Olga Ternova wins the Korneychukovsky Award – the biggest literary contest for children in Ukraine

Co-founder and director of the Theatre na Zhukah, Olga Ternova comes top of the best at the Korneychukovsky Award – the biggest literary contest for children and youths in Ukraine – with her debut book for children.

Her “Tale about Fairy Tale” was No. 1 book in nomination of “”Prose for the Younger Kids”.

“Tale about Fairy Tale” is a story about what happens when people no longer treat the life as a miracle.

Yun, a young magician, comes to a small town where people go on living their lives, taking care of their problems and savoring their joys, not even aware that they have long ceased believing in miracles. So he goes, making miracles, trying to wake people up and to revive the soul of the town. But very few can be saved in the end. When Yun finally leaves the town, the townsfolk turn into what they really are.

Olga Ternova emphatically pointed out that the jury this year took into account the readers’ opinion – something that had never happened before. “Interestingly enough, in addition to the jury, they involved readers of the relevant age. In my opinion, it’s a great idea – to let kids pick the books for themselves”, she said.

The Korneychukovsky Award literary contest for children and youths was first held in 2014. The contest has 4 nominations.

Dmytro Ternovyi came second on the same contest in nomination “Dramatic Art for Children and Youths” with his piece “A Butterfly Wing”.