2026
Edition
2026 Winning stories
The PAGE International Literary Competition reveals its five winners!
Coming from Italy, France, Croatia, Portugal and Slovenia, the selected stories were chosen for their literary quality, clarity, coherence and creativity. They are intended for teenagers and young adults who benefit from cognitively accessible language.
The five stories will be translated into Italian, Portuguese, Croatian, Slovenian, French and English, and published in both digital and printed formats. Discover the winning authors and follow the creation of this inclusive European collection.
Italy
Akike, Giovanni Gaetani Liseo
From the meeting of light, dust and colours, Akikè is born: a small creature capable of bringing life back to what once seemed still. A delicate story that moves through suffering without allowing it to define us, reminding us that every new horizon takes shape one step at a time.
About the author:
Giovanni Gaetani Liseo is a permanent support teacher. His educational journey began at the Faculty of Sport Sciences, where he developed the conviction that education is a tool for wellbeing, awareness and the full development of the individual.
Aware that educating also means accompanying each person along their own path of growth, he has expanded his training over the years in the field of inclusion. Encounters with families and with a wide range of educational settings have profoundly enriched both his personal and professional journey.
Passionate about teaching and educational communication, Giovanni believes that simple and direct language can bring even the deepest meanings to life—just as colours, despite their apparent simplicity, can express what is most difficult to put into words.
Croatia
When the Factory of Happiness Closed, David Šesto
Vedran loses his job when the Factory of Happiness closes and finds himself facing uncertainty and a sense of loss.
Through a series of encounters with different people, he gradually discovers that true happiness is not found in work or technology, but in human connection, friendship, and small acts of kindness that can change a life.
About the author:
I have always loved engaging stories, regardless of the format. Through books, films, TV series, video games and music, I have experienced stories and emotions that have left a lasting impression on me.
Driven by a desire to better understand how stories and audiovisual works are created, I studied Film, Television and Multimedia Design at VERN University, where I gained valuable knowledge, met inspiring people and took part in the production of numerous short films. Of all the creative paths I explored, writing proved to be the most rewarding form of expression. Watching an idea develop and transform into a finished piece of content is a unique and fulfilling experience for me.
My passion for writing eventually led me to my current position as a copywriter in a marketing agency, where I write short video advertisements for social media.
I also volunteer as a reviewer and writer for HCL.hr, a Croatian gaming portal, where I write reviews and articles about video games that I have followed and enjoyed for many years, sharing the aspects that inspire and fascinate me the most.
My passion for writing continues to grow, and in my spare time I write short stories and develop some of my own creative and unconventional ideas.
Slovenia
Daisy’s Green Fingers, Aksinja Kermauner and Izidora Kazić
After finishing school, Daisy gets a job at Plant Nursery.
At first, her boss underestimates her because he believes she does not know enough about plants.
When Daisy saves the orchids from dying, he recognizes her knowledge and dedication. Although Daisy earns her boss’s respect, she decides to move to another workplace, where she will be respected and appreciated from the very beginning.
About the authors:
Dr Aksinja Kermauner is a lecturer in special and inclusive education, a professor of Slovenian language and fine arts, and a writer. She writes professional monographs, literature for adults, young people and children, and leads projects that support the better inclusion of people with special needs in society. She is the author of the first Slovenian tactile picture book for blind people. She is a member of the Slovene Writers’ Association and Vice-President of the Association of Special and Rehabilitation Pedagogues of Slovenia.
Izidora Kazić was born in Ljubljana. She completed secondary school of economics. Her life has always related to people with different disabilities. She grew up with her mother, Aksinja Kermauner, who is a well-known expert in this field. As a little girl, Izidora learned how to support vulnerable groups. Today, Izidora works at CUDV Draga. There, she helps and advises people with different disabilities every day. She does her work with great love, patience and warmth.
France
Tim and Rugby, Agnès Stéphan
Tim is 16 and dreams of playing rugby despite the doubts of those around him. Through personal challenges, friendship and first love, he discovers that courage has the power to change a life.
About the author:
Agnès Stéphan teaches English and literature at a vocational secondary school in the Nantes area. She divides her time between her pupils, her family and her passion for writing. She took part in a project to raise awareness of domestic violence with the Saint-Malo-based artist Matyl de Solidor, as well as in the flipbook *Les Mots De la Folie ®* by the Arts Convergences charity, which promotes mental health.
Portugal
Leonor sabe, Valentina Silva Ferreira
Leonor likes Tiago and wants to be in a relationship with him.
Her family is worried, but Leonor shows that she can make her own choices and decide about her life. This is a story about love, respect, courage, and the right to grow up.
About the author:
Valentina Silva Ferreira was born in Funchal in 1988. She is a writer and has published several novels in Portugal and Brazil. She has won literary awards, takes part in projects to promote reading and writing, and runs a reading club. She lives in Madeira and continues to write stories for her readers.
About the Call for Stories 2026
PAGE launches an International Literary Contest to promote accessible literature for young adults with intellectual disabilities.
Across Europe, accessible books for teenagers and young adults remain extremely rare. While the publishing industry has made progress in children’s accessibility, very few titles are available for older readers who need cognitively adapted texts.
PAGE seeks to change this by supporting authors, educators, and publishers in creating stories that combine literary quality, emotional depth, and cognitive accessibility.
Rules 2026
The PAGE Literary Contest is open to everyone. Participants may submit short stories written in Easy Language, using one of the partnership languages (Italian, French, Slovenian, Croatian, or Portuguese).
A jury composed of a publisher, an Easy Language expert, an inclusion specialist, and a representative of the target group will select five winning stories.
Selected works will be published in the PAGE app, printed in a limited physical edition in 6 partner languages, and promoted at EU level through events, presentations, and communication campaigns.
Who was eligible to apply?
The contest was open to:
- Authors and co-authors from Italy, France, Slovenia, Croatia, and Portugal.
- Writers, educators, or creative professionals with an interest in inclusive storytelling.
- In the case of minors, submissions must be accompanied by a signed authorization from a parent or legal guardian, granting consent for participation in the PAGE.
Short stories between 10.000 and 18,000 characters, including spaces., written in Easy Language.
Submissions accepted in partner language (italian, french, slovenian, croatian and portuguese).
Former Key dates
- Call opens: 1 December 2025
- Submission deadline: 31 May 2026
- Announcement of winners: June 2026
Find the full rules and eligibility criteria on the PAGE website and in the official national calls released by each partner organization.
Why this contest matters?
Accessible literature helps young people with intellectual disabilities develop their creativity, connect with others, and access culture on equal terms.
Through this contest, PAGE seeks to build a European community of inclusive writers and to inspire new editorial practices that make books truly accessible to all.
How to participate?
Read the full contest rules and eligibility criteria.
Prepare your manuscript in .docx or .pdf format (2,000–5,000 words).
Submit your story through the online form below.
About PAGE
PAGE (Project for Advancing Cognitive Accessibility in Publishing) is a European cooperation project dedicated to promoting accessible and inclusive literature for young readers.
Through research, creative residencies, training, and digital innovation, PAGE supports authors and publishers in creating stories without barriers — stories that everyone can read, feel, and imagine.
👉 Follow PAGE on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook using the hashtag #pageprojectcall and help us spread the word across Europe.
Together, let’s make literature accessible to everyone!