The Padauk Book Award was initiated in 2024 by three librarians from international schools in Yangon, Myanmar with the aim of fostering a love for reading while promoting both leisure and educational engagement with literature. Designed to encourage students to explore the world through stories, the award emphasizes the importance of diversity in reading.
Selected Titles
In keeping with this mission, the books on the Padauk lists are carefully chosen to be diverse and multicultural, representing an array of populations and perspectives. This ensures that students are exposed to different voices, cultures, and experiences, broadening their understanding of the global community and fostering empathy.
The Padauk Flower
The Padauk flower, selected as the award's symbol, represents themes of renewal, springtime, and discovery. Known for blooming after the first rains, the flower serves as a metaphor for the intellectual and imaginative growth that reading promotes, symbolizing the fresh ideas and perspectives students encounter through the books they read.
The Reading Categories
The award is divided into three categories, each tailored to a different reading level, with ten books nominated in each category. This structure ensures that students across various developmental stages can participate, with books selected to both match their reading ability and challenge their understanding of the world.
Voting
Voting by the students at the international schools in Yangon for their favorite books takes place in the spring after the Thingyan festival, which marks the New Year in Myanmar. The timing of the award is significant, as Thingyan symbolizes joy, renewal, and fresh beginnings, aligning perfectly with the spirit of the Padauk Book Award supporting students in their literary journey.
