Lucy and Dark receives special mention at Bologna Ragazzi Awards
09 March 2026
Dutch Children’s Book 'Lucy and Dark', written and illustrated by Karst-Janneke Rogaar, received a special mention at the Italian Bologna Ragazzi Awards 2026. These awards are an international showcase for the world’s finest, most innovative picture books. Adjudicated by international juries made up of experts from the publishing world, the Awards acknowledge excellence of graphic design, innovation and ability to engage with young readers.
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Lucy and Dark (Querido 5+) tells the story of a young girl called Lucy, that befriends the dark. When Lucy lays in bed in her room at night, she suddenly hears a voice. ‘It’s me, the dark,’ the voice says. Before she knows it, the dark takes her on an exciting journey. At night, with only the enchanting light of the moon, the world is full of new smells and sounds. Karst-Janneke Rogaar wrote and illustrated an atmospheric picture book, with crafted charcoal sketches.
The 2026 Special Bologna Ragazzi Awards category is dedicated to Fables & Fairytales. A total of 4,120 candidate titles from 73 countries and regions around the world competed this year. Lucy and Dark received a special mention in the category fiction.
Do you want to discover more Dutch Children’s Books? You can find our 2025 selection here. We will publish our curated 2026 selection very soon. The Dutch Foundation for Literature will also be present at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2026, to promote our latest Dutch Children’s Books.