The Many Gifts in a Book
A message from Roberto Piumini to the young jurors of the Premio Campiello Junior
Applications for positions on the Readers’ Jury are still open for the second edition of the Premio Campiello Junior, the award for works of fiction and poetry for young people that was launched by the Pirelli Foundation with the Fondazione Il Campiello. Young readers aged between 7 and 14 have until 11 November 2022 to sign up, using this form.
It is to them that Roberto Piumini addresses a message inspired by the gifts that every book, and every reading, brings with it:
My Friends of the Young Jury,
A book contains many gifts. The first is the gift the author (the narrator or poet) gives himself or herself, by carefully choosing, from a whole bunch of terms, the words they need for their unique and very special story or song. Another gift is that of the publisher, who distributes this single gift to many people, showing them a different view of the world and enriching their experience. And then, of course, there is the gift that the reader offers to the author, devoting time, attention, and an imaginary response to them: reading is a form of generous hospitality. There is the gift of those who give or lend a book to a friend, showing them a human landscape, in which the book talks about themselves and enriches their friendship. And then there is the gift that a juror – a jury – offers the reader by choosing a story and a language of great quality. By suggesting and awarding a prize to a good book, you are helping to ensure that these gifts can circulate. Like a good teacher or like what happens in a choir, you help enrich the conversation.
Roberto Piumini
President of the Selection Jury of the Premio Campiello Junior
Roberto Piumini is joined by the winner of the first edition of the Prize, Antonella Sbuelz, and members of the Campiello Junior Selection Jury to nominate the finalists. Addressing the young jurors directly, they have wished to convey some messages concerning the importance of reading and of sharing this experience with their peers. You can listen to the messages in full in the “Gallery” section.
A message from Roberto Piumini to the young jurors of the Premio Campiello Junior
Applications for positions on the Readers’ Jury are still open for the second edition of the Premio Campiello Junior, the award for works of fiction and poetry for young people that was launched by the Pirelli Foundation with the Fondazione Il Campiello. Young readers aged between 7 and 14 have until 11 November 2022 to sign up, using this form.
It is to them that Roberto Piumini addresses a message inspired by the gifts that every book, and every reading, brings with it:
My Friends of the Young Jury,
A book contains many gifts. The first is the gift the author (the narrator or poet) gives himself or herself, by carefully choosing, from a whole bunch of terms, the words they need for their unique and very special story or song. Another gift is that of the publisher, who distributes this single gift to many people, showing them a different view of the world and enriching their experience. And then, of course, there is the gift that the reader offers to the author, devoting time, attention, and an imaginary response to them: reading is a form of generous hospitality. There is the gift of those who give or lend a book to a friend, showing them a human landscape, in which the book talks about themselves and enriches their friendship. And then there is the gift that a juror – a jury – offers the reader by choosing a story and a language of great quality. By suggesting and awarding a prize to a good book, you are helping to ensure that these gifts can circulate. Like a good teacher or like what happens in a choir, you help enrich the conversation.
Roberto Piumini
President of the Selection Jury of the Premio Campiello Junior
Roberto Piumini is joined by the winner of the first edition of the Prize, Antonella Sbuelz, and members of the Campiello Junior Selection Jury to nominate the finalists. Addressing the young jurors directly, they have wished to convey some messages concerning the importance of reading and of sharing this experience with their peers. You can listen to the messages in full in the “Gallery” section.