Best Lithuanian Books for Children and Young Adults 2011–2016 Selection of the Lithuanian Section of IBBY
The history of Lithuanian children’s literature began in 1846, when historian and author Simonas Daukantas wrote the first children’s book. In the cultural life of modern Lithuania, children’s literature has undoubtedly become an important phenomenon. This catalog presents the most significant and notable books for children and young adults, created by Lithuanian authors and illustrators between 2011–2016. Most of them have earned awards and prizes: the Lithuanian section of IBBY awards for the year’s best creators, the Children’s Literature Award from the Ministry for Education and Science, the National Children’s Literature Competition, the Teen and Youth Literature Competition, the “Book of the Year” event et al. In the period in question, each year saw about 500–600 titles published in Lithuania for children and teenagers. Most of the published books are translated, while original literature accounts for about a third of the total. The genres predominant in modern Lithuanian children’s literature are: short tales, picture books, literary fairytales, and fantasy books – yet books of serious prose and poetry see light as well. The catalog presents the works of the most notable children’s book creators in Lithuania in the past decade: Vytautas V. Landsbergis, Kristina Gudonytė, Renata Šerelytė, Gintarė Adomaitytė, Kęstutis Kasparavičius, Gendrutis Morkūnas, Ramutė Skučaitė, Lina Žutautė, Selemonas Paltanavičius. These authors, known as modern classics, are joined by newly appreciated names: Tomas Dirgėla, Danguolė Kandrotienė, Rebeka Una, Kotryna Zylė, as well as acclaimed children’s book creators and illustrators Ieva Babilaitė, Rasa Joni, Aušra Kiudulaitė and others.