Presiding at the ceremony held in Barcellona, were Mrs Mercedes Cabrera, Spanish Minister for Education, Social Policy and Sport and Ernest Benach, President of the Parliament of Catalonia.

The winners were Marta Gené Camps (Barcelona, 1981), in the category for children  with “Sopa de cola de lagartija” (Lizard-tail Soup), and Jordi Cervera (Reus, Tarragona 1959) in the category for teenagers with “La muerte a seis veinticinco” (Death at six twenty-five).

Taking part this year in the competition which once again offered 55.000 euro in prize money were a number of  authors in a variety of Spanish-languages, 52 in  Catalan, 8 in Basque, 15 in Galizian and 327 in Spanish. Among the countries represented in addition to Spain were Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador and Costa Rica.

Accepting their awards the two winning authors expressed the hope that their young readers might enjoy reading the books which will be available in the bookshops from March.

Published 12/02/2009