As part of a wider project to open a children’s library and Russian reading space at Pushkin House this autumn, on Saturday 20 September there will be a chance for parents, children and bookworms of all ages to meet Georgy Urushadze. Mr Urushadze is a well-known figure in the world of Russian publishing, and director of the Russia’s most prestigious literary prize scheme Bolshaya Kniga.

Today he will be talking about Kniguru – the all-Russian literary competition for children and teens, and how to take part.

What sets Kniguru apart from other prize schemes in Russia and abroad is the fact that the jury is made up entirely of young readers between the ages of 10 and 16: it is a project for children, judged by children… and anyone can take part. The challenge is to read at least five books from a specially selected short-list and comment intelligently on each, with several prizes up for grabs. Tonight’s talk and presentation will officially launch the work of the open children’s jury for young Russian readers in London.

The event is one of the first in a series to celebrate Russian children’s literature and the opening of the Pushkin House children’s library. All young readers, their parents, teachers and siblings are warmly invited; it is also a chance for more mature readers, supporters of the children’s library project, and amateur and professional publishers of all ages to meet and swap ideas.

The talk will be predominantly in Russian.

More details about the project, as well as this year’s reading list, can be found at http://kniguru.info/