The world’s largest prize for children’s and young adult literature is to be awarded on March 31 when the jury decides on the 2015 laureate of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA). This year the laureate will be selected among 197 candidates nominated from 61 countries. Germany is one of the top countries of nominations with 8 authors and storytellers nominated. The full list available here.

The award, inaugurated in 2003, rewards lifetime achievements of the highest artistic quality and in the spirit of Astrid Lindgren with a focus on respect for democratic values and human rights.

The press conference will be opened by the Swedish Minister for Culture and Democracy Alice Bah Kuhnke at the National Library in Stockholm on March 31 at 1 pm. It will be broadcasted live to the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, the leading professional fair for children’s books in the world.

The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award amounts to SEK 5 million (approx. EUR 546 000) and is given annually to a single laureate or to several. Authors, illustrators, oral storytellers and reading promoters are eligible for the award, which is designed to promote interest in children's and young adult literature. An expert jury selects the laureate(s) from candidates nominated by institutions and organisations all over the world.

The press conference will be streamed live via http://www.livecast.se/alma/2015/live1/. Video content from the announcement will be available on TheNewsMarket following the event, including footage from the National Library, the laureate announcement and an interview with jury chairman Boel Westin.