The journal Otrok in knjiga – alongside the Franc - Franc publishing house (since 2016 ARGO, Society for Humanist Issues) – is the co-founder of the Večernica Award. Večernica is a Slovene literary prize for the best literary work of children’s or youth literature of the previous year. The newspaper and publishing company Večer (now Večer mediji d.o.o.) initially took over the sponsorship only, but since 2006 it has been a third-party owner of the prize.

The Večernica Award has been awarded since 1997 at the annual meeting of Slovene youth writers entitled Eye of the Word (Oko besede). The nominations and winners are decided by a five-member jury, which includes a representative of the journal Otrok in knjiga, ARGO, the Association for Humanistic Issues, Večer mediji d.o.o., the Slovene Writers' Association and the Slovenian Library Association, together with the Slovene section of IBBY.

The Večernica award ceremony is the main event of the literary festival Oko besede.