bologna ragazzi prize for dreams, numbers & farts

I've at TOC Bologna where I've thoroughly enjoyed being a judge of the  

2012 BolognaRagazzi Digital Prize - the first one ever. More on this later but here is our press release announcing: Winners and Honorable Mentions

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March 18, 2012 Bologna Italy. The Bologna Children¹s Book Fair today

announced the results of the first BolognaRagazzi Digital Prize, a global

initiative designed to recognize excellent and innovation in children's

storytelling apps.

An independent jury considered 252 entries by 179 publishers from 25

countries. The overall winner and two finalists will be announced at the end

of the TOC Bologna conference on Sunday March 18th 2012.

It was a difficult choice. Among the 253 entries were many strong titles

that could have made the short list, and there were many very good products

that fell outside the narrative-driven criteria.  The jurors were seeking

innovation and interactive features that complemented and extended

storytelling. The jurors hope to consider a wider range of digital platforms

in the future as well as the opportunity to recognize the broad spectrum of

innovation.

After looking at the entire pool of entries, the jurors issued the following

statements. "It is clear that many children's authors and publishers are

starting to catch on to digital techniques. We saw repeated examples clever

and imaginative work.  The jurors stated: "these are not books and they

can't really be compared to books." They also stated "we recommend that

future contests consider a wider range of digital platforms, besides just

the iPad in search of a broader spectrum of innovation."

Despite coming from separate continents, the three winners shared a common

attribute. They provided children a rich, engaging experience while not

losing their connection to storytelling, writing and illustration. The

jurors were especially concerned with how the interactive media complement

these elements.

The Winner:

Dans Mon Reve by e-Toiles Editions from France

This is a surreal and poetic app, updating the traditional heads bodies and

legs format in a way that can only work on multi-screen. It leaves space for

a child¹s imagination and provides a setting for collaborative play, all

while breaking away from the page-by-page way of thinking.

Honorable Mentions:

The Numberlys by Moonbot Studios LA LLC, USA

Anyone who doubts that power of the multi-touch screen for storytelling

should see this hugely impressive feat of design.  Despite providing a

critique of totalitarianism; it somehow manages to provide a rich language

experience in a way that promotes social play by offering games that two

children can enjoy together.

Quem Soltou o Pum? (Who Let the Fart Out?) by Atendimento Editora Schwarcz

Jurors said: This a wonderful example of using basic interactive techniques

with wit and intelligence, while telling a story that any child knows very

well: how to deal with a messy dog.  Many apps feature children as narrators

with varying success --  here it works beautifully.

The jurors were Warren Buckleitner from Flemington, NJ USA Editor of

Children's Technology Review, André Letria from Lisbon, Portugal; an

Illustrator and Publisher; Chris Meade of London, England Director of

if:book UK, a think and do tank exploring the future of the book, and

Cristina Mussinelli, Milan, Italy of the Italian Publishers Association.