Affectionately dubbed the "Little Nobel Prize," the Hans Christian Andersen Awards are given every even-numbered year to a living author and an illustrator who have made an "important and lasting contribution" to the world of children's literature. 

…The Andersen Awards is considered the highest international honor for children's book authors and illustrators.  So far only a few Pacific Rim talents have received these esteemed medals.  We hope that in time there will be more! 

• The awards are presented at the IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People) World Congress;
• Members of IBBY's National Sections (this year from over thirty countries) make the nominations, and the recipients are selected by an international jury of children's literature specialists ;
• Past winners include world-beloved illustrator Maurice Sendak (1970), renowned author Scott O'Dell (1972), and stirring poet  Michio Mado (1994).  
• Read about award-winners Astrid Lingren, Pippi Longstocking creator, and Tove Jansson, author of the Moomins series, and more good books in translation in Personal Views.

IBBY Administrative Director
Ms. Elizabeth Page
Nonnenweg 12, Postfach,
CH-4003 Basel
Switzerland

Tel: [int. +4161] 272 29 17
Fax: [int. +4161] 272 27 57

e-mail: ibby@ibby.org

http://www.ibby.org/index.php?id=273