The Association for Children's and Youth Literature is responsible for awarding the German Children's Literature Award (Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis), which is a state-sponsored prize endowed with a total of 72,000 Euros and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. The prize is intended to encourage the development of children’s and young adult literature, to arouse and maintain public interest and to stimulate discussions in this field of literature. The goal of the award is to strengthen children and young adults in their personal development and to offer guidance to the vast German book market.
The German Children's Literature Award is awarded by a jury of literature specialists and critics in four categories: Picture Book, Children's Book, Young Adult Book and Non-Fiction. In addition, since 2003 an independent young adult jury gives its own award. Each category carries a value of 10,000 Euro.
Furthermore, two Special Awards are presented alternately to German authors, illustrators or translators. The Special Award for Lifetime Achievement is set at 12,000 Euro. The Special Award for New Talents carries a value of 10,000 Euro. Both are also financed by the Federal Ministry.
The prize announcement and ceremony for all these awards takes place in October at the Frankfurt Book Fair.
