Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award Nominations
This year for the first time, PaperTigers was invited to submit nominations for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. We have just heard that the jury is now sifting through the nominations and that the complete list will be made public on 25 September at the Gothenburg Book Fair; it will also be on their website so we’ll let you know when it’s available.
In the meantime, here are our “Grounds for Nomination” statements for artist and author, Allen Say, and author and promoter of education in Pakistan and Afghanistan, Greg Mortenson.
Often drawing on his own background, Allen Say captivates his readers through beautifully honed prose and luminous watercolors. He embraces a striving for happiness with a blend of gentle humor and realism, and touches on many aspects of being human, such as race, migration, disability and age. Even young children can empathize with and find echoes in many of his stories. Say opens young hearts and minds both to new cultures and to their own potential; and his portrayal of the human condition provides a forum for children to recognize their own value and to dream.
Allen Say is featured in a Gallery in our current issue of PaperTigers, and offers some fascinating insight into his latest book, Erika-San. You can also read an interview with him, in which he talks about his semi-autobiographical book for young adults, The Ink-Keeper’s Apprentice, as well as some of his other picture-books. Sally recently chose his Music for Alice for a Books at Bedtime post.
Greg Mortenson is a humanitarian whose motto is “Books, not Bombs.” Since 1993 he has been committed to promoting and supporting education and literacy (with an emphasis on girls’ education) in rural, underserved regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Through his work as co-founder/Executive Director of the Central Asia Institute, as of May 2009, he has established over 78 schools, supported the training of 600+ teachers and offered scholarships to hundreds of disadvantaged students, thus providing education to over 28,000 children (including 18,000 girls) who would otherwise have no opportunities.
Greg Mortenson is also founder of the Pennies For Peace program and author of the Kiriyama Prize-winning book Three Cups of Tea, which has been translated into 29 languages. It has been adapted into a version for young adults and a beautiful picture-book, Listen to the Wind, illustrated with wonderful collages by Susan L. Roth.
Please do share with us your thoughts and comments about our two nominations – we’d love to hear from you.
July 14th, 2009 at 5:13 am
Good choices! Of course, I’m completely biased as I love Allen Say’s books. I recently read Emma’s Rug to my daughter, as I remembered reading it before and finding it intriguing. Again, it left a distinct impression on my daughter as well. I’ve read Three Cups of Tea and Mortenson is also a good candidate for nomination.
July 14th, 2009 at 5:32 am
While I’m not familiar with Mortenson’s work, I wholeheartedly support your nomination of Allen Say — a genius, in my mind! I’ve been a big fan for decades.
July 14th, 2009 at 10:35 am
We read Say’s Tea with Milk last night and my two were captivated – they got quite annoyed with me when I interrupted the reading to talk about when it was set!
It’s great to hear other voices of approbation.
July 19th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
I just heard that Greg Mortenson has a new book, due out in December by Viking: “Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan.” The new book will allow readers to learn more about his ongoing work and the schools he has established.
July 20th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Thanks for the tip Aline. I read Listen to the Wind with my kids last week and now my 12 year is reading Three Cups of Tea (the adult version as we are still on the library’s wait list for the young adult version). He says it is “addicting” and I must believe him as he was up until 11pm last night reading it!
July 21st, 2009 at 3:44 am
That’s fantastic, Corinne!
And yes, thank you, Aline, for pointing that out…
December 17th, 2009 at 3:42 am
[...] year for the first time, PaperTigers was invited to submit nominations for the prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (winner to be announced March 24th, 2010) and [...]