The Vietnamese comic book titled “Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear”, published by Pan Macmillan, has won the Yoto Carnegie Medal (the UK).
“Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear” is a publication of Kim Dong Publishing House; the publishing house sold its copyright to Pan Macmillan and many other publishers in the US, the Republic of Korea, China, Norway, Russia, Japan, Sweden, and Turkey.
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The image of the comic at the announcement ceremony of the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration. (Photo courtesy of Kim Dong Publishing House) |
At the awards ceremony for Yoto Carnegie Medal in London, the UK, Vietnamese painter Jeet Zdung was honoured for his watercolour paintings in illustrating “Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear”. Jeet Zdung overcame 17 other candidates in the preliminary and final round to win the medal. This was the first time a Vietnamese painter won this prestigious award.
The Yoto Carnegie is an annual British award given to outstanding works for children and young people written in English, with the aim of creating a better world through reading. The award has two categories including medal for writings and medal for illustration.
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The comic series in both Vietnamese and English editions by Kim Dong Publishing House and Kingfisher. (Photo courtesy of Kim Dong Publishing House) |
The comic series “Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear” is based on the true story of author Trang Nguyen in the image of Chang, a young girl with a great aspiration to become a wildlife conservationist.
In 2021, “Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear” surpassed hundreds of works to receive Prize A at the National Book Award, one of the top book awards in Vietnam.
Chair of the jury for the Yoto Carnegie Award, Janet Noble, said this is an emotional story that contains a valuable perspective on nature conservation while creating a strong inspiration from the true story of a young girl who has persistently pursued the career of wildlife conservation.
Painter Jeet Zdung expressed his hope that “Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear” will contribute interesting and right knowledge about wildlife and stress the importance of wildlife conservation.
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| Painter Jeet Zdung and the book “Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear” (Photo: Nguyen Kim Long). |
In an interview upon his receipt of the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration, Jeet Zdung, along with Trang Nguyen, shared that he wishes the book will contribute to raising public awareness of wildlife conservation through the sharing of their insights and passions.
The winner will receive 5,000 pounds in cash, a gold Carnegie Medal, and books worth 500 pounds that will be presented to libraries. Accordingly, painter Jeet Zdung and writer Trang Nguyen will expand to libraries in localities near Cuc Phuong National Park, built by WildAct, to develop reading culture and conservation knowledge among children.
