The Bulgarian Book Association has announced this year’s nominees for the 2026 International Hans Christian Andersen Award, namely Maya Dalgacheva and Yasen Gyuzelev. Here is what the association wrote:
We are pleased and proud to announce that two prominent Bulgarian authors – writer Maya Dalgacheva and illustrator Yasen Gyuzelev – have been nominated by the Bulgarian Book Association, a member of the International Children’s Book Council, for the prestigious international Hans Christian Andersen Award. This is the highest global award for children’s literature, awarded by the International Book Council for Children (IBBY) to authors and illustrators for their outstanding contribution to the art of children’s books.
The selection of the authors was carried out by a jury of specialists in the field of children's books, consisting of: Prof. Svetlana Stoycheva-Anderson, Tonya Goranova - illustrator, Valentina Stoeva - founder of the Children's Books Foundation and the Reading Foundation, Desislava Aleksieva - bookseller and chairwoman of the Bulgarian Book Association, Lilia Rusanova - publisher, Dimka Mihaylova - librarian.
Maya Dalgacheva is among the most beloved contemporary Bulgarian children's writers, known for her magical poetic style, rich imagination and warm humor. Her books inspire children and adults with the tenderness and wisdom of their stories. Her works are distinguished by their wealth of imagination, as well as the depth and seriousness of the topics they touch on. Her books manage to convey values and messages to children in a fascinating and accessible way.
Yasen Gyuzelev is a world-renowned illustrator, whose works adorn editions of classic works such as "Alice in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll, "Pinocchio" by Carlo Collodi and "Don Quixote" by Miguel de Cervantes. His distinctive style, inspired by the Renaissance tradition and classical graphics, is highly valued both in Bulgaria and on the international literary scene. In 2022, he was awarded the national award "Hristo G. Danov" for his illustrations for the book "Orpheus and Eurydice" by Ivan B. Genov.
The nominations of Maya Dalgacheva and Yasen Gyuzelev are recognition not only for their talent, but also for the development of Bulgarian children's literature and illustration on the world stage. The "Hans Christian Andersen" Award, often called the "little Nobel" for children's literature, is awarded once every two years and focuses on artists who enrich the imagination of children around the world with their art.
The official results will be announced in 2026, and the Bulgarian Book Association expresses its pride and support for Maya Dalgacheva and Yasen Gyuzelev.
Source: ABC
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