24th Nissan Children’s Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix Invites Aspiring Authors

Tokyo .- The 24th Nissan Children’s Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix will be open to entries from July 2. The annual competition is organized by the International Institute for Children’s Literature, Osaka, and is open to all amateur writers.

The Grand Prix started in May 1984 to commemorate the opening of the International Institute for Children’s Literature, Japan’s first comprehensive center for international children’s literature. Nissan invites amateur writers to submit their original storybooks and picture books entries. Through the Grand Prix, Nissan hopes to promote talented writers by publishing their work and bringing fresh ideas to this market.

Last year’s Grand Prix attracted nearly 3,000 entries. There are two Grand Prize categories -- storybook and picture book - as well as several smaller category prizes. Past Grand Prize winners have achieved success and recognition following the publishing of their winning works. For example, a previous winner in the storybook category is currently used as a textbook in fourth grade Japanese school classes. Another winner in the picture book category has been promoted at several overseas educational conventions.

Nissan will publish the two Grand Prize winning works to enable a wider audience of children and adults to enjoy them. The published books will be donated to public libraries and kindergartens and various children’s facilities within the vicinity of Nissan’s offices and facilities nationwide.

Children and budding authors will have a chance to view the original entry works and illustrations at special exhibition events organized by Nissan. An exhibition will be held from Thursday, July 12, through Tuesday, July 24, at the Nissan Headquarters’ Gallery where the panels of the 22nd Picture Book Grand Prize winner “Haru to Kaminari” will form the main attraction.

Grand Prix Website: http://www.nissan-global.com/JP/CITIZENSHIP/FAIRYTALE/