Awarded biannually, the Marsh Award aims to encourage the translation of foreign children’s books into English. In order to be eligible, books must be written for children from 4-16 years of age and be published in the UK by a British publisher. The £1,000 cash prize goes to the book’s translator. The most recent winner (2003) was Anthea Bell for her translation of Where Were You Robert? by Hans Magnus Enzensberger.

…The award encourages publishers in the UK to publish children’s books in translation (currently only 2% of children’s books published!). By recognizing the best of these books, Marsh helps people to find them, allowing children to meet characters from different backgrounds and cultures — and expand their sense of place in the world.

• The panel of judges, some of whom are professional translators, consider the craft of translation as well as the quality of the book itself;
• Previous winners include: Betsy Rosenberg for David Grossman's Duel (2001); Patricia Crampton for Gudrun Pausewang's The Final Journey (1998); and Anthea Bell for Christine Nöstlinger's A Dog's Life (1990-1996).
  

The National Centre for Research in Children's Literature
University of Surrey, Roehampton
Digby Stuart College
Roehampton Lane
London SW15 5PH

Tel: 020 8392 3008
Fax: 020 8392 3819
email: G.Lathey@roehampton.ac.uk