SUOMEN NUORISOKIRJAILIJAT RY

The Finnish Union of authors writing for children, youngsters and young adults - was established October 8, 1946. The Union functions as a nationwide combing a link for its writers. Ever since the establishment, one of the Union's most outstanding forms of activity has been to develop and deepen children's and youngsters' intrest in reading and also to promote activities in publishing and prize awarding with the very same aim.

The oldest award of the Union is the Topelius Prize, founded in 1946 and granted annually for the best youth novel. The Arvid Lydecken Prize, named after its founder, is awarded yearly for the best children's book.

Every other year the Union awards an honorary diploma called Pääskynen (Swallow - named after the Union's old children's magazine) for a person or an institute promoting children's culture.

Among the publications of the Union there are e.g. "Rivien välistä - miten kirjani ovat syntyneet" ("Between the lines - how my books were born") depicting author's work and the book called "Suomalaisia lasten- ja nuortenkirjailijoita" ("Finnish authors writing for children and youth") introducing writers of the Union.