Championing Children’s Stories: The 2025 Prix Albertine Jeunesse Laureates
Spanning a range of age groups, this year’s youth reader’s choice award — the Prix Albertine Jeunesse — goes to Never, Not Ever! (Même pas en rêve) by Beatrice Alemagna, translated by Jill Davis; Aiko and the Planet of Dogs (Aiko et la planète des chiens) by Ainhoa Cayuso and Christoffer Ellegaard, translated by Irene Vázquez; and Shepherdess Warriors, Volume 1 (Bergères Guerrières, volume 1) by Jonathan Garnier and Amélie Fléchais, translated by Ivanka Hahnenberger. Chosen for their unique and authentic perspectives, these French books and their English translations were selected by a jury of 15,596 young readers, following a year of reading, debate, and lively virtual exchanges with the authors.
Established in 2018 by Villa Albertine, the Embassies of France in the United States and Canada, the Institut français du Canada, the Agence pour l’Enseignement Français à l’Étranger (AEFE), and Albertine Books, the annual Prix Albertine Jeunesse promotes recently published books translated from French in the U.S. and Canada. Recognizing French titles in English translation across three age groups (3–5 years, 6–8 years, and 9–11 years), the award encourages children between the ages of 3 and 11 to develop a passion for both French and English literature.
Past laureates of the prize include A Sea of Love (Un Océan d’amour) by Wilfrid Lupano and Grégory Panaccione (trans. Mike Kennedy) in the 9–14 category, and The Tiger Prince (Le Prince Tigre) by Chen Jiang Hong in the 7–9 category.
About the Winners
3-5 Years Old:
Never, not Ever! (Même pas en rêve)
By Beatrice Allemagna
Translated by Jill Davis
Harper Collins (L’école des loisirs)
A laugh-out-loud tribute to little kids everywhere who would prefer not to leave home on the first day of school. The other animals are marching dutifully to school, but Pascaline couldn’t care less. “Never, not ever!” she declares. And nothing—not even her parents pulling her by her feet—will change her mind. She shrieks so loudly that her parents shrink down to the size of peanuts—becoming just the right size to fit snugly under Pascaline’s wing. Now they can all go to school together!
6-8 Years Old:
Aiko and the Planet of Dogs (Aiko et la planète des chiens)
By Ainhoa Cayuso and Christoffer Ellegaard
Translated by Irene Vázquez
Levine Querido (Les fourmis rouges)
Aiko is a courageous astronaut, specially trained to brave the extremes of space. The whole of humanity is counting on her success. But on a planet that shows signs of life, something goes awry, and when she wakes up, she finds . . . a pack of dogs? And . . . they can talk? Aiko is delighted. This discovery will make her the most famous astronaut on Earth! The dogs are . . . less delighted. They’re going to keep her prisoner on their planet rather than let humanity find them again.
9-11 Years Old:
Shepherdess Warriors, Volume 1 (Bergères Guerrières, volume 1)
By Jonathan Garnier and Amélie Fléchais
Translated by Ivanka Hahnenberger
Ablaze (Glénat)
Shepherdess Warriors is the odyssey of a young heroine living great adventures in a medieval-fantasy universe inspired by Celtic legends. It’s been 10 years since the men of the village left to fight in The Great War. But the women quickly took charge of village matters. This is how the Order of Shepherdess Warriors was formed, a group of female fighters chosen among the most courageous and acrimonious, to protect not only their flocks, but also the village! Molly is happy because as soon as she turns 10, she can finally start training, and if she’s good enough, she can join the order. This quest will take her far beyond the boundaries of the land she knows, into the sorcerers’ forest and on the trail of her missing parents.