| Announcing the Winners of the 2024 LLL Award |
| The Extensive Reading Foundation (ERF), an unaffiliated, not-for-profit organization that supports and promotes extensive reading in language education, takes pleasure in announcing the winners of the 21st Annual Language Learner Literature (LLL) Award for books published in 2023. An international jury chose the winning book in each of six categories, taking into account the Internet votes and comments of students and teachers around the world. Reactions from readers of these books follow the judges’ comments. All books mentioned on this page can be ordered online in Japan through the ETJ Book Service and English Books dot JP. |
Very Young Learners
|
|
 |
Four Friends and the Hunter by Herbert Puchta and Gavin Biggs Helbling ISBN: 9783711400444 |
| Jurors’ comment: This warm tale delivers a positive message emphasizing the values of friendships and teamwork. The vocabulary is well-suited for young learners and fun to read. The illustrations of the animals in the forest are soft and appealing, including beautiful elements of the jungle. Online voter’s comment: The story is interesting and easy to read, the children love the animals and the pictures. How true friends can help was a very exciting topic, what can one do for a friend? The interactive games were really engaging and facilitated learning on the part of the students. |
||
Young Learners
|
|
 |
The Girl & the Magpie by Herbert Puchta and Gavin Biggs Helbling ISBN: 9783711401434 |
| Jurors’ comment: This story presents and promotes several universal moral values such as friendship, collaboration, and loyalty. These messages are shown in a simple manner so children can see them clearly through the characters of the story. The girl is looking for some friendship and she finds it in the magpie that is even more than a good friend. Online voter’s comment: The novel excels in creating a deep emotional impact through its characters and storyline. It explores themes of loss, resilience, and the power of friendship in a way that resonates with readers of all ages. The protagonist and supporting characters are well-developed, each with distinct personalities and arcs that contribute to the story’s depth. |
||
Adolescent & Adult: Beginners
|
|
 |
Harriet Holmes and the Pirate Treasure by Jane Cadwallader Illustrated by Gustavo Mazali ELi ISBN: 9788853637543 |
| Jurors’ comment: Harriet Holmes, the daughter of Sherlock Holmes, tries to solve a case, to find the thief of the pirate treasure. It is full of adventures and mysteries. The cover design and the colorful illustrations are artistic and attractive, functioning as good comprehension aids for beginners. The folded cover design is unique, including a picture dictionary and an introduction of the author and illustrator with their photos. Online voter’s comment: Harriet Holmes is a compelling and relatable heroine. Her intelligence, resourcefulness, and wit make her an enjoyable character to follow, and her growth throughout the story adds depth to her character. The pacing is well-balanced, maintaining a steady rhythm that keeps the reader engaged without overwhelming them with too much information at once. |
||
Adolescent & Adult: Elementary
|
|
 |
The Yellow Sticker Girl by Sarah Gudgeon Illustrated by Luca Tagliafico ELi ISBN: 9788853639622 |
| Jurors’ comment: This story captures attention through its engaging illustrations and presentation. The theme resonates with a broad audience, likely touching on universal experiences or emotions that readers can relate to. The narrative encourages authenticity and self-acceptance. The character of the Yellow Sticker Girl serves as a role model, demonstrating the importance of embracing one’s true self. It also emphasizes resilience and readiness to confront challenges. It imparts valuable lessons that are easy for readers to grasp. Online voter’s comment: It has a really good story flow. It was easy to follow and dealt with some serious topics in an approachable manner. The language used also stayed at a nice level, with no sudden introduction of difficult vocabulary or concepts that might be overwhelming or confusing for some. I was extremely pleased to read it, and I believe my students will really enjoy the story, with its positive ending and good examples of coping skills. |
||
Adolescent & Adult: Intermediate
|
|
 |
Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín Adapted by Kate Williams Penguin Random House UK ISBN: 9780241589106 |
