters Kaminari from the skies. Haru is invited to a cloud-top festival by Kaminari and his friends and finds a warm welcome. The book features distinct textures in its illustrations.
- Author: Minako Chiba
- Lives in Saitama. Completed a post-graduate degree in fine arts from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. Winner of the Picture Book Grand Prize of the 22nd Nissan Children’s Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix.
- Format: 27×22cm, 24 pages, 4-color printing
Price: 1,300 yen (tax excluded)
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