I am filled with immense joy and emotion over this nomination for the most prestigious award in children’s literature. Many thanks to Alija for choosing me. On this occasion, there will be 78 candidates from 44 countries.
Full List of 2026 Nominees: https://www.ibby.org/awards-activities/awards/hans-christian-andersen-award/hans-christian-andersen-awards-2026
The Hans Christian Andersen Award is the highest international recognition granted to an author and an illustrator of children’s books. Awarded every two years by IBBY, the Hans Christian Andersen Awards recognize a lifetime achievement and are given to an author and an illustrator whose complete works have made a significant and lasting contribution to children’s literature.
The Author’s Award has been granted since 1956 and the Illustrator’s Award since 1966. The prize consists of a gold medal and a diploma, presented at a festive ceremony during the biennial IBBY Congress.
The awards are sponsored by Nami Island Inc. Nominations for the Andersen Award are made by the National Sections of IBBY. The winners are selected by a prestigious international jury of children’s literature specialists.
Selection criteria include the aesthetic and literary qualities of the writing and illustration, as well as the ability to see things from a child’s perspective and spark their curiosity and imagination. The complete works of the author and illustrator are considered.
In 2011, China’s Anhui Publishing House introduced IBBY and the works of Hans Christian Andersen Award winners to Chinese children and families with these publications.
Ten Hans Christian Andersen Award-winning illustrators have created original art for beautiful silk scarves as a donation to IBBY and its work: fundraising.ibby.org.
