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sive stories. Specifically, the majority of the Com-
mittees’ members agreed that, despite the various
disadvantages, the work is genuinely adolescent,
while the protagonists, their problems and the is-
sues are undoubtedly contemporary and hot is-
sues, but also Cypriot. The book is written with
sensitivity and descriptive capability, while the
author has a good grasp on the Greek language.
The fact that the stories were written from a teen-
ager’s perspective is evident, which means they
are ridded of the adult author’s viewpoint. The
way in which he manages the narrative material
and the narrative techniques he uses have created
interesting and well-structured stories for teenag-
ers, despite the fact that this is the author’s first
step into the world of literature.
Other works included in the Youth Literature cat-
egory:
The dreamy paradise of Avgerinos
, byAthos Had-
jimatheou
The adventures of a dog named Zorba
, by Maria
Olympiou
Illustration in Children’s/Youth Book
The Judging Committee unanimously decided
that it would not award any of the candidates for
the Prize for Illustration in Children’s/Youth Book
as the entries were not of the highest calibre nec-
essary to be awarded by an important institution
like the State Prize for Illustration. Furthermore,
with its decision, the Committee suggests to the
Cultural Services that a programme of activities
is needed to encourage illustrators and aid in the
improvement of work, helping illustration in our
country improve and grow.
The Committee proposes that they first meet with
illustrators, and others involved in the publica-
tions, to discuss the result of the competition, with
a simultaneous exhibition of quality illustrative
books and original illustrations by Cypriot, Greek
and foreign illustrators, and additional seminars on
illustration with professional, experienced and ac-
claimed illustrators.
They recommend that Cypriot illustrators organise
a group to protect their rights and improve the qual-
ity of Cypriot publications, and that an electronic
database is created to disseminate ideals, create
sportsmanship, and to encourage illustrators to be-
come acquainted and communicate, with the aim
of ensuring a high level of illustrations in Cyprus.
To encourage illustrators further, an illustration
competition will be organised, independent from
the State Prizes for Literature, in which the illustra-
tors can choose the text they will illustrate and the
award will be to publish the best work in a book.
And finally, the Committee advise that a commis-
sion of experts is composed, who will assess publi-
cations before any funding is offered by institutions
and organisations that sponsor publications.
The Judging Committee for illustration comprised
of Genethlis Genethliou (Chairman), Evgenia
Vasiloudi, Louiza Kaimaki, Maria Loizidou and
Theodora Pyliotou.
The winners alongside the Minister of Education and Culture, Dr George Demosthenous (centre), and the Director of the
Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Pavlos Paraskeva