HÀ NỘI – Female writer Lý Lan was awarded the grand prize “Hiệp sĩ Dế Mèn” (Cricket Knight) at a presentation ceremony for the 5th "Dế Mèn (Cricket) Awards for Children" in Hà Nội on May 29.

Delegates and winners of the 5th "Dế Mèn Awards for Children" at the presentation ceremony in Hà Nội on May 29. VNA/VNS Photo

Lý Lan was honoured for a work of fiction titled “Tự truyện một con heo” (An autobiography of a pig) published by the Trẻ (Youth) Publishing House.

The writer, born in southern Bình Dương province in 1957, has dedicated her entire life to creating a number of works, including stories, poems, novels and proses, and translating many foreign ones for children. She is also the translator of the famous series of fantasy novels “Harry Potter” into Vietnamese.

Trần Đăng Khoa (left) and Editor-in-chief of the Sports and Culture Newspaper Lê Xuân Thành (right) present the grand prize “Hiệp sĩ Dế Mèn” to a representative of writer Lý Lan. VNA/VNS Photo

This year, the Khát Vọng Dế Mèn (Cricket Desire) prize was presented to a draft comic titled “Thư viện kỳ bí” (Mysterious Library) by 14-year-old Lê Sinh Hùng; “ Cuộc phiêu lưu của Dế Út” (An adventure of Dế Út), a four-volume comic series by Linh Rab and published by the Kim Đồng Publishing House; and “Dưới khung trời ngát xanh” (Under the blue sky), a draft novel by Lữ Mai.

This prize was also granted to “Trăng Ơi… từ đâu đến?” (Dear the moon… where are you from?), a song by Thái Chí Thanh based on a poem by Trần Đăng Khoa; and “Vương quốc nhỏ bí mật” (The secret little kingdom), a poem by Lã Thanh Hà with illustrations by Như Quỳnh released by the Hà Nội Publishing House and Crabit Kidbooks.

Deputy General Director of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Nguyễn Thị Sự presented the Khát Vọng Dế Mèn prize to Lê Sinh Hùng at the event.

The jury also honoured the series of children’s books by writer May, comprising “Bánh mì gối xinh” (The pretty slice of bread) and “Ông già Noel và cuộc phiêu lưu của đôi giày mới” (Santa Clause and the adventure of the new shoes), in the “Vun đắp tâm hồn” (Nurturing the soul) collection of the Kim Đồng Publishing House.

“Con khỉ vàng Bắp ở Rú Mò” (Bắp, the yellow monkey in Rú Mò), a draft novel by Đặng Chương Ngạn, was also commended.

The "Dế Mèn Awards for Children" 2024 attracted the biggest number of entries so far, with 135 works, created or completed between January 1, 2023 and April 20, 2024.

As part of the presentation ceremony, an exhibition of illustrations from “Cuộc phiêu lưu cua Dế Út” was also held. The comic is an adaptation of “Dế Mèn Phiêu Lưu Ký” (Diary of a Cricket), one of the most well-known Vietnamese children’s books, by Tô Hoài.

The annual "Dế Mèn Awards for Children", launched by the VNA’s Sports and Culture Newspaper in 2020, aims to honour the best works by and for children. The award title is taken from the main character in “Dế Mèn Phiêu Lưu Ký”. VNA/VNS