Recipient of Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award 2011 to be announced tomorrow

The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) is the world’s largest prize for children’s and young adult literature.

Tomorrow, Tuesday 29 March, at 1:00 pm CET, the recipient of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award 2011 will be announced. 175 candidates from 62 countries around the world are nominated for the award, which can be presented to authors, illustrators, oral storytellers and those active in promoting reading. Larry Lempert, the chairman of the jury, will reveal the name of this year’s recipient(s) at the Astrid Lindgren’s Näs Cultural Centre in Vimmerby. The award has a value of 5 million SEK (approx. 550 000 EUR). The announcement will be broadcast live at the world’s biggest children’s book fair in Bologna, Italy, and online at www.alma.se. The live webcast will also include the jury’s presentation of the recipient(s).

Still photos and video footage will be released after the announcement. High-resolution images will be available to download at www.alma.se/press. Video clips will be available on our FTP server – please email helene.andersson@alma.se for access.

Jury members and expert commentators will be available for interview in person at Vimmerby or by phone. Contact information for the 2011 recipient will be released to the extent permissible. To book an interview, please contact helene.andersson@alma.se, tel. +46 76 540 1017, or rebecka.svensen@alma.se, tel. +46 76 540 1020.

The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) is the world's largest prize for children's and young adult literature. The award, which amounts to SEK 5 million, is awarded annually to a single recipient or to several. Authors, illustrators, oral storytellers and those active in reading promotion may be rewarded. The award is designed to promote interest in children's and young adult literature, and in children's rights, globally. An expert jury selects the winners from candidates nominated by institutions and organisations worldwide. The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award is administered by the Swedish Arts Council.