Ten books shortlisted for Estonia’s Tower of Babel award
Wednesday 21st October 2026 on 08:45 in
Estonia
Ten books have been nominated for the 2026 Tower of Babel children’s literature translation award, ERR reported. The Estonian section of the International Board on Books for Young People is presenting the award for the 23rd time.
The nominees were selected from books published between October 2025 and the end of September 2026. The shortlist has five titles in each of two categories: picture books and storybooks.
Picture book nominees:
Romana Romanõšõn and Andri Lessiv, “Stars in the Sky and Poppy Seeds,” translated from Ukrainian by Ilona Martson and published by Päike ja Pilv.
Susanna Isern and Rocio Bonilla, “But What If a Whale Swallows Me?”, translated from Spanish by Eva-Stina Randoja and published by Koolibri.
Jakob Martin Strid, “The Fantastic Bus,” translated from Danish by Kai-Mai Aja and published by Varrak.
Marta Cabrol, “Come On! Let’s Go to School!”, with verse translated by Leelo Tungal and published by Tammerraamat.
Ilon Wikland, “Where Is Sammeli?”, translated from Swedish by Maarja Aaloe and published by Sinisukk.
Storybook nominees:
Marius Marcinkevičius, “The Girl with a Gun,” illustrated by Lina Itagaki, translated from Lithuanian by Tiina Kattel and published by Draakon & Kuu.
Concita De Gregorio, “Somewhere, Where There Are a Million Frogs and Butterflies: Where Do All the Lost Things Go?”, illustrated by Beatrice Alemagna, translated from Italian by Eva Kolli and published by Draakon & Kuu.
Laura Lähteenmäki, “Count to Ten in Your Mind,” translated from Finnish by Triin Tael and published by Hea Lugu.
Saša Stanišić, “Wolf,” translated from German by Eve Sooneste and published by Tänapäev.
Päivi Lukkarila, “Thicket,” translated from Finnish by Triin Tael and published by Ühinenud Ajakirjad.
The jury consisted of Jaanika Palm, Annika Mägimets, Liisi Laineste, Dea Oidekivi and Mare Mürsepp. The winners will be announced on November 19 at the Estonian IBBY section’s autumn event at the Children’s Literature Centre in Tallinn.