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Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award 2027: Australian Reading Ambassadors for the World

FEM Flying Media supporting Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators.

Key Facts:

Four nominations promoting Reading for young people - Australian Laureates Ursula Dubosarsky & Alison Lester, Susanne Gervay OAM, Magabala Books leading First Nations publisher for ASTRID LINDGREN MEMEORIAL AWARD 2027

Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award 2027: Australian Reading Ambassadors for the World.

 

Australian Children’s Laureates, Ursula Dubosarsky and Alison Lester, Susanne Gervay OAM & Australia’s leading First Nations publisher Magabala Books are the four nominees honoured for their advocacy of reading and literature across the nation and internationally.

 

Magabala Books is Australia’s leading First Nations publishing house. An award winning Aboriginal owned and led, celebrating and nurturing the talent and diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices. An independent, not-for-profit Indigenous Corporation and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation, Magabala is governed by a dedicated Board of Kimberley Aboriginal Directors.

 

 

Susanne Gervay OAM & Laureates Ursula Dubosarsky and Alison Lester

 

Their award winning work and high recognised books are known for social justice issues including bullying, multiculturalism, disability, inclusion, peace, human rights and reading as the pathway to literacy, imagination, enrichment for young people.

 

In South Australia, fewer than 15 percent of all schools have a qualified Teacher Librarian (TL). Many new schools no longer have a library and a few existing schools have removed the library entirely. WA has very few TLs and Tasmania is similar. The situation is a little better in NSW and QLD but all states are reporting a trend towards removing teacher librarians and in some case the library as well. The nominees support the Australian School Librarian Association ASLA campaign to support school librarians and libraries.

Magabala Books heading to book launch with Peter Bibby and June Oscar on

Merrylee Lands 1990.

 

The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award was created in 2002 by the Swedish government to promote every child's right to great stories. This global award is given annually to a person or organisation for their outstanding contribution to children's and young adult literature. With a prize of five million Swedish kronor, it is the largest award of its kind. Above all else, it highlights the importance of reading, today and for future generations.

 

The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award is awarded to those who continue to work in Astrid Lindgren’s spirit: with imagination, bravery, respect and empathy, and maintaining the highest level of artistic excellence. The attention of the award leads to more translations and to more children having access to high-quality literature—entertaining, innovative, challenging, or complex.

 

The prize amount of SEK 5,000,000 ($513,000) is a signal to the world that Sweden takes children's reading very seriously. Reading books in translation fosters understanding among people and cultures. Children's and young adult's access to literature is a precondition for democracy and openness. Literature opens the door to new worlds and has the ability to increase understanding and exchange between cultures and people.

Media Contact:-

SCBWI Regional Advisor – Susanne [email protected]; 0413 050 922

 

 

Contact details:

Media Contact:-

SCBWI Regional Advisor – Susanne [email protected]; 0413 050 922