This isn't really a blog post (surprise!) but a message from Annette Goldsmith. Rather than paraphrase I thought I'd simply replicate her message about the new prize for translated young adult literature. There are some lovely titles on there that you will have heard of, and probably read. However there are also titles that will broaden your knowledge of translated fiction. All would make excellent additions to any library. I'll certainly be watching with interest!

Dear colleagues,

The Global Literature in Libraries Initiative is a group of translators, librarians, editors, publishers and more dedicated to helping librarians identify and promote world literature for children, teens, and adults. We have established an award for translated YA literature to encourage youth to read more widely. Translations are an important part of the diversity conversation but account for a tiny percentage of available works.

Some Batchelder titles are YA crossover and USBBY's Outstanding International Books list includes translations, but no other award focuses on translated books for teens. I'm excited to announce that we have published our shortlist today (we'll be announcing the winner and honor books at ALA Midwinter): https://glli-us.org/2019/01/15/2019-glli-translated-ya-book-prize-shortlist/

The list is a truly global one and we would be grateful if you could share the link widely to help spread the word.

The ten books on the shortlist are from France, China, Germany, Equatorial Guinea, Japan, India, and Sweden, and they include fiction, nonfiction, and graphic novels. YA is a broad age range covering many developmental needs, and the list reflects that, with some books being well-suited to older middle-grade readers and others being adult titles with strong teen appeal. These titles are fresh, sometimes funny, and they invariably upend stereotypes while telling a riveting story.

If you'd like to find out more about GLLI, check us out on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GlobalLitinLibs/, Twitter https://twitter.com/GlobalLitinLibs, and the Web https://glli-us.org/.

Thank you for supporting our efforts!

Annette Goldsmith Member, 2019 Global Literature in Libraries Initiative (GLLI) Translated YA Book Prize Committee --

Annette Goldsmith, PhD Co-Editor (with Theo Heras & Susan Corapi),

Reading the World's Stories: An annotated bibliography of international youth literature (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) Librarian, Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel, Los Angeles, CA

"A book is like a world you can carry around with you." Liniers, Written and Drawn by Henrietta (TOON Books, 2015)