2018 Hans Christian Andersen Awards shortlist

IBBY, the International Board on Books for Young People, has announced the shortlist for the 2018 Hans Christian Andersen Award - the most prestigious international children's book award - although this year's shortlist includes no one from Britain or Ireland.

The shortlisted authors come from France, New Zealand, Sweden, Japan and Iran and include Marie-Aude Murail from France, Farhad Hassanzadeh from Iran, Eiko Kadono from Japan, Joy Cowley from New Zealand and Ulf Stark from Sweden. The shortlisted illustrators also come from far afield and include Pablo Bernasconi from Argentina, Linda Wolfsgruber from Austria, Xiong Liang from China, Iwona Chmielewska from Poland, Igor Oleynikov from Russia and Albertine from Switzerland. Patricia Aldana from Canada/Guatemala was the 2018 Jury President and she led the ten jurors from around the world: Denis Beznosov (Russia), Yasuko Doi (Japan), Reina Duarte (Spain), Andrej Ilc (Slovenia), Eva Kaliskami (Greece), Shereen Kreidieh (Lebanon), Mara Beatriz Medina (Venezuela), Yasmine Motawy (Egypt), Lola Rubio (Argentina) and Junko Yokota (USA). The criteria used to assess the nominations included the aesthetic and literary quality as well as the freshness and innovation of the body of work; the ability to see the child's point of view and to stretch their curiosity; and the continuing relevance of the works to children and young people. The Award is judged on each candidate's entire body of work. After the meeting Aldana said: "The exchanges between jurors taught us all new ways of seeing, understanding and appreciating the remarkable range of work that had been submitted for the Award by IBBY National Sections around the world. "In times such as these it is heartening to know that barriers to understanding do not need to exist between people of good will. On the contrary, these exchanges enriched and enlightened us all. The jury feels that children everywhere can similarly learn to know, understand and care for each other by encountering the work of these creators. "In light of the jury's desire to help build bridges of understanding and to expand access to the very best books they chose to create a list of 15 outstanding books, some from the short-listed authors, some from other nominees, that they felt were important enough to merit translation everywhere so that children around the world could read them." The two winners will be announced at the IBBY Press Conference on Monday, 26 March 2018 at the Bologna International Children's Book Fair. The medals and diplomas will be presented to the winners during the 36th IBBY Congress in Athens, Greece on Friday, 31 August 2018. A brief description of the shortlist candidates, a complete list of the 2018 candidates and the list of 15 recommended titles can be viewed at the IBBY website, below. The International Board on Books for Young People is comprised of 75 National Sections and works to bring children and books together. It is the oldest and most highly regarded organization in the world working globally for children and books. The Andersen Award is sponsored by Nami Island Inc.

External Link

www.ibby.org/awards-activities/awards/hans-christian-andersen-awards/hcaa-2018/?L=0