The (German Children’s Literature Award ) is an annual award established in 1956 by the Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth to recognise outstanding works of children's and young adult literature. It is Germany's only state-funded literary award. In the past, authors from many countries have been recognised, including non-German speakers.

Organisation

The award is organized by the , also called DJL or German Children’s Literature Association, which receives financial support, including prize money, from the Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.

Awards are given in five categories: Best Picture Book, Best Children's Book, Best Young Adult Book, Best Non-Fiction Book and the Young Adult Jury Award. Up to six nominations in each category are announced in March at the Leipzig Book Fair, and the awards are presented during the Frankfurt Book Fair by the Federal Minister for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. In each category, the winning author receives a 10,000 euro cash prize, and a bronze statuette designed by Detlef Kraft representing Momo from the novel by Michael Ende.

Furthermore, two special awards are presented alternately to German authors, illustrators or translators. The Special Award for Lifetime Achievements is set at 12,000 Euro. The Special Award for New Talents carries a value of 10,000 Euro. Both are also financed by the Federal Ministry.

History

Since the award was established, many changes have been made. When the (as the award was known until 1981) began in 1956, only two categories were recognised; Best Children's Book and Best Youth Book. In addition to these, a special prize was awarded every year in a different category. It was not until 1964 that the Best Picture Book and Best Non-fiction Book categories replaced this variable award. The final category recognized today, awarded by the Young Adult Jury, was not introduced until 2003, when it was originally called the Young People's Prize (). In 1991, to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the award, the special award for lifetime achievement was reintroduced to recognise individual achievement for writers, illustrators and translators. In 2017 it was supplemented by the special award for new talents to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the award.

Jury

Awards are decided upon by three juries: the Jury of Critics (), the Young Adult Jury () and the Special Award Jury (). The Jury of Critics decides the nominations and the majority of the prizes; the Young Adult Jury only decides nominations and winners of the Young Adult Jury Award. The Special Award Jury awards two special awards — for lifetime achievements and for a newcomer ("New Talent") — in the areas of text, illustration or translation (in yearly rotation).

The Jury of Critics is appointed by the German Children’s Literature Association once every two years, although jury members can serve two consecutive terms. The jury consists of nine members: the chair, and eight specialist judges – two for each award category.

The Young Adult Jury consists of the members of six German youth book clubs. It is also changed every two years, although some clubs serve consecutive terms.

The Special Award Jury consists of three members and changes every year.

Awards

2020–2025

+ 2025 Prize winnersNomination BookletBook TitleAuthorIllustratorTranslatorSource CountryAward CategoryRegentag Germany Picture bookHimmelwärtsBea Davies Germany Children's bookUnd die Welt, sie fliegt hoch Sarah Maus Germany YA bookLäuse. Handbuch zum Überleben auf Menschen (Span. orig.: Manual de supervivencia para piojos)Berta PáramoStefanie Kuballa-Cottone Spain Non-fictionNo AlternativeDirk Reinhardt Germany Youth juryAhmadjan und der Wiedehopf (mit Ahmadjan Amini)Maren Amini Germany New talent (Illustrator)Antje Damm Germany Lifetime Achievements (Illustrator)

+ 2024 Prize winnersNomination BookletBook TitleAuthorIllustratorTranslatorSource CountryAward CategoryWünsche (Engl. orig.: Wishes)Victo Ngai Petra Steuber USA Picture bookWolfRegina Kehn Germany Children's bookKurz vor dem Rand Germany YA bookGames. Auf den Spuren der Flüchtenden aus Afghanistan Switzerland Non-fictionDurch das große Feuer (orig.: In Memoriam)Ursula Wulfekamp and Benjamin Wildner USA Youth juryMöge der Tigris um dich weinenAstrid Bührle-Gallet Germany New talent (Translator)Rolf Erdorf Germany Lifetime Achievements (Translator)

+ 2023 Prize winners2023 Nomination BookletBook TitleAuthorIllustratorTranslatorSource CountryAward Category Spinne spielt KlavierBenjamin Gottwald Germany Picture bookBoris, Babette und lauter Skelette Germany Children's bookDie Sonne, so strahlend und Schwarz Germany YA novelQueergestreiftIrmela Schautz Germany Non-fictionAls die Welt uns gehörte (orig.:When the World was Ours)Eva Riekert Great Britain Youth juryNordstadtAnnika Büsing Germany New talent (Writer)Alois Prinz Germany Lifetime Achievements (Writer)

