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Gudrun Penndorf received the “Special Prize Complete Works” as part of the Youth Literature Prize on October 22nd, 2021
Photo: Sebastian Gollnow / dpa
The translator of the comics "Asterix" and "Lucky Luke", Gudrun Penndorf, received an award for her life's work at the Frankfurt Book Fair. On Friday evening she received the »Special Prize Complete Works«, endowed with 12,000 euros, as part of the Youth Literature Prize. According to the special award jury, "Penndorf's phenomenal language-creating achievement" cannot be praised enough. "Your creative renaming of the comic staff, your meticulous research, your apt puns set standards for translation to this day - and not just for comics."
The German Youth Literature Prize has been awarded for outstanding children's and youth books since 1956 and is endowed with a total of 72,000 euros. This year the jury had viewed over 667 titles and nominated 33 books. During the pandemic, reading has become more important for many children and young people, said Federal Youth Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) according to the announcement. "It was precisely during this time that books opened up a place of retreat for children and young people, where they can find themselves and their topics and recharge their batteries."
The winner in the »Picture Book« category was »Invisible in the Big City« (Aladin) by the Canadian author and illustrator Sydney Smith.
Marianne Kaurin's novel "Somewhere is Always South" (Woow Books) was the best children's book.
The graphic novel “Sibiro Haiku” (Baobab Books) came out on top in the “Young People's Book” category.
The winner of the non-fiction book was »100 Children« (Gabriel) by Christoph Drösser, illustrated by Nora Coenenberg.
The youth jury awarded "After the Fire" (dtv series Hanser).
The special prize »New Talents« went to Lena Dorn.
The jury attested that the translator from Czech had an impressive talent for language skills.
jso / dpa