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 The
illustrators Christine Nöstlinger and Maurice Sendak
share the first Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award for Literature.
Press Release from the Swedish National Council for Cultural
Affairs 18 March 2003
Jury's reasoning for choosing this year's winners:
"Christine Nöstlinger (Austria) is a reliably
bad child-rearing influence of the same calibre as Astrid
Lindgren. Her diversified and highly committed authorship
is characterized by disrespectful humour, clear-sighted
solemnity and inconspicuous warmth. She is a staunch supporter
of children and those living on the margin of society".
 "Maurice
Sendak (USA) is the modern picture-book's portal figure.
He is unparalleled in developing the picture-book's unique
possibilities of narrating - to the joy of constant new
picture-book illustrators. Furthermore, he is one of the
most courageous researchers of the most secret recesses
of childhood - to the delight of constant new readers".
The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award for Literature, established
by the Swedish Government, is an annual, international prize
for children's and young adults' literature. The five-million-kronor
prize (approx. 540 000 euro) can go to authors, illustrators
and promoters of reading whose work reflects the spirit
of Astrid Lindgren. The presentation of the literary award
will take place at a ceremony to be held at the open-air
museum of Skansen in Stockholm, on 4 June, 2003.
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