Tokyo - Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today announced the publication of the Grand Prize winners in the storybook and picture book categories of the "15th Nissan Children's Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix." These two works have recently been published by BL Publishing Co., Ltd.

As in previous years, Nissan will again donate copies of the Grand Prize-winning storybook and picture book to libraries throughout Japan so that these outstanding works may be enjoyed by large numbers of children and other readers. Book donations will be made through Nissan dealers around the country to a total of 3,385 libraries. In addition, Nissan offices across Japan will also donate copies of these works to a total of 733 nursery schools and kindergartens in their local areas.

The Grand Prize winner in the storybook category of last year's 15th Grand Prix is a work entitled "I Can Do It Too," written by Ms. Nobuko Matsuura, a resident of Hyogo Prefecture. This heartwarming story is about an encounter between an elementary school boy who wants to be able to execute a forward upward circle onto the horizontal bar and a lizard that wants to fly through the sky like a dragon; it depicts these two characters practicing diligently to accomplish their goals. This storybook has been published with illustrations drawn by Ms. Mitsuyo Harada, who won a Picture Book Excellence Prize in the 15th Grand Prix.

The Grand Prize-winning picture book, entitled "Around Midnight," was created by Ms. Eitsuko Ueda, a resident of Kanagawa Prefecture. One fascinating character after another appears in the story, including a young drum lady, a building man, a talkative lighthouse and a mischievous sea goblin. Night is expressed poetically in beautifully distinctive illustrations and a rhythmic narration.

The "Nissan Children's Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix" was inaugurated to commemorate the opening of the International Institute for Children's Literature, Osaka in May 1984 as the first comprehensive center for international children's literature in Japan. This annual contest welcomes entries of original storybooks and picture books from amateur writers throughout the country. The aims of the Grand Prix are to discover inspiring and imaginative storybooks and picture books and to introduce many outstanding works and authors for everyone to enjoy.

Every year the Grand Prix receives large numbers of entries from amateur writers of all ages, with last year's 15th Grand Prix attracting some 3,600 original works. Moreover, the winning entries have always been highly acclaimed for their exceptionally excellent quality. This contest has also served as a springboard for new authors, providing opportunities for many previous prizewinners to launch professional careers as writers and illustrators.

The Grand Prix is organized by the International Institute for Children's Literature, Osaka under Nissan's sponsorship and with the support of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Japanese Board on Books for Young People, Children's Literature Society of Japan and Japanese Association of Writers for Children.

From July through October 30 of this year, entries were accepted to the "16th Nissan Children's Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix." The winning entries will be announced next February, and an awards ceremony is scheduled to be held in March. Further information about the contest and other philanthropic activities is available at Nissan's Website (http://global.nissan.co.jp/PHILANTHROPY/FAIRY99/).

An outline of the Grand Prize-winning storybook and picture book in the 15th Grand Prix follows.

Outline of the Storybook
Title: "I Can Do It Too"
Author: Ms. Nobuko Matsuura
Born in Miyagi Prefecture in 1934. Graduated from the English Literature Department of Shokei Women's Junior College. Winner of various prizes, including the Best Novel Prize in the "43rd Mainichi Children's Novel" contest in 1994 and the Storybook Grand Prize in the "15th Nissan Children's Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix" in 1999. Hobbies are reading and crafts. Member of the original children's literature society "Kotemari" and of the Japanese Association of Writers for Children. Resides in Hyogo Prefecture.

Synopsis
Kohta is the last one in his 4th grade elementary school class who cannot execute an upward forward circle onto the horizontal bar. One day while practicing by himself to be able to perform it before the next physical education class, a lizard speaks to him. The lizard wants to be able to fly through the sky like a dragon. This touching story relates this encounter between a young boy and a lizard.
Format: 24 x 18 cm, 32 pages of text and 4-color printing
Publisher: BL Publishing Co., Ltd.
Price: 1,300 yen (excluding consumption tax)
Sold at: Kinokuniya Bookstore and other major bookstores throughout Japan

Illustrator: Profile of Ms. Mitsuyo Harada
Born in Kumamoto Prefecture in 1946. Graduated from the Fine Arts Department of Tokyo Gakugei University. Paints and creates picture books while promoting a formative arts studio for children. Puts on private shows of her paintings. Received the Tokyo Exhibition Encouragement Prize in 1991 and a Picture Book Excellence Prize in the "15th Nissan Children's Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix" in 1999 for her entry entitled "Eggs in the Lake." Resides in Tokyo.

Outline of the Picture Book
Title: "Around Midnight"
Author: Ms. Eitsuko Ueda
Born in Aichi Prefecture in 1972. Graduated from Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music in 1996. Currently active as a free-lance illustrator. Winner of the Picture Book Grand Prize in the "15th Nissan Children's Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix." Resides in Kanagawa Prefecture.

Synopsis
Night has descended upon the town. A young drum lady, a building man, a talkative lighthouse, a mischievous sea goblin and other fascinating characters appear in succession to bring the town to life during the night. The story depicts nighttime poetically in distinctively beautiful illustrations and a rhythmic narration.
Format: 28 x 21 cm, 31 pages of text and 4-color printing.
Publisher: BL Publishing Co., Ltd.
Price: 1,300 yen (excluding consumption tax)
Sold at: Kinokuniya Bookstore and other major bookstores throughout Japan