The Children’s LukuVarkaus Literature Prize is unique nationwide, as the winner is chosen by a panel of children from grades 3. to 6. The panel of six children comes from primary schools in Varkaus.
The national Children’s LukuVarkaus Prize, now in its 25th year, is a literary prize established by the City of Varkaus and Stora Enso Oyj Varkaus mills and awarded annually to a children’s novel published in Finland and in Finnish. This year, a jury of adults reviewed 89 children’s novels published in 2024 and selected six finalists for the category.
This year’s finalists were Sanna Isto’s Tonttu (Tammi), Satu Kontinen and Satu Rämö’s Lottalehto (Tammi), Roope Lipasti’s Lätkä-Lauri und nightmare game (WSOY), J.S. Meresmaa’s Pimeänkynsi (Karisto), Silja Sillanpää’s Ouroboros: Sateenkaarikäärme (WSOY) and Salla Simukka’s Poika ullakolla, poika kellarissa (Tammi).
– It has been a great pleasure to inform the finalists of the selection, as the authors value the children’s choice,” says Marketta Kosunen, secretary of the Children’s Council, from the City of Varkaus Culture and Event Services.
This year’s finalist books include fantasy, history, friendship and community, not forgetting humour and suspense.
– The final books also deal with difficult topics, such as bullying or diversity,” says Kosunen.
This year’s Children’s Council members are Aleksi Kuokka, 12, and Leenu Kilpeläinen, 10, from Könönpelto School, and Sofia Immonen, 12, Eevi Bäck, 11, Rilla Nissinen, 11, and Veera Pikkarainen, 11, from Lehtoniemi School.
During the spring, each member of the Children’s Council will read all six final books. At the end of the reading challenge, the jury will come together to choose the best book, which will receive a €3500 prize.
– This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be on the reading panel, so I wanted to be part of it,” say Eevi Bäck and Sofia Immonen from Lehtoniemi School.
The participants in the reading race agree that the mood is positive about taking up the reading challenge.
-‘It feels exciting, but fun,’ says Veera Nissinen, reflecting on her time on the reading council.
– And rich to be involved, adds Veera Pikkarainen.
The winner of the Literature Prize will be announced in June during the Vekara-Varkaus festival week at the Varkaus Library.