The launch reflects broader trends in Turkish children’s publishing, which has expanded significantly since the 1990s alongside increased investment in literary quality and international outreach.

TUDEM YAYIN GRUBU has launched the Silva Award, an international competition targeting unpublished picture books for children aged 3–6.

The initiative marks a significant expansion of the publisher’s talent development activities beyond its domestic market.

The Prize Package

The competition offers a single winner:

€2,000 cash prize

Publishing contract with Tudem Publishing Group

Submissions may include text-based picture books (fiction or non-fiction) or silent books (wordless narratives told entirely through illustration). Both individual creators and collaborative teams are eligible to enter.

Expert Judging Panel

The jury comprises three international industry professionals:

Alex Latimer (author-illustrator)

Marco Somà (illustrator)

Rocio Bonilla (author-illustrator)

Key Dates and Entry Requirements

Submission deadline: 15 June 2026

Winner announcement: October 2026

Eligibility: Open to applicants aged 18+; projects must be in English and previously unpublished.

Entries must be submitted electronically to competition@tudem.com with a PDF of the work, signed identity form, letter of commitment, and artist biography.

Publisher’s Track Record

Tudem Publishing Group, founded in 1984, brings substantial experience to this new venture. The house has published over 1,500 titles and has operated the Tudem Literature Awards for 23 years – one of Turkey’s most respected literary competitions for children’s and young adult literature.

The group’s catalogue includes works by several internationally recognised Turkish authors, including Mavisel Yener (nominated for the 2018 Hans Christian Andersen Award and Turkey’s candidate for the 2022–2023 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award) and Aytul Akal (three-time ALMA nominee).

Rights to Tudem titles have sold into 23 languages, including Korean, Spanish, Arabic, and Chinese.

Tudem operates seven imprints covering literary fiction, educational publishing, graphic novels, and early learning materials. The publisher’s established @Silva Literary Silva Literary Agency division handles international rights for its authors.

The View From The Beach

The launch reflects broader trends in Turkish children’s publishing, which has expanded significantly since the 1990s alongside increased investment in literary quality and international outreach. By opening the competition globally, Tudem aims to diversify its list while leveraging its existing infrastructure for translation, rights sales, and distribution.

This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.