Rosella Postorino and Daniele Mencarelli win the Campiello Junior

The award-winning books were selected by two dedicated popular juries, each made up of 120 children from all the regions of Italy and abroad. The initiative took place under the patronage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Veneto Region and the collaboration of the City of Vicenza and Confindustria Vicenza. Therefore, the children of primary schools for the 7-10 year old category and of lower secondary schools for the 11-14 year old category had the final say on choosing the winners.

In second and third place for the 7-10 year category were the other finalists: Michela Guidi with “The Sower of stories and other strange professions” (Giangiacomo Feltrinelli Editore), and Mariangela Gualtieri with “Album to think and not think” (Bompiani). For the 11-14 year old category, however, the remaining positions went to: Matteo Bussola with “The talent of the swallow” (Salani Editore) and Luisa Mattia with “Segui la tigre” (Il Battello a Vapore).

The final ceremony, conducted by Armando Traverso, historical face of children’s TV, together with the author and director Davide Stefanato, and with the DJ puppet, saw the participation of hundreds of students from numerous institutes from different areas of the territory, including IC 6-7 “F. Muttoni” and IC 9 Ambrosoli of Vicenza, IC Bizio of Longare, IC 2 and 4 of Vicenza and IC 1 “Vittorelli” of Bassano del Grappa, together with schools and groups arriving from outside the province and region, such as Ponti sul Mincio, Milan (Quintino di Vona), Peschiera del Garda, Mandello del Lario and the Levis Plona Foundation.

The undisputed protagonists of the ceremony were the finalist authors of the two competing categories, selected in December by the prestigious Prize Selection Jury, composed of: Pino Boero, former full professor of Children’s Literature at the University of Genoa and President of the Jury; Emma Beseghi, former full professor of children’s literature at the University of Bologna; Lea Martina Forti Grazzini, author and screenwriter of Rai radio and TV programmes; Chiara Lagani, actress and playwright; Michela Possamai, professor at the IUSVE University of Venice, former member of the Technical Committee of Campiello Giovani. Also speaking were Giacomo Possamai, mayor of Vicenza, Ivan Tomasi, delegate for Education of Confindustria Vicenza, Raffaele Boscaini, president of the Il Campiello Foundation and of the Campiello Prize, and Antonio Calabrò, Senior Vice President of Culture of Pirelli and director of the Pirelli Foundation.

Raffaele Boscaini, president of the Il Campiello Foundation and Confindustria Veneto declared: “We are deeply proud of this fifth edition of Campiello Junior, a project that demonstrates how the alliance between the world of business and culture can generate a real impact on the future. We continue to valorise a courageous narrative, which does not sugarcoat reality but chooses to speak to young people with absolute authenticity. Through the direct involvement of 240 young jurors, in fact, we do not limit ourselves to celebrating the literary talent of authors. Our goal is to give the new generations the critical and emotional keys to face the challenges of growth, from the search for one’s identity to the courage to overcome one’s fears. Because, as we recalled today, ‘the book frees’, and it is by providing them with these tools that we help to train the adults of tomorrow”.

Pino Boero, president of the Selection Jury, added: “Many analyzes tell us that children are among the strongest readers and that the production of children’s books is in good health: these are excellent signs that reward those who – like the Campiello Junior Prize – valorise authors, illustrators and publishers not only for the contents and images of the texts but also for the linguistic choices and style. As already noted in past editions, Italian authors demonstrate that they have a clear idea that the stories told to be authentically educational must amaze and excite… The finalist books in this edition of the Campiello Junior Prize also allow other elements to emerge: the strength of emotional bonds, the values of diversity, the search for identity, respect for others, the power of the imagination… all values which expertly “immersed” in the narrative flows invite readers – as Gianni Rodari wrote – to ‘never let the word End scare you'”.

Antonio Calabrò, director of the Pirelli Foundation, stated: “Promoting reading among the young generations means accompanying girls and boys towards a living and daily habit of reading books: a tool through which they discover the pleasure of knowledge, the taste for exploration and the sense of adventure. Reading is, first of all, an essential pleasure, but it is also an experience that contributes to forming a critical spirit, autonomy of thought and sense of responsibility. Fundamental values not only for individual growth, but also for a culture of a conscious business, capable of taking an active role in the face of the challenges of a complex and constantly changing modernity. It is with this spirit that Pirelli and the Pirelli Foundation, together with the Il Campiello Foundation, have created the Campiello Junior. The announcement of the winners, today in Vicenza, represents not only a moment of celebration and recognition of talent, but also the confirmation of a profound belief: investing in the reading of the youngest means contributing to building a better, more aware, freer and more responsible world.”

Giacomo Possamai, mayor of Vicenza, commented: “We are proud and happy to have brought the Campiello Junior awards ceremony this year to the Maggiore hall of the Teatro Comunale of Vicenza. Last year, when the initiative was held in the foyer of the Theater as in previous editions, we promised that, given the large number of students and schools, for 2026 the event would have the Maggiore hall, which can accommodate up to 1000 people. And so it was and also this year the Campiello Junior final is confirmed as a participatory and highly important event. I therefore thank all the organizations that made sure that this event was hosted for the third consecutive year in Vicenza, which we can say has consolidated itself as the city of Campiello Junior. It is an honor and truly beautiful to welcome you for what is a true celebration dedicated to literature, we look forward to seeing you next year for the sixth edition.”

Ivan Tomasi, delegate for Education of Confindustria Vicenza concluded: “The Campiello Junior reaches its third edition in Vicenza and this year marks an important step with the appointment at the Teatro Grande. The participation of around 800 young people, also from Milan and Lecco, confirms the value of the event for the city. Promoting reading among young people means cultivating curiosity and imagination, increasingly relevant qualities in a world oriented towards artificial intelligence. Thanks go to the Il Campiello Foundation, the Foundation Pirelli and the mayor for their support. Special recognition goes to the teachers, whose commitment is fundamental: thanks to them, the passion for reading is born in Campiello Junior, making books a living experience, allowing young people to read them, evaluate them and meet the authors.” (by Paolo Martini)

In recent years, Campiello Junior has been enriched with important collaborations. The synergy with Rai Radio Kids, the children’s radio of Rai − Radiotelevisione italiana Spa, continues and is strengthened, to promote and talk about the Award in an even more widespread and multimedia manner. Furthermore, the collaboration with the Turin International Book Fair is confirmed: on 14 May the winners of the 2026 edition will be guests of the prestigious Turin event for a dedicated meeting, consolidating the commitment to building a virtuous network between literary prizes, publishing houses and cultural realities of the country. The winners of the Campiello Junior will be officially celebrated on 3 October 2026 during the Campiello Prize Awards Ceremony which will be held at the Palazzo del Cinema on the Lido of Venice, in an ideal continuity between children’s literature and great contemporary Italian fiction.