Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis

Annual German children's literary award

The Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis (German Youth Literature Award) is an annual award established in 1956 by the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth to recognise outstanding works of children's and young adult literature. It is Germany's only state funded literary award. In the past, authors from many countries have been recognised, including non German speakers.

The award is organized by the Arbeitskreis für Jugendliteratur, also called AKJ or Association for Children's and Youth Literature, which receives financial support, including prize money, from the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. Awards are given in five categories: Best Picture Book, Best Children's Book, Best Youth Book, Best Non Fiction Book and Choice of the Youth Jury. Up to six nominations in each category are announced in March at the Leipzig Book Fair, In each category, the winning author receives a 10,000 euro cash prize, and a bronze statuette designed by Detlef Kraft representing Momo from the novel by Michael Ende. In 2017 it was supplemented by the special award for new talents to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the award

Awards are decided upon by three juries: the Kritikerjury (Critics' Jury), the Jugendjury and the Sonderpreisjury (special award jury). The Kritikerjury decides the nominations and the majority of the prizes; the Jugendjury only decides the Jugendjury prize. The Sonderpreisjury awards the special awards for lifetime achievement and new talents. The Kritikerjury is appointed by the Arbeitsgruppe für Jugendliteratur once every two years, although jury members can serve two consecutive terms. The jury consists of nine members: the chair, and eight specialist judges two for each award category. The Jugendjury consists of the members of six German youth book clubs. It is also changed every two years, although some clubs serve consecutive terms. The Sonderpreisjury consists of three members and changes every year.