WASHINGTON, June 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) is the world's largest prize for children's and young adult literature and the second-largest literature prize in the world. The ALMA honors the memory of Swedish author Astrid Lindgren, the writer of the beloved Pippi Longstocking series.  The award was founded in 2002 by the Swedish government and is administered by the Swedish Arts Council.  

The ALMA is considered to be one of the most prestigious awards in the field of children's literature.  The nominations are judged by a panel of 12 experts in children's literature, including a representative of Astrid Lindgren's family.  The award winner receives a prize of approximately $640,000 (US dollars).

Nominees for the award are solicited from multiple countries and must be authors, illustrators, storytellers or promoters of children's/young adult literacy (either individuals or organizations).  Past award recipients have included Banco del Libro ("Book Bank") of Venezuela, author Katherine Paterson, author Phillip Pullman, and author/illustrator Maurice Sendak.

The United States division of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) is one of the organizations authorized to submit nominations for the award.  For the 2011 award, USBBY nominated Reading Is Fundamental and author/illustrator Jerry Pinkney.

RIF's long-standing history of innovation in children's literacy is a key reason USBBY nominated RIF for this distinguished honor. As the United States becomes a more diverse nation, RIF's Multicultural Literacy Campaign serves as a clear example of that innovation and RIF's adaptability to ensure all children are motivated to read. Additionally, RIF's educational websites Leading to Reading and Reading Planet further demonstrate RIF's innovation and use of technology to provide a fun and engaging experience for readers of all ages.

The 2011 awards will be announced in March 2011.  For more information about the award, please visit http://www.alma.se/en/.  If you have other questions about the award or RIF's nomination, please contact Cammie Backus at clbackus@rif.org or 202-536-3504.

SOURCE Reading Is Fundamental

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RELATED LINKS
http://www.rif.org
http://www.alma.se/en/