+ 2022 Prize winners2022 Nomination BookletBook TitleAuthorIllustratorTranslatorSource CountryAward CategoryUnsere Grube (orig.:Gropen )Emma AdbågeFriederike Buchinger Sweden Picture bookDie Suche nach Paulie Fink (orig.:The Next Great Paulie Fink)Jessika Komina, Sandra Knuffinke USA Children's bookDunkelnacht Germany YA novelDer Duft der Kiefern – Meine Familie und ihre Geheimnisse Germany Non-fictionHard Land Switzerland Youth juryAnnaMia Oberländer Germany New talent (Illustrator)Hans Ticha Germany Lifetime Achievements (Illustrator)

+ 2021 Prize winners2021 Nomination BookletBook TitleAuthorIllustratorTranslatorSource CountryAward CategoryUnsichtbar in der großen Stadt (orig.:Small in the city)Sydney Smith Bernadette Ott Canada Picture bookIrgendwo ist immer Süden (orig.: Syden)Franziska Hüther Norway Children's bookSibiro Haiku (orig.:Sibiro haiku)Lina ItagakiSaskia Drude Lithuania YA novel100 KinderNora Coenenberg Germany Non-fictionAfter the Fire (orig.: Moonrise)Wolfram Ströle Great Britain Youth juryTippo und Fleck. Über Fleckenteufel und andere KoboldeLena Dorn Germany New talent (Translator) Lifetime Achievements: not awarded in 2021

+ 2020 Prize winners2020 Nomination BookletBook TitleAuthorIllustratorTranslatorSource CountryAward CategoryDreieck Quadrat KreisJon Klassen Thomas Bodmer USA Picture bookFreibad – Ein ganzer Sommer unter dem Himmel Germany Children's bookWie der Wahnsinn mir die Welt erklärteRán Flygenring Germany YA novelA wie Antarktis – Ansichten vom anderen Ende der Welt (orig.: A jako Antarktida : pohled z druhé strany)David BöhmLena Dorn Czech Republic Non-fictionWer ist Edward Moon? (engl.: Moonrise)Cordula Setsman Ireland Youth juryForschungsgruppe Erbsensuppe oder wie wir Omas großem Geheimnis auf die Spur kamenRieke Patwardhan Germany New talent (Author) Germany Lifetime achievements (Writer)

2010–2019

+ 2019 Prize winners2019 Nomination BookletBook TitleAuthorIllustratorTranslatorSource CountryAward CategoryPolka für IgorIris Anemone Paul Germany Picture bookVier Wünsche ans UniversumBirgitt Kollmann USA Children's bookIch weiß, heute Nacht werde ich träumenUwe-Michael Gutzschhahn Australia YA novelExtremismus Germany Non-fictionKompass ohne NordenBrendan ShustermanIngo Herzke USA Youth juryPolka für IgorIris Anemone Paul Germany New talent (Illustration) Germany Lifetime achievements (Illustrator)

+ 2018 Prize winners2018 Nomination BookletBook TitleAuthorIllustratorTranslatorSource CountryAward CategoryDer siebente Bruder oder Das Herz im MarmeladenglasØyvind TorseterMaike Dörries Norway Picture bookViele Grüße, Deine GiraffeUrsula Gräfe Japan Children's bookAls ich mit Hitler Schnapskirschen aß Germany YA novelDer Dominoeffekt oder Die unsichtbaren Fäden der NaturSerena Viola Ulrike Schimming Italy Non-fictionThe Hate U GiveHenriette Zeltner USA Youth jurySchreib! Schreib! SchreibYlva Karlsson, Katarina KuickSara LundbergGesa Kunter Sweden New talent (Translator) Germany Lifetime achievements (Translator)

