Oct 02, 2017 12:06 UTC Nominees for the Memorial Award 2018 to be announced on October 12

The candidates for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award 2018 will be presented on October 12 at the Frankfurt Book Fair. So far, seventeen laureates have received the Award, the latest recipient is the German illustrator . The award amounts to SEK 5 million (approx. EUR 570 000), making it the world's largest award for children's and young adult literature.

The list of nominated candidates is a gold mine for anyone interested in international children’s and young adult literature – and would not be possible without the work of more than a hundred nominating bodies from all over the world. Welcome to join us when the list of names is revealed!

Programme 12 October at 4 pm CET 4.00 pm Welcome by Gabi Rauch-Kneer, vice president of Frankfurter Buchmesse 4.05 pm Prof. Boel Westin, Chairman of the ALMA Jury and Journalist Marcel Plagemann, present the work of Wolf Erlbruch. 4.40 pm Helen Sigeland, Director of ALMA, about upcoming events. 4.45 pm Prof. Boel Westin, Chairman of the ALMA Jury, reveals the candidates for the 2018 award.

The event is a co-operation with the Frankfurt Book Fair and takes place at the Children's Book Centre (Hall 3.0 K 139). The nomination list of 2018 will be available on www.alma.se/en shortly after the programme.

Earlier ALMA laureates 2017 Wolf Erlbruch, Germany 2016 , United Kingdom/ 2015 PRAESA, South Africa 2014 , 2013 , Argentina 2012 , Netherlands 2011 , Australia 2010 , Belgium 2009 Tamer Institute, Palestine 2008 , Australia 2007 , Venezuela 2006 , United States 2005 Ryôji Arai, Japan and , United Kingdom 2004 Lygia Bojunga, Brazil 2003 Christine Nöstlinger, Austria and , United States

For questions and interviews with Boel Westin or director Helen Sigeland, please contact Communications Officer Mariella Kucer +46 76 540 10 17, [email protected]

The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) is the world's largest award for children's and young adult literature. The award, which amounts to SEK 5 million, is given annually to a single laureate or to several. Authors, illustrators, oral storytellers and reading promoters are eligible. The award is designed to promote interest in children's and young adult literature. The UN convention of rights of the child is the foundation of our work. An expert jury selects the laureate(s) from candidates nominated by institutions and organisations all over the world. The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award was founded by the Swedish government in 2002 and is administrated by the Swedish Arts Council. Contacts

Mariella Kucer Press Contact Communications Officer [email protected] +46 (0)8 519 264 17 +46 (0)76 540 10 17