TEHRAN -- Iranian children’s book writer Mostafa Rahmandust has been nominated for the 2016 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, which is presented annually by the Swedish government.

Rahmandust was nominated for the award by the Institute for Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (IIDCYA) on Wednesday.

Earlier this week, the Children’s Book Council of Iran nominated author Hushang Moradi Kermani and illustrator Pejman Rahimizadeh for the award.

So far during his 30-year-career in children’s literature, Rahmandust has published 160 books with 5.5 million copies.

The prize, five million Swedish kronor in cash, is awarded to one or more recipients including authors, illustrators, storytellers and promoters of reading.

Administered by the Swedish National Council for Cultural Affairs, the award was established in 2002 to commemorate the Swedish writer Astrid Lindgren and to promote children’s and youths’ literature from around the world.

Photo: Author Mostafa Rahmandus in an undated photo

AFM/YAW
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