The Slovenian edition of Radio Popov by Anja Portin has received the Golden Pear Label for excellent children’s books.
More wonderful news for Radio Popov by Anja Portin, a long-standing success in children’s literature: the Slovenian edition, in translation by Julija Potrč Šavli and published by KUD Sodobnost, has received the Golden Pear Label for excellent children’s books.
Every year, a selection of 100 children’s titles across four categories receive the Golden Pear Label for excellent children’s book, an actual label in the form of a sticker placed on the books to boost their visibility in libraries and bookshops. From this list, a jury then selects the winners of the Golden Pear Award during the Ljubljana Book Fair, in November.
Radio Popov is one of the most successful children’s books of the last decade: it won the Finlandia Prize upon its release, and has already travelled to 27 language territories. It follows Alfred, a nine-year-old boy who lives practically alone. His mother is not in the picture and his father is constantly busy with work and business trips. During one of these business trips Alfred is left alone for so long he runs out of food, and electricity is cut off.
When everything seems lost, Alfred is saved by a mysterious stranger who delivers food and woollen socks in lonely children’s letterboxes. It is the beginning of a wonderful adventure that will lead Alfred to a new family, and to saving more forgotten children. Alfred’s story is moving, and touches on social issues, but also contains joy, friendship, and a happy ending.
Anja Portin has quickly become a favourite among children’s authors with her middle grade novel Radio Popov. She writes about children who take matters into their own hands when grownups do not want to take responsibility or are not there to do it. Her latest novel is The Book of Misty Trees, also for a middle-grade audience. In Finland, her works are published by S&S.
Warm congratulations to the author, the translator, and the publisher!