"It is a great honour for 'Liels un mazs' to be shortlisted for the BOP Prize from the Bologna Children's Book Fair for the fifth time! Being shortlisted for so many years in a row is an excellent ongoing promotion for our publishing house, authors, and country. We still hope to win one day," publisher and co-founder Alīse Nīgale said.
Liels un mazs is one of five European publishing houses in contention, with a similar number of nominations for other continents, too. The other European nominees come from France, Russia and Poland.
"Maybe it will happen this year when 'Liels un mazs' celebrates its 18th birthday - the age when you are considered to be an adult in Latvia," she added.
In addition Luīze Pastore's book 'Laimes bērni' ('Children of happiness') with illustrations by Evija Pintāne has won the special jury prize 'New Horizons' at the book fair, it has been announced.
The Bologna book fair is widely considered the world's most important when it comes to publishing for children and young people. his year's event runs March 21-24 in Italy.