"Accepting an unusual challenge, and publishing the Slovene national anthem in the form of a picture book is a brave act. Mladinska knjiga Publishing House most certainly proved successful by inviting the seasoned illustrator Damijan Stepančič to depict The Toast. A studious and analytical approach to artistic interpretation, already a trademark of the frequently awarded illustrator, emanates from the editorial scheme as well, as required by the sensitive national topic," wrote the expert jury in their explanation of the decision. The jury members were Darja Lavrenčič Vrabec, Kamila Volčanšek and Maja Gspan Vičič.
In jury's opinion the metaphysical depiction of timelessness through layers of images of the past, the semi-past, and the live present in this picture book have, thanks to Damijan Stepančič's expressive power, reached excellence. This work of art can be artistically understood as the author's homage to great illustrators and designers Milton Glaser and Saul Bass (the respect is paid to the latter also explicitly, by a reinterpretation of his monogram).
Among the nominees for this prestigious award, this year presented for the tenth time, were also Železni Janez (The Iron John) by authors Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, also illustrated by Damijan Stepančič, Nina Mav Hrovat's book O miški, ki je zbirala pogum (On little mouse who mustered courage) (illustrations drawn by Tone Pavček, chosen by Suzi Brecelj), and Andrej Rozman Roza's book Pesmi iz rimogojnice (Poems from the rhyme farm), illustrated by Zvonko Čoh.
54 original Slovene picture books were proposed this year for the award bestowed by The Chamber of Book Publishers and Bookshops, 2 less than last year.
The jury paid most attention to the artistic and textual superiority, and the explicitly innovative approaches in last year's original picture book assortment. "We also focused on a picture book as a complete publishing and trade product; we evaluated the finish of the book, the illustrations, the printing, the layout of the text, the readability…" wrote the members of the jury.
