The nominated candidates for the 2011 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award

The list of potential winners of the 2011 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award is official. The candidates were revealed at the Frankfurt Book Fair by the Chairman of the Jury, Mr. Larry Lempert.

175 candidates representing 62 different countries are eligible for the world’s largest children’s and young adult literature award. The award, which amounts to SEK 5 million (approx. 500 000 EUR), is awarded annually to a single recipient or to several. Authors, illustrators, oral storytellers and promoters of reading may be rewarded.

”The interest in the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award is constantly increasing”, says Larry Lempert. ”The Jury has never had as many candidates to evaluate. A daunting task, but one we are very happy to take on.”

The 175 candidates have been nominated by expert organisations from all over the world. New countries represented on the list include Malaysia, Lithuania and Georgia.

For the complete list of nominees, please visit www.alma.se/en/Nominations/Candidates/2011

On March 29 at 13.00 CET, the winner or winners of the 2011 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award will be announced at the birthplace of Astrid Lindgren in Vimmerby, Sweden. The announcement will be held simultaneously at Bologna Book Fair and also be broadcasted live on the award website www.alma.se/en   

Previous winners are: Kitty Crowther (2010), Tamer Institute (2009), Sonya Hartnett (2008), Banco del Libro (2007), Katherine Paterson (2006), Philip Pullman (2005), Ryoji Arai (2005), Lygia Bojunga (2004), Christine Nöstlinger (2003) and Maurice Sendak (2003).

For more information, please contact Award Office Director Erik Titusson, erik.titusson@alma.se +46 76 540 10 08.