Will Barbro Lindgren’s latest children’s book be rewarded tonight?

Cover of Nu leker vi den fula ankungen. Eva Lindström and Barbro Lingren. Photo: Rabén & Sjögren.

Barbro Lindgren’s Nu leker vi den fula ankungen (Let´s play the ugly duckling, illustrations by Eva Lindström, Rabén & Sjögren 2014) are one of the nominated candidates in the category for Best Swedish Children’s Book of the Year at tonight’s August Prize gala.

The citation of the jury (our translation):

Anything is possible in children’s play. When Barbro Lindgren let children play H.C. Andersen’s Ugly Duckling, something happens. The humorous childlike dialogue reshapes the whole story. The moral change. The duckling transforms from an outcast to a unique creature, but on new terms. The untidy duckling’s fragile appearance stands out in both the throng of ducklings and on spreads with large, pure color fields in a dim range of colors. Eva Lindström captures the little bird’s vulnerability to perfection. But also its inner growth.

The August Prize was founded by the Swedish Publishers’ Association in 1989, to institute an annual award for the best Swedish books of the year in order to increase public interest in Swedish contemporary literature. The other three categories which will be announced tonight is: Best Swedish Fiction Book of the Year, Best Swedish Non-Fiction Book of the Year and the August Prize for Young Writers.

You can follow the August Prize gala live here starting 5:30 pm CET!

Tags: Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, Augustpriset, barbro lindgren, Eva Lindström