‘Democracy’ wins the 2016 IBBY Award

To mark the celebration of World Children’s Book Day 2016, the Greek Section of IBBY – the Greek Children’s Book Circle – organised the annual awards ceremony on Saturday 2 April 2016 at Technopolis in the Municipality of Athens, honouring individuals and organisations whose work promotes a love of reading, as well as awards to creators for the writing, illustration and translation of literary books for children and young people (books published in 2015).On this significant evening, the graphic novel ‘Democracy’ by Alekos Papadatos, Avraam Kawa and Annie di Donna won the award in the category ‘Award for an author of a book for teenagers and young adults’!&The book, which was published last October, offers a contemporary perspective on how one of the greatest inventions in world political history came about, thrilling readers and critics alike: “An amazing book that unravels all aspects of democracy, touching on the points we usually overlook in historical accounts. The element of chance, the circumstances, the risk and the perseverance of the enlightened people of every historical period.”Argyro Bozoni (http://www.thetoc.gr) ‘The contributors to this volume have not embellished reality. On the contrary, they have often chosen its darker versions, in order to show a human Athens rather than a city shrouded in the mist of myth. Private reasons are often stronger than public ones; base motives overshadow the noble.” Giorgos N. Perantonakis (http://www.bookpress.gr)During the award ceremony, the launch of the major campaign by the Hellenic Book Association (ENELVI) for World Book Day (23 April) was also announced, with the slogan ‘I Read & I Change”, in which the Greek Section of the IBBY is participating as a partner organisation alongside the Society of Authors.