Iran picks nominees for children lit award in Sweden

Eminent Iranian writer Houshang Moradi-Kermani and a research institute in the country are announced as Iran nominees for the 2016 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in Sweden.

Due to his unique features and eloquent language, Iran Association of Writers for Children and Young Adults nominated the author for the award, a media report said on Sunday, adding that Institute for Research on the History of Children’s Literature in the country is the next pick as a reading promoter.

The award, which is administered by the Swedish National Council for Cultural Affairs, was established in 2002 to commemorate the Swedish writer Astrid Lindgren and to promote children's and youth literature around the world. It is the world's largest for children's and youth literature, and the second-largest literature prize in the world.

The prize, which is five million Swedish kronor in cash, is awarded to one or more recipients including authors, illustrators, storytellers and promoters of reading.

Moradi Kermani’s target audiences are pre-teens and teenagers. Many Iranian movies and series have been made based on his best-selling publications. In 2006, Noted Iranian director Dariush Mehrjouee directed 'Mehman-e Maman' (Mum's Guest) based on Moradi Kermani's eponymous novel.

Some of his books have been translated into English, German, French, Spanish, Dutch, Arabic and Armenian.

AG/AG