The Strega Prize Ragazze e Ragazzi celebrates its first ten years, the award dedicated to children's and young adult literature, promoted by the Maria and Goffredo Bellonci Foundation and Strega Alberti Benevento – the organizers of the Premio Strega – with the Center for the Book and Reading of the Ministry of Culture and BolognaFiere – Bologna Children's Book Fair, in collaboration with BPER Banca, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), the Italian Education System Abroad, media partner RAI, and technical sponsors Feltrinelli Bookstores and SYGLA.
To celebrate the milestone of the first decade, a display will be set up at the fair showcasing the titles awarded from the first edition to the present.
The Best Storytelling in Pictures category returns for its fourth year at the fair, announced at the Illustrators Café (April 2, 2.30-3.20 PM). This category was created to highlight the relationship between the Bologna Children’s Book Fair and the Strega Prize, rewarding excellence in illustrated books.
Among the 42 books proposed by publishers in this competition category, the scientific committee, composed of Martino Negri, Ilaria Tagliaferri, and Virginia Tonfoni, has awarded the Premio Strega Ragazze e Ragazzi in the "Narration through Images" category to the book Niente draghi per Celeste by Ole Könnecke and Nikolaus Heidelbach, translated by Chiara Belliti (Beisler). Among the 42 books submitted by publishers in this competition category, the Scientific Committee also selected as finalists Bambini e giardini by Beatrice Masini, illustrated by Francesca Ballarini (Timpetill), and La bambina e l'orsa by Cristiana Pezzetta and Sylvie Bello (Topipittori).
The special mention goes to Neil Packer, The Parable of the Independent Bakery (Camelozampa), translated by Sara Saorin.
The winning book was announced at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2025, which awarded a cash prize to the authors.
During the ceremony, the first ten years of the Premio Strega Ragazze e Ragazzi were celebrated through the storytelling of Alessandro Barbaglia, Simonetta Bitasi, and Maddalena Vaglio Tanet. Established with the aim of nurturing a love for reading from an early age, promoting its educational and cultural value, and discovering the most beloved stories by giving a voice to children aged 6 to 13, the award was launched in 2016—the same year the Premio Strega celebrated its 70th anniversary.
Additionally, the first selection of competing titles in the 6+, 8+, and 11+ categories, as well as the three finalists in the Debut Book category, have been announced and are available on www.premiostrega.it.
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