June 26, 2026 · Bas, co-founder

Silver for Kids Chapters at Renew the Book 2026

For two months we worked towards this moment. It started with the selection for the longlist, then came the shortlist, and last Tuesday we stood in the final on the stage of Pakhuis de Zwijger in Amsterdam. With shaky knees and a microphone in hand, we told our story. A few minutes later we were handed the silver award of Renew the Book 2026, second place at the most important innovation prize of the Dutch book industry.

We are proud, and honestly still a little amazed. What touches us most is how closely the jury looked at what we are building. The feedback we received along the way was incredibly valuable and helps us take the next steps. An award is wonderful, but that kind of thoughtful attention from people in the field is worth almost as much.

What is Renew the Book?

Renew the Book is the innovation award for anyone who wants to move the world of books forward. Publishers, makers and young companies pitch their ideas to an expert jury and a room full of industry people. Out of all the entries, three finalists remained this year. We were one of them, alongside two international teams we hold in high regard.

Why our story resonated

The jury praised Kids Chapters for the clarity of the concept and its link to a genuine social theme: reading motivation and diversity. That is exactly what drives us. More and more children read less, and not every child sees themselves in the books that already exist. We turn that around by making the child the main character, with their own name, their own looks and their own world. Not as a gimmick, but because recognition helps children truly learn and remember words.

That is not an empty promise. Research shows that children who read a personalized book recognize words better and remember them longer than with an ordinary book. That conviction sat at the heart of our pitch, and it is wonderful to see an industry jury feel the same way.

The other finalists

The main prize went to WeDaVinci with their Visionary Tales project, which helps publishers bring stories to life visually. Third place went to Ink An Epic from Singapore, which turns books into graphic novels to reach new readers. Two lovely and very different ways to get people reading. We warmly congratulate both teams and are already looking forward to what they will build.

What this means for you and your child

An award is nice, but the best part is what sits behind it: recognition that personal stories get children reading. For us this is encouragement to keep building books in which your child is the hero. Whether it is a child with braces who suddenly becomes a superhero, or a child going on an underwater adventure with grandma and the cat, the story becomes truly theirs.

Want to see what that looks like? Create your own story at kidschapters.com and put your child in the leading role. Curious why a name makes such a difference? Read our piece on a personalized children's book with a name.

Curious how that approach differs from books generated entirely by AI? I explain it in Why AI Cannot Write a Good Children's Book.