Levstik Award
れふすてぃくしょう
A literary award for Slovenian children's literature. Established in 1949, sponsored by Mladinska Knjiga Publishing House.
- Established
- 1949
- Organizer
- Mladinska Knjiga Publishing House
- Category
- Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
- Selection Method
- Selection
- Target
- Professional
- Frequency
- 2 per year
- Announcement Period
- around June
- Status
- Active
Description
The Levstik Award (Levstikova nagrada) is a literary award for Slovenian children's literature, established in 1949 by Mladinska Knjiga Publishing House. Eligible works include original literary works, illustrations, children's non-fiction, and lifetime achievements in the field of children's literature. It was awarded annually from 1949 to 1989, but biennially (every two years) since 1989. In particular, for the book category, only books published by Mladinska Knjiga may be eligible in some cases. The Lifetime Achievement Award is considered one of the most prestigious awards in the field in Slovenia since 1999.
Prize
- Main Prize
- Commemorative award (certificate, trophy, etc.). No public information on prize money available
Selection
Selection Process
| Stage | Judges | Pass Rate | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate selection | Candidates selected by Mladinska Knjiga (publisher) or editorial department | — | Candidates are selected internally (details often not publicly disclosed) |
| Final selection | Selection committee (members appointed by the publisher) | — | Winners determined by the selection committee |
| Announcement | — | Announced at award ceremony, official website, or media reports |
Criteria
- Creativity and quality as children's literature
- Artistic value and expressiveness of illustrations
- Accuracy and educational value of children's non-fiction
- Continuous contributions and impact for lifetime achievement
Application Tips
Dos
- Check official application guidelines and eligibility conditions in advance (e.g., publisher requirements for book category)
- Use expressions and structure mindful of child readers, clarify target age
- For illustration category, prepare high-resolution samples and explain artistic intent
- For documentary or non-fiction, clearly indicate sources and accuracy
Don''ts
- Do not submit ignoring requirements (e.g., publisher-limited)
- Do not send incomplete manuscripts or incorrect formats
- Do not use materials that infringe on others' copyrights
From Judges
- Emphasis on 'readability' as children's literature (narrative, rhythm, imagination)
- Harmony of text and illustrations, consideration for audience (children)
- Non-fiction evaluated on accuracy, clarity, and visual aids
Related Awards
- Slovenian literary awards (other literary awards in Slovenia)
- Slovenian Book Agency (Slovenian Book Agency) related grants and opportunities
- Other children's literature awards and open calls sponsored by publishers