| Jurors’ comment: “Brooklyn” intricately weaves the immigrant experience with themes of identity and belonging. Its emotive narrative resonates globally, offering a relatable exploration of finding one’s place. The story’s depth and character development engage readers without spoon-feeding, allowing for personal interpretation. Through Eilis’ journey, the novel introduces Irish culture, immigration, and societal tensions. With its efficient yet captivating storytelling, “Brooklyn” stands as a compelling choice for language learners, blending complexity with accessibility. Online voter’s comment: A powerful story and intimate voyage. Not as mind-racking as Agatha Christie’s. The introduction is a hook to the story as the author introduces the characters right away which makes it less boring for the readers. Besides that, the build-up to the plot of the story is interesting as it is hard to guess why Miss Kelly treats Eilis in that way. |
||
Adolescent & Adult: High Intermediate & Advanced
|
|
 |
Animal Farm by George Orwell Retold by Bill Bowler StandFor ISBN: 9788596040006 |
| Jurors’ comment: This retelling of a classic piece of literature showcases meticulous craftsmanship and insightful interpretation. The narrative effectively integrates subtle yet significant changes without redundancy, sustaining reader engagement. The incorporation of rich symbolism in illustrations adds depth to the text. While minor issues like small font and tight spacing exist, the rendition stands as a compelling tribute to enduring themes, offering ample material for scholarly discourse on the evolution and interpretation of literary classics. Online voter’s comment: The story is very compelling. This story touches upon the many lies of systems that kill democracy and how they oppress the people to fulfill their own agendas. The text is very accessible and is well-graded to the B2 level. It poses a very good level of challenge with vocabulary at the level but also with some complex sentences slightly above students’ level which are great to help students be stimulated. |
||
Finalists in Each Category
In addition to the winners, the following books were selected as the shortlisted “finalists” in each category:
Very Young Learners
|
|
 |
Aladdin by Catherine Eisele and Serina Eisele Caves Publishing ISBN: 97862672314630 |
| Jurors’ comment: A wonderful retelling of a classic story told through dialogues between the characters. | ||
|
|
 |
Hao to Celebrate New Year by Andre Louw Caves Publishing ISBN: 9786267231401 |
| Jurors’ comment: Celebrates the ways different Asian countries celebrate Lunar New Year. | ||
Young Learners
|
|
 |
Deer Me by Joel Finnestad Caves Publishing ISBN: 9786267231395 |
| Jurors’ comment: This book shows how important family and ancestors are in everyone’s lives. | ||
|
|
 |
The Works of Michelangelo by Garrett Byrne Seed Learning ISBN: 9798886680386 |
| Jurors’ comment: This book presents Michelangelo’s life and works in an amazing way. | ||
Adolescent & Adult: Beginner
|
|
 |
The Captain’s Castle by Gavin Biggs Helbling ISBN: 9783711400444 |
| Jurors’ comment: Discover the magic of The Captain’s Castle – where imagination meets adventure! | ||
|
|
 |
The Fishing Trip by Sue Murray Heuber ISBN: 9783194029972 |
| Jurors’ comment: Exciting and engaging summer holiday story that involves a family secret. | ||
Adolescent & Adult: Elementary
|
|
 |
Boloroo’s BIG Question by Michael Lacey Freeman Illustrated by Baasankhuu Tsogtbaatar Michael Lacey Freeman ISBN: 9781739445928 |
| Jurors’ comment: Dive into happiness with clear words, captivating pictures and surprising answers! | ||
|
|
 |
Riri: My South Africa by Grace Lani ELi ISBN: 9788853639691 |
| Jurors’ comment: Riri’s captivating journey through South Africa, exploring culture, education, and nature! | ||
Adolescent & Adult: Intermediate
|
|
 |
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie Adapted by Alex Raynham BlackCat (CIDEB) ISBN: 9788853022462 |
| Jurors’ comment: Agatha Christie’s gripping mystery keeps you guessing until the final revelation. | ||
|
|
 |
The Works of Vincent van Gogh by Jenna Myers Seed Learning ISBN: 9798886680485 |
| Jurors’ comment: Comprehensible exploration of Van Gogh’s life and art of this ahead-of-his-time artist. | ||
Adolescent & Adult: High Intermediate & Advanced
|
|
 |
Black Gold by Jeremy Taylor Wayzgoose Press ISBN: 9788853632425 |
| Jurors’ comment: An orphan’s heart-touching recovery through supportive friends and a caring community. | ||
|
|
 |
Brick Lane by Monica Ali Penguin Random House UK ISBN: 9780241553381 |
| Jurors’ comment: Nazneen’s inspiring journey from a rural village towards self-actualization and empowerment | ||