'Nguyen Nhat Anh and I' creates great motivation for writers

On the morning of March 23 in Ho Chi Minh City, Tre Publishing House held a closing ceremony and awarded prizes for the Nguyen Nhat Anh and I 2024 contest (taking place from October 10, 2024 to January 10, 2025). The contest consists of 2 categories, writing and drawing, each category has 9 official prizes judged by the jury, including 1 first prize, 1 second prize, 2 third prizes, 5 fourth prizes and 1 Impressive prize voted by readers online.

The first prize winning drawing by author Bui Nhat Phuc Anh (HCMC) was inspired by the work Making Friends with the Sky by writer Nguyen Nhat Anh.

The winning works of the competition in the drawing category

Photo: QUYNH TRAN

Speaking at the closing and award ceremony, Ms. Phan Thi Thu Ha, Chairwoman of the Board of Members - Director of Tre Publishing House, said: "The Nguyen Nhat Anh and I 2024 contest wants to create a playground for readers who love Nguyen Nhat Anh's books in particular and reading in general so that contestants can freely develop their creativity. In just 3 months, the Organizing Committee received more than 730 entries. The entries show that although each contestant likes different book titles, the common point is that those pages have left a strong, unforgettable impression, and are a spiritual support for them. Many contestants shared that during the years of challenges in family circumstances, illness or other concerns, those pages were like a sweet stream, bringing pure joy, lighting up hope for the future".

Writer Nguyen Nhat Anh at the award ceremony on the morning of March 23.

Photo: QUYNH TRAN

Painter Bui Duc Lam said: "His writing career is almost entirely dedicated to young children, with a fresh, gentle and especially attractive writing style, bringing many levels of emotions as well as stimulating the sublimation of imagination in readers. Although these are children's stories, for children, Nguyen Nhat Anh's literature, strangely, also attracts adults, when they read him with the dream of having a ticket back to their innocent, pure childhood... Is that the reason why many 'adults' (including amateur and professional painters) have submitted paintings to the drawing contest called Nguyen Nhat Anh and I' 2024 ".

Ms. Phan Thi Thu Ha, Chairwoman of the Board of Members - Director of Tre Publishing House (left cover) and writer Nguyen Nhat Anh presented awards to the authors.

Painter Bui Duc Lam - member of the jury (right cover) and writer Nguyen Nhat Anh with the youngest prize winner

Photo: Quynh Tran

Organizing Committee and winners of the Nguyen Nhat Anh and I 2024 contest

Photo: QUYNH TRAN

Sharing his feelings with the press, writer Nguyen Nhat Anh said: "I was very moved when I saw the entries that you loved, wrote and drew for me. If the works I wrote inspire readers to live a good life, so that everyone can love each other more, build a better life, then through the entries you sent to the contest and were awarded today, you have inspired me a lot, so that I have more motivation to create more, soon to produce new works to serve readers."

Prizes for the written competition:

- First prize: Pham Mai Huong (Hanoi) with the article My first times

- Second prize: Nguyen Thi Bich Loc (Hanoi) with Memories of my grandfather and Nguyen Nhat Anh's story

- Third prize: Ho Nguyen Anh Thu (Tunnie AT) with The Dreamy Path of Maturity from the Book Pages of The Little Prince; Nguyen Duc Nghi (Hanoi) with Turning Page

- Fourth prize: Vi Vi (Quang Ngai) with Reading Nguyen Nhat Anh's books gives me the motivation to continue writing my life; Pham Thi Ngát (Thai Binh) with Growing up with Nguyen Nhat Anh's books; Nguyen Thi Xuan Anh (Hanoi) with Soul fragments; Thieu Nguyen Vi Da (Dak Lak) with Thank you, my friend 'I see yellow flowers on green grass' - a part of my youth; Nguyen Truong Kim Giao (An Giang) with Me and my family and the world of Nguyen Nhat Anh

Prizes for drawing board:

- First prize: Bui Nhat Phuc Anh (HCMC), painting inspired by the work Making friends with the sky

- Second prize: Tran Nguyen Ngoc Khue, painting inspired by the work Making friends with the sky

- Third prize: Tran Diem Quynh (Hanoi), painting inspired by the work Making friends with the sky ; Nguyen Thi Ha (HCMC), painting inspired by the work Sitting and crying on the tree

- Fourth prize: Vu Duong Cam (HCMC), painting inspired by the work Give me a ticket to childhood ; Nguyen Thi Lan Anh (Hanoi), painting inspired by I see yellow flowers on the green grass; Nguyen Thi Hong Ngoc (Hanoi), painting inspired by A table with five seats; Pham Thi Phuong Trinh (Thanh Hoa), painting inspired by Making friends with the sky ; Ha Ngoc Bao Chau (HCMC), painting inspired by Nameless summer.

The Impression Award (based on reader interaction via fanpage and group) went to Nguyen Minh Thai (written competition) and Huynh Thi Nhu Y (drawing competition).