This is the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award 1
Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award ‘When it’s time to
call and notify our decision, everyone is sitting there with sweaty palms, heart racing, worried that no one will answer, which nevertheless always happens by some miracle.’ Katarina Kieri, jury member The Announcement After months—sometimes years—of painstaking deliberation and preparations, one or more laureates are named in the spring. The jury chair has the job of calling the recipient immediately after the decision meeting—and someone is about to pick up the phone and get a pleasant surprise! A public announcement of the laureate is made on the same day in Stockholm. Public interest is high and news of the decision is picked up around the world. ALMA Week The ALMA Week is the highlight of the year! The laureate travels to Sweden to visit schools and libraries, address the public, and meet with both readers and fellow colleagues. The week concludes in pomp and state with the official acceptance of the award by the laureate in a ceremony in Stockholm. The Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, the Swedish Minister for Culture, and hundreds of invited guests attend the ceremony to honour the laureate and children’s literature.