Nissan Solicits Original Storybook and Picture Book Entries for the '21st Nissan Children's Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix'

Tokyo -Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., today started soliciting entries of original storybooks and picture  books for the "21^st Nissan Children's Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix." With Nissan's sponsorship, the International Institute for Children's Literature, Osaka, organizes this annual contest for amateur writers.

This Grand Prix, now in its 21^st year, began to commemorate the opening of the International Institute for Children's Literature in May 1984 as Japan's first comprehensive center for international children's literature. Nissan invites a wide spectrum of amateur writers throughout Japan to submit their original entries of storybooks and picture books.  Through this annual event, the company aims to introduce talented writers, to publish excellent books and to present  "children's books and picture books filled with dreams and imagination." 

The Grand Prix receives thousands of entries from writers of all ages every year. In 2003, 4,037 works were submitted to the 20^th Grand Prix. The winning entries are always highly acclaimed for their excellence. This contest has provided a forum and opportunities for the emergence of new writers, and many previous prize-winners are now active as professional authors and illustrators. 

This year Nissan will again publish the storybook and the picture book that win the Grand Prize in their respective categories so that these outstanding works can be widely enjoyed by children and many other readers. The prize-winning works will be donated through Nissan dealers to public libraries and other institutions nationwide and through Nissan business operation centers/offices to nearby kindergartens and other places for children.  The works will also be introduced in a variety of other ways, including through a display of original picture book illustrations, which Nissan organizes for children every year. 

Overview of Grand Prix