Vietnamese Work Earns Nomination at Carnegie Awards

Jeet Zdung Wins Illustration Award at the 2023 Carnegie Medal

Carnegie Medal 2023 Illustration Prize Goes to Jeet Zdung

Jeet Zdung has been awarded the illustration prize in the 2023 Carnegie Medal for his work on “Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear” (“Chang hoang dã – Gấu”).

Carnegie Medal 2023 Honors Two Authors

The Carnegie Medal, a prestigious UK award for children’s and young adult literature, has recognized two authors in 2023. Welsh writer Manon Steffan Ros won the 2023 Yoto Carnegie Medal for her work, “The Blue Book of Nebo,” marking the first time a translated book has won in the award’s 87-year history. Set in post-apocalyptic Wales, the novel is praised for its emotional depth and cultural significance. Originally written in Welsh, Ros translated it into English herself.

Jeet Zdung’s “Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear” won the illustration award. Co-authored with Trang Nguyen, the book is based on Nguyen’s real-life efforts to rescue a sun bear. The story, vividly brought to life through watercolor illustrations, has been noted for its emotional impact and stunning visuals. This is the second consecutive year that an illustrated book has won the award, previously known as the Kate Greenaway Medal.

Ros and Zdung were honored at a ceremony in London on June 21, hosted by Lauren Child, the 2000 winner of the illustration medal for “Charlie and Lola.” Both authors received £5,000 and £500 worth of books to donate to a library of their choice. Ros plans to donate to Tywyn Library, where she wrote some of her books without home internet access, while Zdung intends to support libraries established by Trang Nguyen in Vietnamese national parks.

Zdung expressed hope that “Saving Sorya” would broaden readers’ knowledge about wildlife conservation and inspire the younger generation about the importance of animal conservation. He conducted field research in Vietnam and Cambodia to authentically portray the characters and settings in the illustrations.

Engaging Story, Exquisitely Illustrated

Janet Noble, chair of the judging panel, commended “Saving Sorya” for being a beautifully told story that brings a global perspective to conservation and offers powerful inspiration about an environmental activist through comic art and vibrant watercolors.

The Carnegie Medal, established in 1936 by the UK Library Association, is named after philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who founded over 2,800 libraries worldwide. It annually honors outstanding English-language children’s and young adult books. The winners are chosen by a panel of twelve librarians from a shortlist of seven writing and six illustration nominees.

Past writing winners include Arthur Ransome, CS Lewis, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, and Phillip Pullman. Previous illustration winners include Raymond Briggs, Shirley Hughes, and Quentin Blake.

“Chang hoang dã – Gấu” has also won the National Book Award in Vietnam and has been acquired for international publication by publishers like Penguin Random House (USA), Bookdream (South Korea), Jieli (China), Ayrinti (Turkey), Fontini (Norway), and AST (Russia).

(Source: zingnews)