This piece explores the evolving relationship between grandchildren and grandparents through the story created by Maite Gurrutxaga Otamendi and Mikel Gurrutxaga Otamendi. The work earned first place in the inaugural Miguel Calatayud Villa de Aspe International Picture Album Award, a collaboration between the local city council and Degomagom publishing house based in Ibi.
The two siblings from San Sebastian stood out among eighty-one submissions from Spain and other countries, a competition launched to celebrate the art of illustration and its power to pair text with imagery. The winning duo received a prize of six thousand euros, and the event drew attention to a diverse set of entries, with participants from Belgium, Colombia, Mexico, and Brazil presenting their creative voices.
The jury announced its decision on April 23, coinciding with Book Day, highlighting a key insight: the connection between words and pictures creates a more profound sense of reality and invites readers to interpret multiple perspectives. The judges emphasized that strong image-text synergy can illuminate truths that are both personal and universal.
The winning intersection was celebrated by the jury and by local culture representatives, with Rosa Ruiz, the Aspe Cultural Councilor, among those present at the ceremony.
The panel praised the careful design and vivid color storytelling. They noted how the album’s structure invites reflection and even humor, prompting readers to consider questions about family life from both individual and collective viewpoints. Eva Vazquez Merino contributed as illustrator, while Roman Belmonte Andujar served as a teacher and specialist in Children’s and Youth Literature. Grace Torres Rodriguez is a librarian at the Rubén Darío Municipal Library in Aspe, and Octavio Ferrero Punzano acts as editor for Editorial Degomagom; Miguel Calatayud Cerdán is recognized as an accomplished illustrator.
The narrative is driven by the collaboration of Mikel Gurrutxaga Otamendi as author and Maite Gurrutxaga Otamendi as illustrator. Maite was previously honored with the Lazarillo Award in 2015 in the Illustrated Album category, highlighting her ongoing contribution to children’s literature. The work has drawn praise for its emotional sensitivity and clever storytelling, with a focus on how images and text complement each other to reveal shared realities.
The decision was unanimous, underscoring the exceptional quality of the finalist works. The winning entry will be published by Degomagom within the year, ensuring that the story reaches a broad audience and endures as a reference in contemporary illustration.
Aspe’s award stands out for its uniqueness within the discipline and its regional pride, located in the Valencian Community. The honor is associated with the name of Miguel Calatayud, a three-time National Illustration Award winner, whose legacy currently enjoys renewed attention through an ongoing exhibition. The exhibition features artworks from Calatayud’s long career and spans across spaces in his hometown of Aspe, reflecting half a century of artistic exploration.