2017

Picture BookBook TitleAuthorIllustratorTranslatorAwardDon't Cross The LineBernardo P. CarvalhoFranziska Hauffe Kommt das Nashorn Helga Bansch The JourneyFrancesca SannaThomas Bodmer Hieronymus. Ein Abenteuer in der Welt des Hieronymus BoschThé Tjong-Khing Nusret und die KuhUli Krappen, Mehrdad Zaeri The Bad Guys #1Aaron BlabeyLisa Engels Children's BookBook TitleAuthorIllustratorTranslatorAwardThe Murderer's ApeJakob WegeliusGabriele Haefs BrownØyvind TorseterAngelika Kutsch Der KrokodildiebChristoffer GravMaike Dörries Gips oder Wie ich an einem einzigen Tag die Welt reparierteAndrea Kluitmann Pssst!Katrine Clante KrasshüpferKarst-Janneke RogaarMirjam Pressler Young Adult BookBook TitleAuthorTranslatorAwardThe Smell of Other People's HousesSonja Finck Vierzehn Im Jahr des Affen Waiting for GonzoAnne Brauner OneCordula Setsman EisvogelsommerRolf Erdorf Non-fiction BookBook TitleAuthorIllustratorTranslatorAwardThe Book of Bees!Piotr SochaThomas Weiler Lass mich frei!Patrick George MarthaAtak Kopf im KopfDavid BöhmDoris Kouba Technik in den Alpen. Von Seilbahnen, Staudämmen und SchneekanonenJohanna Putzer Iss was?! Tiere Fleisch und ich Young Adult Jury AwardBook TitleAuthorTranslatorAwardSimon vs. the Homo Sapiens AgendaIngo Herzke Vierzehn The Simple GiftUwe-Michael Gutzschhahn OneCordula Setsman Mein bester letzter Sommer Every Last Word Jessika Komina, Sandra Knuffinke New Talent AwardBook TitleAuthorAwardLizzy Carbon und der Klub der Verlierer Der Hummelreiter Friedrich Löwenmaul Es ist gefährlich, bei Sturm zu schwimmen

Special award for lifetime achievements: Gudrun Pausewang (author)

2016 Picture BookBook TitleAuthorIllustratorTranslatorAwardThe Dog That Nino Didn't HaveAnton van HertbruggenRolf Erdorf Eine Geschichte ohne Ende The Bus RideMarianne DubucJulia Süßbrich Das Herz des AffenBarrouxBabette Blume Der goldene Käfig oder Die wahre Geschichte der BlutprinzessinCarll CneutUlrike Schimming Children's BookBook TitleAuthorIllustratorTranslatorAwardThe Green BicycleCatrin Frischer Frohe Weihnachten, Zwiebelchen!Anke KuhlFriederike Buchinger Mein Sommer mit MucksFranziska Walther Rain ReignGabriele Haefs Alex, the Dog and the Unopenable DoorAndré Mumot Young Adult BookBook TitleAuthorIllustratorTranslatorAwardMädchenmeute Dead EndsJessika Komina, Sandra Knuffinke A Death-Struck YearKatharina Diestelmeier This One SummerJillian TamakiTina Hohl Eleanor & ParkBrigitte Jakobeit Das hier ist kein TagebuchRolf Erdorf Non-fiction BookBook TitleAuthorIllustratorTranslatorAwardIm Eisland Abc.deIwona Chmielewska Shackleton's JourneyWilliam GrillHarald Stadler Alle WetterBritta Teckentrup Leibniz oder die beste der möglichen WeltenJulia WautersHeinz Jatho Der Traum von OlympiaReinhard Kleist Young Adult Jury AwardBook TitleAuthorTranslatorAwardSommer unter schwarzen Flügeln Everything, EverythingSimone Wiemken Boy21Knut Krüger Das hier ist kein TagebuchRolf Erdorf Never Fall DownMaren Illinger Special award for lifetime achievements: Klaus Kordon (author) 2015 Picture BookBook TitleAuthorIllustratorTranslatorAwardMr. Wuffles!David WiesnerPaula Hagemeier Gordon und TapirSebastian Meschenmoser Ein Apfelbaum im BauchGérard DuBoisAnna von Cramer-Klett Coco and the Little Black DressAnnemarie van HaeringenMarianne Holberg Lindbergh: Die abenteuerliche Geschichte einer fliegenden MausTorben Kuhlmann Rules of SummerShaun TanEike Schönfeld Children's BookBook TitleAuthorIllustratorTranslatorAwardThe DreamerPeter SísAnne Braun Rosie und Moussa: Der Brief von PapaJudith VanistendaelRolf Erdorf My Father the Great PirateMaurizio A.C. QuarelloEdmund Jacoby Lena und das Geheimnis der blauen HirscheMattias De LeeuwRolf Erdorf The Boy Who Swam with PiranhasOliver JeffersAlexandra Ernst Konstantin im WörterwaldStefanie Harjes