In a vibrant celebration of children’s and young adult literature, the BookCity Institute recently hosted the concluding ceremony for the 13th annual Flying Turtle Awards. This esteemed event, a true highlight in Iran’s literary calendar, brought together a passionate community of writers, illustrators, publishers, esteemed jurors, and devoted lovers of children’s books on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at the BookCity Central Store.
At the heart of this initiative is the Flying Turtle List, a meticulously curated selection of recommended books for children and young adults. Launched in 2011 through the dedicated efforts of the BookCity Institute, this list is compiled by a collective of experts in children’s and young adult literature, serving as a trusted guide for parents, educators, and young readers alike. This project embodies BookCity’s commitment to fostering a thriving reading culture by identifying and championing high-quality literary works. As a leading cultural organization managing a network of bookstores and cultural centers across Iran, BookCity sees the Flying Turtle List and Awards as integral to its broader social and cultural mission: promoting knowledge, supporting Iranian arts and literature, and creating spaces for cultural engagement and intellectual discourse.
The ceremony, now firmly established as a significant tradition in Iran’s children’s book landscape, began with Mahmoud Barabadi, a representative of the Flying Turtle jury panel. He provided a concise overview of the award’s history and explained the detailed process behind the selection and awarding of the honors, highlighting the rigorous standards applied.
Following this, Tayebe Ejei, head of the Children and Young Adults section at the BookCity Institute, warmly welcomed the guests, particularly the children and their families. She described the Flying Turtle as a spirited list, born from meaningful dialogues among those deeply concerned with finding excellent books for young readers. Emphasizing a core belief of BookCity, she stressed that working for children and young adults cannot truly succeed without their active participation and dialogue. BookCity, through initiatives like Flying Turtle, actively seeks to involve young people, recognizing their perspectives as crucial in evaluating and recommending books that resonate with their needs and imaginations. Ejei expressed hope for an even more impactful dialogue between young readers, teenagers, and the jury panel in the future to further refine the evaluation process and the resulting lists.
The presentation of awards commenced with a special segment dedicated to “Book Remembrance.” Roya Mirghiasi, another member of the Flying Turtle jury, spoke eloquently about the enduring significance of Gholamhossein Saedi’s “The Lost Fish by the Sea” as a pioneering work in Iranian psychological literature for children and young adults. This moment underscored the awards’ commitment not only to contemporary works but also to honoring the historical foundations of this literary field.
Recognizing Excellence: The Award Winners
Shadi Khoshkar, also from the jury panel, read the jury’s statement for the 13th awards. The statement noted the strong presence of original Iranian works focused on the country in the final nominations. It also bravely addressed significant challenges facing the field, including the concerning trend of children’s books reducing life’s complexities to mere skills and the staggering rise in production and publishing costs. Critiquing the performance of public and executive bodies, the statement lamented how limiting book choices for public and school libraries effectively contributes to excluding books from the lives of children and young adults. In a powerful call to action, the jury demanded that the right of children and students to choose their reading materials be formally recognized, that the joy of reading and the literary quality of books become the foremost selection criteria, and that public institutions, funded by the very people they serve, open their doors to experts and specialists to foster a new, supportive environment for children’s literature. This advocacy role is another vital aspect of BookCity’s mission, using its platform to champion the rights of readers and the health of the literary ecosystem.
Special awards were then presented to two remarkable individuals: Monir Homayouni (Pouraslani) was honored for her tireless efforts and impactful presence in promoting reading among children and young adults in Iran, and Mohammad Ali Baniasadi received recognition for his significant contributions to the field of children’s book illustration. The acknowledgment of such dedicated figures further highlights BookCity’s role in celebrating and nurturing the talent that enriches children’s cultural lives.
In the category of Gold and Silver Flying Turtle Awards, it was announced that no book had met the exceptionally high standards required for a Gold Award this year. The jury emphasized that the Gold Award is reserved for books achieving the absolute pinnacle of excellence in narrative, structure, language, and impact.
Three outstanding books were ultimately recognized with the Silver Flying Turtle Award: “Dotook: The Little Baluchi Doll” published by the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (Kanoon Parvaresh Fekri Koodakan va Nojavanan), “Ocean Boy” from Ofogh Publication (Fandogh Books), and “The Seven Immortals” collection from Hoopa Publication.
The first Silver Award went to Zohreh Parirokh, the author of “Dotook: The Little Baluchi Doll.” The jury praised this book for its moving portrayal of local art and its ability to open pathways for community-based development through a literary and child-centered language and perspective. The researchers of this work, Afsaneh Ehsani and Sepideh Shahbazi, and the illustrator, Haleh Ghorbani, were also commended.
The second Silver Award was presented to Marjan Fouladvand, author of “The Seven Immortals” collection. Her work was recognized for its creative approach, vibrant and engaging language, and artistic engagement with Iranian myths in a way that resonates with contemporary needs.
The third Silver Award was awarded to Mehdi Rajabi for his book “Ocean Boy.” The jury selected this work for its artistic atmosphere, its sensitive attention to the hardships in a corner of beloved Iran, its artistic portrayal of people’s suffering, and its brilliant illustrations of Iranian geography. The illustrator, Haleh Ghorbani, was also appreciated for her contribution. (See Ref [4]).
Engaging Experiences: Side Events
Complementing the awards ceremony were several creative and engaging side programs centered around three nominated books: “Dotook: The Little Baluchi Doll,” “Ocean Boy,” and “Siagalesh.” These programs, expertly executed by Giti Safarzadeh, Roshanak Ahrabi, and Arya Gazor, created beautiful and memorable experiences for the children in attendance.
Another cherished aspect of the 13th Flying Turtle Awards ceremony was the opportunity for children and parents to meet the authors, translators, and illustrators whose books made it onto the 2023 Flying Turtle lists and to purchase signed copies of the books. This direct interaction, a staple of the event in previous years, was met with enthusiastic participation from the audience, reinforcing the Flying Turtle’s role as a reliable and trustworthy assistant for families seeking high-quality books tailored to the needs and dreams of children and young adults. BookCity, through organizing such interactions, facilitates a vital connection between creators and their young audience, enriching the reading experience and inspiring future generations of readers and writers.
The ceremony for the 13th Flying Turtle Awards, like those before it, was a resounding success, filled with enthusiasm from families, book lovers, creators, and cultural activists. It once again demonstrated the award’s crucial function as a dependable platform for introducing quality books that are perfectly suited to the needs and aspirations of the younger generation, solidifying BookCity’s position as a vital force in Iran’s cultural and literary landscape.
Tags: Children, Children's Book, events, Flying Turtle
