Today in Swedish Vimmerby the winner of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award will be announced, one of the most prestigious prizes in children's and youth literature. Among this year's nominees are Russian writer and poet Sergei Mikhalkov, as well as Ekaterina Silina and Andrei Usachev. In all, 153 candidates from 60 countries were nominated. The award, established by the Swedish government in 2002, is given not only to authors but also to illustrators and organizations promoting reading among children and teenagers.
The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, an international literary prize, is awarded for contributions to the development of children’s and young adult literature. Today, in the writer’s hometown of Vimmerby, Sweden, the winner of the prize will be announced, and one of the contenders for it this year is the well-known Russian writer and poet Sergei Mikhalkov.The winner last year was the Australian writer Sonya Hartnett. This year, the list of contenders included 153 candidates from 60 countries around the world. The Russian candidates for the prize, in addition to Mikhalkov, were children’s book designer Ekaterina Silina and children’s writer Andrei Usachev.
The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award was established by the Swedish government in 2002 after the writer’s death. It was a sign of deep respect for Lindgren, who remains one of the most beloved and widely read writers in Sweden today. Lindgren’s books have been translated into 91 languages and sold in 145 million copies.
The prize is awarded not only to writers, but also to illustrators, as well as organizations engaged in promoting reading among children and teenagers.
The prize money amounts to 5 million Swedish kronor (about 480 thousand euros). The award ceremony will take place at the Stockholm Concert Hall on June 2, 2009, with the participation of Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria.