In its 12th edition, the literary prize jury has honored José Dias Pires for his work, describing it as “a very original piece in terms of its literary style.” The organization made this announcement through a press release.
The jury stated, “The story is very dynamic, with a challenging style of tongue twisters and rhymes that will certainly captivate younger readers. Additionally, it includes classical protagonists of children’s books, such as witches and castles, which appeal to the creative imagination of children.”
Narrated in rhyme with a strong oral component, the winning piece tells the tale of three witches who ordered the construction of three castles described as “dark, dirty, grand, beautiful”—one in the water, one on the ground, and one in the air. The castles were built by “Gluttonous Sharks with button eyes,” “Clumsy Vultures of disaster flights,” and “Wandering Centipedes with one hundred horrifying shoes.”
José Dias Pires, a native of Castelo Branco, has authored over two dozen works in poetry, novels, theater, and children’s fiction, including ‘Giganteiras Miniaturas’ (2017), ‘Travalengas a dobrar’ (2016), and ‘Travalengas’ (2015).
He has also published ‘Manifesto do Imaginário’ (2000), ‘Sonhar com Comenius’ (2005), ‘Contraditório dos Peixes’ (2024), and ‘Vento do Fim, os Nós no Fio de Água’, which received the Manuel Teixeira Gomes Literary Prize in 2024.
Having taught for several years, José Dias Pires also directed the School of Education at the Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco and serves as the president of the Castelo Branco Parish Council (PS). He is also a commissioner of the Literary Festival in that city.
Expressing his joy at the honor, José Dias Pires said, “I love to write, to dance with words, to the music, to life, whenever morning breaks, no matter the time of day. Unexpectedly receiving the unanimous choice of the jury for the Pingo Doce Children’s Literature Prize is an honor and a huge satisfaction,” as quoted in the press release.
The Children’s Literature Prize, established in 2014 by the retail company, carries a monetary award of 50,000 euros, divided equally between the authors recognized in the text and illustration categories.
With José Dias Pires winning in the text category, the next phase begins for illustration submissions, set to open on the 13th. The book is expected to be published in November.
The text category jury included researcher Dora Batalim SottoMayor, writer Álvaro Magalhães, author and editor Mafalda Milhões, Regina Duarte (commissioner of the National Reading Plan), and Filipa Pimentel (representing Pingo Doce).
After ten editions dedicated to awarding new authors without published work, the organization decided in 2024 that the prize would exclusively recognize “original, unpublished works by authors and illustrators who have already published books.”
In 2024, the prize awarded author Catarina Fonseca and illustrator Mané Peixoto for their work ‘Eu e o segredo do Faraó.’
Among previously published works are ‘O livro que não sabia o que queria ser’ by Cláudia Abrantes and Márcio Martins, ‘O avô minguante’ by Daniela Leitão and Catarina Silva, and ‘De onde vêm as bruxas?’ by Joana Lopes and Luís Belo.
