Yesterday, in the CM1-CM2 classes of the Von Derwies school in Nice, the students discovered the four works in competition for the “Youth Prize: the book of the students of Nice”. For this launch, Deputy Mayor Jean-Luc Gaglio, the patron Susie Morgenstern, and representatives of independent bookstores were present. The winner of the prize will be unveiled at the book festival at the end of May 2026.
Tuesday afternoon, in the attentive classroom of Von Derwies, it was book distribution day. It wasn’t just about giving a set of books to read but empowering them to judge. Each student received the four titles selected for this edition of the Youth Prize. Created in 2022 by the city of Nice and independent booksellers, this prize aims to “encourage schoolchildren to become even more active in their cultural awakening.” It is part of the continuity of other municipal initiatives like “Reading, Writing, and Theater for All” or “Nice, 100% Culture at School”.
Deputy Mayor Jean-Luc Gaglio explained to the children the purpose of this initiative “the Youth Prize is the students’ prize of Nice. We thought it was necessary to honor children’s book authors. And you, the students of Nice, are the ones who will reward these authors.” Alongside him, the prize’s patron since its creation, Susie Morgenstern, entrusted the children with their new mission “with these books, you now have a great responsibility. Because you will have to read them and judge them. You become a literary critic and juror.”
The students even prepared a poetry responding to the question “why do I read?” with verses and recited them, one by one, in front of Susie Morgenstern. In this class, a large majority of them claim to love reading, a great encouragement for the future.
An Eclectic Selection Aiming to Be Educational
The four books presented today were chosen by the independent bookstores of Nice, represented by Jean-Sébastien Ray, bookseller at Les Journées Suspendues. From about fifteen proposals, they selected four books based on the following criteria: genre diversity and originality. “There is something for everyone. There are adventure books, mysteries, history, a bit of love, science fiction, and humor,” explains Jean-Sébastien Ray to the young readers.
The titles to read during the school year are:
- The Day Everything Stopped by Vincent Tirilly, illustrated by Marc Boutavian (École des Loisirs)
- Mysteries in New York by Alain Surget, illustrations by Camille Ledigarcher (ABC Mendy)
- Hazel Toucourt, and the Time Flaws: The Strange Invention of Granny Boom-Boom by Ellie S. Green, illustration Marion Bulot (Rageot)
- The Bisclavret of Guerlédan by Morgan of Glencoe (Goater)
The idea, according to Jean-Sébastien Ray, is to offer varied universes, “each book is different. This will allow you to make a thoughtful judgment to choose your favorite with awareness.”
The students have until April to read the four books at their own pace, perhaps debate among themselves, and then designate the one they preferred. In May, during the Festival du Livre de Nice (May 29, 30, and 31), the prize will be officially awarded to the winner.
Ambition, Responsibility, Expected Outcomes
Jean-Luc Gaglio revisited the original ambitions and the results observed since 2022. “The goals we had when we launched this prize were to allow children to express critiques and reflections on the books they read. […] We notice that it empowers them. We also realized that at their age, children are capable of arguing and defending their choice.”
As for Susie Morgenstern, author of more than 160 books for youth and “naturally a life-long” patron, she thinks that to reignite young people’s love for reading, “parents should set the example first.”
With this 2025 edition, more than 280 students from 10 classes (CM1, CM2, and 6th grade) throughout Nice are involved in the project, embarking on a literary adventure. Today, they take on the role of little jurors, with seriousness, curiosity, and enthusiasm.
