In 1979, SM established the Premio El Barco de Vapor , an annual international award for unpublished children’s literature. With a substantial monetary prize (currently €30,000) and guaranteed publication, it attracted writers who might otherwise have ignored the genre. Winners include giants of Spanish literature: ( El pirata Garrapata ), Juan Farias , and Laura Gallego ( El valle de los lobos ).
Navigating the Currents of Childhood: A Comprehensive Analysis of El Barco de Vapor as a Paradigm of Ibero-American Children’s Literature libros del barco de vapor
The prize ensured quality control. While commercial series often prioritized formulaic writing, the BdV prize sought literary merit. A study of winning titles between 1980 and 2000 shows a preference for linguistic innovation, subversion of stereotypes (e.g., non-violent pirates in Garrapata ), and psychological realism. In 1979, SM established the Premio El Barco