This marks the first time a Vietnamese children’s book has appeared on the list.
The BRAW Amazing Bookshelf is a curated selection of outstanding works within the BolognaRagazzi Award (BRAW) system — one of the most prestigious international awards for picture books and illustrated children’s titles. The award is part of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, which is one of the most influential events in the global children’s publishing industry, bringing together publishers, rights agents, illustrators, curators, and industry experts from around the world.
Each year, the BolognaRagazzi Awards recognise excellence in content, illustration, graphic design, visual structure, creativity, and accessibility for young readers. In addition to prize-winning titles and special mentions, The BRAW Amazing Bookshelf showcases 150 notable books selected from entries that have passed the professional judging round; these works are exhibited at the fair to introduce them to the international publishing community.
According to the organisers, this year’s competition received 4,120 submissions from 73 countries and territories, setting a new record, with entries up 6.8 percent and participating publishers rising 13 percent compared to 2025.
Against this highly competitive international backdrop, the inclusion of the picture book “Khu Vuon Trong Tim Ta” among the 150 titles of The BRAW Amazing Bookshelf 2026 represents a noteworthy professional achievement.
The presence of a Vietnamese title in The BRAW Amazing Bookshelf 2026 can be regarded as a positive milestone for the country’s children’s publishing sector, indicating that works with serious investment in content, artistry, and production quality are gradually meeting international standards and gaining recognition in prestigious global professional platforms.
Previously, “Khu Vuon Trong Tim Ta” was named among the Top 100 outstanding manuscripts by dPICTUS in 2022 and was later presented at the Japan Foundation in Tokyo in September 2025 before an audience of more than 60 editors, journalists, and interested readers.
