The National Arpalice Cuman Pertile Award was established in 1987, as passionately wanted by Lidia Toniolo Serafini, Councilor for Culture at the time, to keep alive the memory of the writer and poetess Arpalice Cuman Pertile. Over the years, the award has attracted the attention of hundreds of writers who have been confronted with a complex, yet fundamental literary genre from a pedagogical point of view: the use of the potential of speech and drawing to explain to children the values of Peace, Love, Friendship in order to help them understand emotions such as joy, sadness and pain. When Arpalice Cuman Pertile wrote her stories, nursery rhymes and poems, her driving thought was to support the little ones in their growth, teaching them to love the present with its many little things that fill life without being afraid of the future, which, despite the uncertainties it brings about, is full of expectations and dreams to be fulfilled. This was exactly the educational intent underlying the foundation of the award, which is dedicated to Arpalice Cuman Pertile.
The award giving ceremony is held every two years, in odd-numbered years. It is addressed to children and young people aged 3 to 14 who are required to submit unpublished texts in Italian on a free theme. The award is divided into three categories: poems and nursery rhymes; fairy tales, fables and fantastic tales; realistic tales.  
The rules of the competition can be consulted on the website: www.marosticacittadifiabe.it