Ursel Scheffler’s "Bücherbrücken" App Wins German Reading Award 2025
Hamburg, Germany – Acclaimed children’s book author Ursel Scheffler, known for her popular "Kommissar Kugelblitz" series, has been awarded the German Reading Prize 2025 for her innovative multilingual app, "Bücherbrücken" ("Book Bridges"). Scheffler, 86, received the third place award in the category "Outstanding Reading Promotion with Digital Media."
A total of 16 awards, with a combined value of €25,000, were presented by the Stiftung Lesen (Reading Foundation) and the Commerzbank Foundation. The award ceremony took place on Tuesday in Berlin.
The "Bücherbrücken" app, launched in 2022, offers a playful and accessible way for children with migrant backgrounds to learn to read. "The app demonstrates how digital media can break down language barriers and make reading promotion more accessible and diverse: Children read books to children in different languages," stated the award jury.
Initially developed to support refugee children from Ukraine, the app now offers over 25 titles in multiple languages, including German, Ukrainian, Polish, Turkish, and Chinese. The app features text, images, and audio, ensuring an immersive learning experience.
Scheffler, who has authored over 400 books with global sales in the millions and numerous audiobooks, has been a tireless advocate for reading promotion. In 2018, she received the prestigious Biermann-Ratjen Medal from the Hanseatic city of Hamburg for her contributions.
In an interview with the Deutsche Presse-Agentur last year, Scheffler emphasized the importance of reading proficiency: "There is a lack of language competence, and children often have far too small a vocabulary. And not everything is the fault of politics." Instead of lamenting, she believes individuals should take responsibility.
The "Bücherbrücken" app is part of Scheffler’s "Büchertürme" ("Book Towers") project, which has also involved schools in Barcelona, Vienna, and Warsaw since 2011. Through this project, Scheffler has been connecting children from different cultural backgrounds through the shared experience of reading.
The German Reading Prize, established in 1996, recognizes exceptional contributions to reading promotion in Germany. Previous winners include children’s book author Michael Ende ("The Neverending Story") and television host and author Günter Jauch.
Scheffler’s award is a testament to the transformative power of digital media in fostering literacy and bridging cultural divides. The "Bücherbrücken" app is a valuable resource for both children and educators, providing a fun and engaging way to promote reading and language acquisition.
