YOKOHAMA (Dec. 15, 2009) - Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. will publish two winning works from the 25th "Nissan Children's Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix" held in 2008. Published under BL Publishing Co., Ltd., the books will go on sale at major bookstores nationwide.
The published books are "Tetsu no Kirin no Umi Watari" (Iron Giraffe Crosses the Sea) by Miyuki Asaba and "Taifuu ga Kuru" (Typhoon is Coming) by Akiko Miyakoshi - winners of the Children's Storybook Grand Prize and Picture Book Grand Prize respectively. The former was illustrated by Shoji Ishizaki, a previous Special Prize winner from the Picture Book category.
As part of its corporate contribution to promote children's literature, Nissan will donate copies of these books to about 3,300 libraries across Japan and about 700 local nursery schools and kindergartens located near Nissan offices. Beginning with the first Grand Prix in 1984, the company has donated up to 160,000 books nationwide, bringing the joys and educational value of reading to children of all ages.
"Tetsu no Kirin no Umi Watari" and "Taifuu ga Kuru"
Submissions for this year's 26th Nissan Children's Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix ended on October 31. The award ceremony will be held in March 2010 at the Nissan Global Headquarters, Nishi-ku, Yokohama city.
Information on the Grand Prix is available at the following site (Japanese only)
http://www.nissan-global.com/JP/CITIZENSHIP/FAIRYTALE/index.html
Nissan has been addressing a wide range of actions under "Blue Citizenship" which represents the company's desire to protect the blue planet and to be a corporate citizen that can live symbiotically with people and society. These efforts range from such global issues as the environmental protection to contribution to communities, promoting diversity and making personal mobility available to as many people as possible. Nissan Children's Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix is one of its corporate citizenship activities based on "Blue Citizenship".
Grand Prize Winning Works to be published:
<Children's storybook category>
Title: "Tetsu no Kirin no Umi Watari" (Iron Giraffe Crosses the Sea)
Summary: A boy separated from his mother climbs up the back of an "iron giraffe" at the port. The boy and the "iron giraffe", whom he fondly calls Grandfather, embark on an adventurous journey across the seas to be reunited with his mother.
Author: Miyuki Asaba
Residing in Kanagawa. Winner of the 25th Nissan Children's Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix.
Illustrator: Shoji Ishizaki
Special prize winner of the 6th Nissan Children's Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix for "Inemuri no Sukina Tsuki" (The moon who likes snoozing)
Format: 24x18cm, 32 pages, 4-color printing
Price: 1,300 yen (tax excluded)
<Picture book category>
Title: "Taifuu ga Kuru" (Typhoon is coming)
A boy and his family plans a trip to the sea the next day but the arrival of a typhoon is about to ruin the planned trip. Wishing for better weather, the boy goes to bed and dreams… A monochrome-style story with bold composition.
Author: Akiko Miyakoshi
Residing in Tokyo. Winner of the 25th Nissan Children's Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix.
Format: 26x25cm, 32 pages, 4-color printing
Price: 1,300 yen (tax excluded)
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