Radio Popov by Anja Portin has been nominated for the Slovenian IBBY Honour List in its translation by Julija Potrč Šavli.
The accolades keep rolling in for bestseller Radio Popov by Anja Portin: the Slovenian edition of the book, out with KUD Sodobnost in translation by Julija Potrč Šavli, has been nominated for the Slovenian IBBY Honour List 2026.
IBBY, the International Board on Books for Young People, is a non-profit organization that brings together high-quality books from all over the world. Every two years IBBY organizes a World Congress in which the national IBBY branches present a Honour List with some of the best-rated titles for young readers published in their countries. The next IBBY World Congress will take place in Otawa in 2026.
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!