Six Iranian literary representatives have been selected to vie for the world's greatest children's literary award of the 2013 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA).
Iranian authors Mostafa Rahmandoust, Touran Mir-Hadi and Ahmad-Reza Ahmadi as well as children book illustrators Farshid Mesqali and Mohammad-Ali Bani Asadi have been named in the Swedish award’s nominee lineup, ISNA reported.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by Larry Lempert, the chairman of the jury for ALMA 2013 at the 2012 international Frankfurt Book Fair.
Furthermore, the name of an Iranian children's research institute, Donya, is also seen in the nominees’ list.
Some 207 candidates from 67 countries across the globe have been nominated for the 2013 award, including 61 first-time nominees.
As international children’s literary award, the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award was established by the Swedish government in 2002 to honor the Swedish children’s author Astrid Lindgren (1907-2002).
The winners are selected by a jury including 12 members with broad expertise in international children’s and young adult literature, reading promotion and children’s rights.
Administered by the Swedish Arts Council, ALMA is officially called "an award by the Swedish people to the world.”
FGP/SZH
