Championing Children’s Stories: The 2025 Prix Albertine Jeunesse Laureates
Image by Jennifer Knotts
Discover the three outstanding winners of the seventh edition of the Prix Albertine Jeunesse.
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.
In partnership with
Albertine Bookstore
Albertine is a bookshop that brings to life French-American intellectual exchange. A permanent venue for free events and debates, the space offers more than 14,000 contemporary and classic titles from over 30 French-speaking countries around the world.
Agence pour l’enseignement français à l’étranger (AEFE)
The Agence pour l’enseignement français à l’étranger (AEFE) is a government institution supervised by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Founded in 1990, it is responsible for monitoring and managing the network of French schools abroad. The AEFE is the guarantor of the French education system abroad. It plays a key role in expanding France’s cultural and linguistic influence throughout the world and serves to boost the appeal of French higher education.
Service culturel de l’Ambassade de France au Canada
The Cultural Service of the Embassy of France in Canada promotes the best of French culture across Canada, including arts, language, education, science and research.
Institut français du Canada
The Institut français du Canada, an organization affiliated to the French Embassy in Canada, was created in April 2024. Its mission is to increase cooperation between France and Canada by promoting shared values and deepening cultural, educational, scientific and academic collaborations. The Institut organizes cultural events, debates, educational, scientific and academic projects, and residencies based on a multidisciplinary approach. Its programming is designed for a wide and diverse audience, from young children to the elderly, and from neophytes to professionals. Active throughout Canada outside Quebec, the Institut works in close collaboration with the French Embassy in Canada, the Institut français in Paris (France’s foreign cultural agency), and other Canadian and French public and private institutions and organizations.