Iran's Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults has nominated two writers for the 2012 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.
Poet and screenwriter Ahmad-Reza Ahmadi and veteran writer of children's literature Mostafa Rahmandoust have been shortlisted as nominees, ISNA reported.
The Koodakane Donya research institute has also been selected by Iran's Children's Book Council (CBC) and will compete for the prestigious award next year.
Ahmad-Reza Ahmadi is known by many as the founder of New Wave Poetry in Iran who has received many national and international awards.
He is influenced by works of French Surrealists and American Imagists specially Saint John Perse, Paul Eluard, Louis Aragon and Ezra Pound.
Ahmadi was shortlisted for the 2010 Hans Christian Andersen Award, also known as the 'Little Nobel Prize' for his “fascinating short stories,” which “speak poetically about humanity, love, nature and peace for children and young adults.”
Poet, author, teacher and translator of children and young adults' literature, Mostafa Rahmandoust has released more than 100 books and his works have been translated into English, Chinese, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Russian, Swahili, Japanese and Swedish.
His Spring Guardian, Garden of Kindness and Prettier than Spring have been selected as Iran's best book of the year.
Rahmandoust has also served as a jury member in Iran's Book of the Year award and International Festival of Films for Children and Young Adults in the city of Isfahan. In l977, he launched Doostaneh, the first Iranian site for children.
Rahmandoust's Silver Sequin, Spring Guardian, Three Paces Behind Mother and Lion Hunter Donkey have been adapted for animations.
The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award is an annual Swedish children's literature award, established in 2002 in honor of Swedish children's books writer Astrid Lindgren.
The prize is granted to writers, illustrators, narrators and/or promoters of reading whose works reflect the spirit of Astrid Lindgren. The award is funded solely by central government funds and is administered by the Swedish Arts Council.
Astrid Anna Emilia Lindgren was a Swedish author and screenwriter and the world's 25th most translated author whose works have sold roughly 145 million copies worldwide. She is best known for the Pippi Longstocking, Karlsson-on-the-Roof and the Six Bullerby Children book series.
Australian illustrator and author of children's books Shaun Tan won last year's Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.
TE/HGH