Farhad Hassanzadeh, Nominated For 2020 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award

The Children Book Council in Iran represented the author, Farhad Hassanzadeh, the illustrator, Farshid Shafiei, the organization, Read with Me and the promoter of reading, the Institute for Research on the History of Children Literature as the candidates for 2020 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA).

The award has been founded since 2002 in the name of Astrid Lindgren who is one the most important authors from Sweden, to promote interest in children and young adult literature around the world. It is the largest international children and young adult literature award in the world and the second literary award after Hans Christian Anderson Award. The award is presented to authors, illustrators, oral storytellers and reading promoters and it may be presented to a single laureate or to several, regardless of language or nationality. The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award is presented to people and organizations working in Astrid Lindgren’s tradition safeguarding democratic values. Farhad Hassanzadeh is also the candidate for 2020 Hand Christian Anderson Award.

Farhad Hassanzadeh Was Nominated Once More for 2020 Hans Christian Anderson Award

The Children Book Council of Iran represented Farhad Hassanzadeh for 2020 Hans Christian Anderson Award. He was nominated once in 2018 and was introduced among the five best authors all over the world. The following criteria are contributed to representing Farhad Hassanzadeh:

• His significant role in development of children and young adults literature in Iran
• His consistent efforts over the last thirty years
• His activities within various fields of literature such as novels, stories, adaptations, poems, biographies and journalism
• His proficiency to reach different audiences from children to adults
• Writing an approximate number of 100 books for different age groups
• The translations of his books into so many languages such as English, Mandarin, Arabic, Turkish, Armenian, Kurdish, Malay, etc.
• Adapted figures and toys based on the characters in his stories, such as Kooti Kooti
• His engagement in social activities as a member of the Association for Children and Young Adults Writers in Iran
• His activities as a promoter of reading within public libraries and schools
• His visits paid to the places such as Juvenile Detention Center and many institutes concerned with child labor and orphans
• Awarded both nationally and internationally more than forty times, including a letter of appreciation by 2018 Hans Christian Anderson and nomination of Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award for four times
• Received the First Class Certificate of Art from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance
• Films, plays and performances adaptations based on his works
• More than fifty academic works dedicated to the study of his works, including master and doctoral thesis, and journal articles
• More than eighty reviews dedicated to his books
• Holding so many celebrations all over Iran to honor him and his works