Iranian author, illustrator nominated for 2026 Astrid Lindgren Award
Iran’s Children’s Book Council has nominated author Arman Arian and illustrator Hoda Haddadi for the 2026 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA), according to a statement released Wednesday in Tehran.
The award, established by the Swedish government in 2002 in memory of the beloved author Astrid Lindgren, is the world’s most lucrative prize in children’s literature. Valued at 5 million Swedish kronor (roughly $470,000), it recognizes authors, illustrators, storytellers, and reading promoters whose work upholds humanistic values and literary quality—regardless of nationality or language, ISNA reported.
Arian, nominated in the writers’ category, is known for reimagining Iran’s ancient myths and cultural narratives for young readers. His storytelling draws from sources like the Avesta, Shahnameh, and Bundahishn, blending classical inspiration with fresh, suspenseful, and psychologically rich plots.
The council praised his “deep and layered character-building” and his cinematic narrative style that fuses traditional and modern elements.
His books don’t cast children as passive readers but “thinking agents,” the council said, noting that his fiction tackles themes like peace, anti-war values, superstition, women’s roles, family, and civic engagement—without ever talking down to his audience.
In the illustrators’ category, Haddadi was cited for her “evocative, collage-based visuals” and her ability to create a distinctly feminine and nature-infused world shaped by Persian literary heritage. Her art, often marked by vibrant textures, has earned multiple awards and reflects years of work in education across various age groups.
The ALMA is second in prestige only to the Hans Christian Andersen Award and is given annually to one or more individuals or organizations. In Iran, four bodies hold the right to nominate candidates: the Children’s Book Council, the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults, the Research Institute for the History of Children’s Literature, and the Association of Children’s Writers.
Winners of the 2026 award will be announced in Stockholm in March.