Stop the Thief!, Ulla Donner’s debut picture book, is running for the prestigious Runeberg Junior Prize.
We’re very happy to announce that Stop the Thief! by Ulla Donner has been nominated for the prestigious Runeberg Prize. The jury committee have motivated their choice stating:
“This book about a dog being a thief is a festive and fast-paced repetition story in rhyme about catching the thief, with skillful and clever humorous illustrations and comical details. It mainly targets children between the ages of 3 and 6, but it can be read by all age groups.”
The Runeberg Junior Prize is given yearly in two categories – adult fiction and children’s literature – and is often considered to be the most important literary award after Finlandia. The winners are traditionally announced on February 5th, the National Runeberg’s Day.
Stop the Thief! is a funny wild chase after a dog who has been stealing other dogs’ most prized possession. The story advances in rhyme – with a generous dose of humor – and the thief is eventually caught, but the journey along the way is filled with warm and funny illustrations, and representation for as many dog breeds as possible.
Ulla Donner is one of the most prominent illustrators in the Nordics. She was awarded the Puupäähattu Prize and the Urhunden Prize for her Natural Comedy, among other. Stop the Thief! is her debut in the picture book genre. All her works are published in Finland by Schildts & Söderströms.
Warmest congratulations to the author and the publisher, and fingers crossed!