Bui Mai Khue won the Special Prize at The JX-ENEOS Children's Story Award in Vietnam. Photo daidoanket.vn

The JX-ENEOS Children's Story Award is an annual contest in Japan running since 1970. It was brought to Vietnam last year by Viet Nam More Production and Kim Dong Publishing House.

Khue won the first prize at elementary school and younger category for her short story Bướm Lá (Leaf Butterfly). It tells the adventures of yellow leaves that are thought to be butterflies.

The story is inspired by the leaves falling down from the tree which Khue's mother shows her.

Leaf Butterfly captured the heart of the jury board because of its meaningful content, according to Khue's mother.

"I think the jurors liked the story because it highlights sacrifice when the leaves accept they must die to become a nutrition source for the life of plans."

Leaf Buttefly is one three stories Khue submitted. The others were Cuộc Phiêu Lưu Của Cáo Con (The Adventure of Little Fox) and Bông Hoa Mùa Hè (Summer Flower).

Khue is in fourth grade at Vietkids School. She likes drawing and writing.

Khue's story at the elementary school and younger category also won the Special Prize at the contest. The category brings so laughter and surprise to the jurors and show unlimited imagination and child-writing style, according to the organisation board.

The stories are presented from the perspective of young children which is truly amazing and exciting.

The junior high school category's first prize went to 14-year old Nguyen Dieu Linh Chi and Nguyen The Vinh, 34, won first prize in the open category.

Jurors included Japanese popular writer and cartoon illustrator Nagano Hideko; children’s writer Le Phuong Lien; Doctorate in Education and Chairwoman of Book Reading With Children Club Nguyen Thuy Anh and others.

The best works will be published in October. Khue and the last year competition's winner will visit Japan to attend the award ceremony in November.

The best works are divided into three categories elementary school and younger, junior high school, and others.

Entries for the award were submitted from March through May 2019. About 12,500 works were entered from all over Japan and other countries around the world including Vietnam.

VNS