168 candidates from more than 60 countries world-wide are nominated for world's largest children's literature award, totalling 5000000 SEK (approx 480, 000 EURO.) More than 100 expert organisations from all over the world have nominated candidates for the 2010 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. Among the nominees are contemporary authors, illustrators, oral storytellers and promoters of reading. The award is given in memory of Astrid Lindgren, author of the much-loved Pippi Longstocking, in recognition of outstanding life-time achievements in the fields of children's and young adult literature. The winner or winners will be announced at 13.00 March 24, 2010 from the birth-place of Astrid Lindgren in Vimmerby, Sweden.  

The list of nomination include IBBY International, the non-profit NGO dedicated to promoting international understanding through children's books and providing access for children everywhere to high literary and artisitic quality books. From the UK, Margaret Spencer is nominated along with Aidan Chambers, Quentin Blake, David Almond, Shirley Hughes, Jacqueline Wilson, Diana Wynne Jones and Michael Morpurgo. Illustrator Axel Scheffler is a German nomination.

For a complete list of nominees, visit www.alma.se/en