The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) is the world's largest prize for children's and young adult literature, and the nominees for the 2010 prize has been abnnounced. The award, which amounts to SEK 5 million, is awarded annually to either a single or to several recipients. 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. This makes the list of nominees a good starting place if you want an overview of what's going on in children's literature today. The list is long and includes several names familiar to a British school readership:
Almond, David: Author, Great Britain
Blake, Quentin: Illustrator, Great Britain
Chambers, Aidan (nominated singly and with Chambers, Nancy): Author/Promoters of reading, Great Britain
Gleitzman, Morris: Author, Australia
Hoban, Russel: Author, USA
Hughes, Shirley: Author/Illustrator, Great Britain
IBBY International: Reading promotion organisation, International
Innocenti, Roberto: Illustrator, Italy
Lowry, Lois: Author, USA
Mahy, Margret: Author, New Zealand
Morpurgo, Michael: Author, Great Britain
Scheffler, Axel: Illustrator, Germany
Sempé, Jean Jacques:Illustrator, France
Sis, Peter: Illustrator, USA
Thompson, Kate: Author, Ireland
Wilson, Jacqueline: Author, Great Britain
Wynne Jones, Diana: Author, Great Britain