Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award 2014

A few months ago, the Children's Writers and Illustrators Group (CWIG) of the Society of Authors included me in their nominations for ALMA 2014. It was lovely news and amazing to be in the company of the other nominees: Allan Ahlberg, Morris Gleitzman and Jan Pienkowski. I have loved and respected their work for years. Thank you, CWIG!

Last week I received ALMA's booklet with its intriguing cover by last year's winner, Isol, creator of children's books from Argentine. Who is looking at who here?

ALMA, founded by the Swedish government, regards the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child as the foundation for their work. Besides authors and illustrators, oral storytellers and promoters of reading across the world are acknowledged. 

Although CWIG is a UK organisation, we are listed under our countries of origin. So Allan is under UK, Morris under Australia, Jan under Poland and I am under South Africa, where I am delighted to see Piet Grobler!  Piet illustrated my little stories about the little trickster hare in The Great Tug of War and my retellings of Aesop's Fables. He is currently working on our new book Who is King? Folktales from Africa.

This year, 238 candidates from 68 countries have been nominated for ALMA.  The laureate or laureates will be announced in Sweden and at Bologna Children's Book Fair on 25 March, 2014.
With many wonderful nominees, I am just very happy to have been included in a process that promotes reading globally.  Imagine a world where books, not bombs, were delivered. Wouldn't that be a world more fit for children?