Choi Yeonju's Debut Picture Book "Mo Iyagi" Wins Italy's "La Gace e Lagaci" Newcomer Award

First Korean Winner
Italy's Most Prestigious Strega Prize
La Gace e Lagaci, Children's and Young Adult Category

The Italian edition of Choi Yeonju's picture book "Mo Iyagi" (Italian title: "Gatto Mo e gli amici del bosco") has won the Strega Prize (Premio Strega) La Gace e Lagaci Newcomer Award.

'Mo Iyagi' Strega Prize La Gaceta La Gaci Newcomer Award Winner. Atnooks

According to the publisher Atnooks, Choi Yeonju is the first Korean to receive the Strega Prize La Gace e Lagaci Newcomer Award.

The panel of judges described "Mo Iyagi" as "a classic yet profound fairy tale that leads readers on a journey of growth and discovery," adding that "the writing style is approachable, and the illustrations, inspired by the author's own cat, make the story even more immersive."

The Strega Prize, established in 1944, is Italy's most prestigious literary award. The La Gace e Lagaci category, which Choi Yeonju won, is a children's and young adult division newly established in 2016.

La Gace e Lagaci is co-hosted by the Italian Ministry of Culture's Center for Books and Reading and the Bologna Children's Book Fair. Both a professional panel of judges and a student jury participate in selecting the winners. The award is given to children's and young adult literature (including translations) published in Italy over the past year, and is divided into the Newcomer Award (Esordienti) for debut works and the Picture Book Award (Narrazione per immagini) for the most outstanding book.

Choi Yeonju Author. Strega Prize (Premio Strega) Official Website of Lagache and Lagachi

"Mo Iyagi," Choi Yeonju's debut picture book, tells the story of a cat named Mo who ventures out of the house at night driven by curiosity. The book received a Special Mention, an honor equivalent to an excellence award, at last year's Bologna Ragazzi Award, and this year it also won the "Passionnant MINI" category at the Sorci?res Prize.

Choi Yeonju said, "I am surprised and a bit dazed, but also deeply honored and grateful to receive such major awards in succession for my first book. As an introvert, I usually don't enjoy adventures, but while creating Mo Iyagi, I found courage in watching Mo overcome fear and embrace adventure."