Note: While this post is not about a black woman living or working in Europe, Jaqueline Woodson won a prize named for Sweden’s most beloved children’s author. To me that is noteworthy.
Jacqueline Woodson wins the world’s largest prize for children’s literature, the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award
This is awesome! This is HUGE! I’m awake now. And smiling! Thanks @AlmaAward https://t.co/61pmoKiHZi
— Jacqueline Woodson (@JackieWoodson) March 27, 2018
Source: LATimes.com
Jacqueline Woodson, who won a National Book Award for her memoir in verse “Brown Girl Dreaming,” won the 2018 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award on Tuesday. The award comes with a prize of $608,000.
Publishers Weekly reports that Woodson is the 18th person or organization to win the prize, which is considered one of the most prestigious children’s literary awards in the world. The prize comes with a cash award of almost $608,000 and is funded by the Swedish government.
The Lindgren Award, named after the Swedish creator of Pippi Longstocking, caps a list of many honors Woodson has won over her career. In addition to her National Book Award for “Brown Girl Dreaming,” the author has won the Coretta Scott King Award twice and a Newbery Honor four times.
Congratulations Ms. Woodson!!! Bravo!!!! And thanks, Adrianne George, for highlighting this victory via Black Women in Europe Blog.:-)
It is a huge award! Thanks for sharing my pride in Ms Woodson, Anna! xx