Faroese children’s book nominated for Nordic literary award

Faroese authors Sólrún Michelsen and Annika Øyrabø are in the running for the Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize for their book Sjókæti (A-ØY), reports Faroese national broadcaster Kringvarp Føroya.

The Nordic Council announced 13 works nominated for this year’s prize, including picture books, novels, and a graphic novel. The selected titles explore nature—both above and below the sea—across all seasons, offering imaginative perspectives, the council stated.

For young readers, the stories address universal themes such as grief, belonging, and separation, while also tackling difficult choices and moral dilemmas. Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland have each submitted two works, while the Sámi language, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands have contributed one nomination each.

Sjókæti (A-ØY) is an illustrated alphabet book that guides readers through the Faroese language via the ocean’s depths. Each of the 29 letters—and the two diphthongs—introduces a new fish or sea creature native to Faroese waters.

Established in 2013, the Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize promotes children’s and youth literature in the Nordic languages. The 2026 winner, awarded 300,000 Danish kroner, will be announced on 20 October, with the ceremony held on 27 October during the Nordic Council’s annual session in Helsinki.