The Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis (German Youth Literature Award) is an annual award established in 1956 by the Federal Ministry of 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 Arbeitskreis für Jugendliteratur, also called AKJ or Association for Children's and Youth Literature, which receives financial support, including prize money, from the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. Awards are given in five categories: Best Picture Book, Best Children's Book, Best Youth Book, Best Non-Fiction Book and Choice of the Youth Jury. 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 of 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 achievement is set at 12,000 Euro. The newly created 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 Deutscher Jugendbuchpreis (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 Jugendjury, was not introduced until 2003, when it was originally called the Young People's Prize (Preis der Jugendlichen).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 Kritikerjury (Critics' Jury), the Jugendjury and the Sonderpreisjury (special award jury). The Kritikerjury decides the nominations and the majority of the prizes; the Jugendjury only decides the Jugendjury prize. The Sonderpreisjury awards the special awards for lifetime achievement and new talents. The Kritikerjury is appointed by the Arbeitsgruppe für Jugendliteratur 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 Jugendjury consists of the members of six German youth book clubs. It is also changed every two years, although some clubs serve consecutive terms. The Sonderpreisjury consists of three members and changes every year.

Awards

2020–2023

2010–2019

2017 Special award for lifetime achievement: Gudrun Pausewang (author) 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012

2011

2010

2000–2009

====2009 ==== ====2008 ====

2007

Source: ====2006 ==== ====2005 ==== ====2004 ==== ====2003 ==== ====2002 ==== ====2001 ==== ====2000 ====

1990–1999

1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990

1980–1989

1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980

1970–1979

1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970

1960–1969

1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960

1956–1959

1959 1958 1957 1956