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Winners of Neev Book Award 2020

Picture Books

Author –  Labanya Ghosh
Illustrator – Pallavi Jain
Publisher – Karadi Tales

Emerging Readers

Author – Priya Narayanan
Illustrator – Satwik Gade
Publisher – Tulika

Junior Readers

Author – Venita Coelho
Publisher – HarperCollins

Young Adults

Author – Samhita Arni
Publisher – Juggernaut

The Neev Book Award for distinguished children’s literature aims to recognize outstanding writing that leads to a fuller understanding of India, Indian lives, and Indian stories. This award aims to promote and encourage high-quality children’s literature from India. In 2018, the Neev Literature Festival extended its vision to promote and encourage high-quality children’s literature from India.

In 2018, the Neev Literature Festival (NLF) expanded its vision of recognising and growing outstanding children’s literature about India with the introduction of the Neev Book Award. The 2019 Neev Book Award was presented to Machher Jhol by Richa Jha, illustrated by Sumanta Dey, and published by Pickle Yolk in the Picture Book category; When Jiya Met Urmila by Shabnam Minwalla and published by Duckbill in the Emerging Readers category; Ahimsa by Supriya Kelkar and published by Scholastic in the Junior Readers category; Year of the Weeds by Siddhartha Sarma and published by Duckbill in the Young Adult category. Each winner was honoured at NLF for their contributions towards a greater understanding of India, Indian lives, and Indian stories with a certificate, trophy, and cash award of ₹1,00,000.

The 2020 Neev Book Award will recognise outstanding literature in four distinct categories.

Neev Book Award 2020 Shortlist – Award Categories and Criteria

Picture Books

Books in this category must follow the conventions of a picture book format. A picture book must be a maximum of 48 pages in length and provide the reader with a rich visual experience. The story can be narrated through both text and images or only images.

In My Heart
by Nandana Dev Sen

Dotted Lines
by Bhuri Bai Bhil & Debjani Mukherjee

Ammama’s Sari
by Niveditha Subramaniam

Lost and Found : In a Mumbai Koliwada
by Vinitha

The Mountains of Mumbai
by Labanya Ghosh

The Gular Flower
by Rinchin

Emerging Readers

These books must address an audience of children between the ages of 7 and 9 (Grades 1 to 3) who should be able to read these books independently. The book’s length should fall between 7,000 and a maximum of 20,000 words and may or may not have illustrations. Examples of Emerging Readers include “The Hole Books” series by Duckbill and “The Magic Treehouse” series by Random House.

Letters to Ammi
by Aftab Yusuf Shaikh

Hungry to Play
by Arti Sonthalia

Rattu and Poorie’s Adventures in History:1857
by Parvati Sharma

The Girl Who Ironed her Hair and Other Stories
by Lalita Iyer

Srinivasa Ramanujan: Friend of Numbers
by Priya Narayanan

Unlucky Chumki
by Lesley D. Biswas

Junior Readers

Books in this category should be appropriately complex and sophisticated for children between the ages of 10 and 12 (Grades 4 to 7). Examples in this category include Tiger Boy by Mitali Perkins and Number the Stars by Lois Lowry.

All of Me
by Venita Coelho

Flyaway Boy
by Jane De Suza

Nadya
by Debasmita Dasgupta

The Rise of the Midnight King

by Olivier Lafont

Young Adult

For children between the ages of 13 and 16. The book may explore more mature content appropriate for younger teenagers. The protagonist should not be above 18 years. Examples of books in this category include Queen of Ice by Devika Rangachari and The Crossover by Kwame Alexander.

Grit-The Major Story
by Major DP Singh, VR Ferose, Sriram Jagannathan

Being Gandhi
by Paro Anand

The Lies We Tell
by by Himanjali Sankar

The Prince
by Samhita Arni

A Match Made in Mehendi
by Nandini Bajpai

building foundations for life!

NEEV Academy: www.neevacademy.org | NEEV Early Years: www.neevschools.com