Creative writing graduate wins prestigious Brazilian children’s literature prize

Isabela Noronha, a graduate of Brunel's MA programme in Creative Writing: The Novel, has won the Barco a Vapor, one of Brazil's top children’s literature prizes.

Isabela won the award for a story written as part of her course during a 'Writing for Children' seminar, which led to the publication of a children’s book in 2014. Her work was chosen from a total of 1,300 entries by a jury composed of Brazilian academics, writers and editors, including: Fernando Paixão, Professor at Sao Paulo University and poet; Luís Ceccantini, Professor of Brazilian Literature at Estado de Sao Paulo University; Luiz Ruffato, journalist and writer; and Graziela Costa Pinto, psychologist and editor.

“My story is aimed at 6-7 year old children,” Isabela explained. “It’s about Tom, a boy who has to learn to say goodbye.”  In Portuguese, the book is called O Garoto que Engolia Palavras, which means The Boy Who Swallowed Words.

During the prize ceremony, now in its ninth year, a special tribute was also paid to the prominent Brazilian children’s author Tatiana Belinky who recently passed away. Barco a Vapor is awarded by Fundação SM, a Spanish foundation which is present in Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Argentina, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Colombia and Peru.

Earlier this year, Isabela also won the Curtis Brown prize for her MA dissertation.     

Find out more about the Barco a Vapor prize (Portuguese only)