Golden Pencil 2026
Marnie gazes out over the waves.
‘I’m moving the sea,’ she says.
‘Grandma moved a week ago. She used to live in the world, but now she lives inside my mind. Since she loved to swim in the sea, I’m moving the sea into my mind so she can swim there too.’
Marnie is a girl brimming with stories. Not only can she think them up and tell them, she also writes them down beautifully. When Grandma is so ill that she cannot get better, Marnie writes a story for her, to bring her joy one last time. And it works.
After Grandma is gone, Marnie has to make up stories to bring herself joy again. And that works too.
The Jury of the Golden Pencil: ‘The jury awards Marnie Moves the Sea the Golden Pencil because it embodies everything an outstanding children’s book should be. Literary excellence, humour, warmth, creativity and imagination come together in a story that takes children completely seriously. Sjoerd Kuyper makes big themes small and human, giving them all the greater emotional impact. Paired with the evocative illustrations, the result is a richly layered story that touches the mind, the heart and the imagination – a rare combination that makes Marnie Moves the Sea an unforgettable book for readers of all ages.’
