Annejan Mieras wins Gouden Griffel for best Children's Book
02 October 2024
'The Little Universe' (Het kleine heelal), written by Annejan Mieras has been awarded with the Gouden Griffel, a Dutch prize for the best children's book of the year. The Gouden Penseel for the best illustrated children's book goes to Jeska Verstegen. She receives the award for her illustrations in 'The rope and the truth' (Het touw en de waarheid) written by Marco Kunst.
The Little Universe tells the story of Raaf, whose life is falling apart. Not only have she and her mum suddenly had to move to a dingy caravan on the Little Universe’ campsite, she’s also been suspended from school. Raaf is worried. And where is her dad? According to Raaf’s tightlipped mum, he’s having ‘holdups’ at the tow-truck job for which he was recently recruited by a shady character. Raaf doesn’t believe a word of it.
'It is an ultimate children's book in the sense that it has everything it needs to become a classic,' the members of the jury commented.
Annejan Mieras (b. 1965) is an architect by training, but found herself unsuited to the profession, and so chose to go into primary education. She has been teaching for over ten years now. Since her 2018 debut, 'Portiek Zeezicht', she has also been a writer.
The Little Universe is her third book. Mieras is highly regarded for her light and confident narrative voice and her realistic young characters.
About the Gouden Griffel en Gouden Penseel
The Gouden Griffel (golden slate pencil) has been founded in 1971 and is one of Holland’s top youth literature awards. The Gouden Penseel (golden paintbrush) is awarded to the best illustrated children's books.
Books by Annejan Mieras
The Little Universe
Raaf’s life is falling apart. Not only have she and her mum suddenly had to move to a dingy caravan on the ‘Little Universe’ campsite, she’s also been suspended from school. Raaf is worried. And where is her dad? According to Raaf’s tightlipped mum, he’s having ‘holdups’ at the tow-truck job for which he was recently recruited by a shady character. Raaf doesn’t believe a word of it.
Homme and the Emergency Case
In crystal-clear language and lively dialogues, Annejan Mieras tells how the grumpy Homme (9) gradually abandons his opposition to the ‘sleepover’ of his strange classmate Pien, whose troubled mother is staying at a recovery centre. The surprising theme running through the book is a poem by Poland’s Nobel Prize winner, which Mieras subtly and playfully interweaves with the story.