TEHRAN – Iranian author Farhad Hassanzadeh has received a nomination for the 2018 Hans Christian Andersen Award as the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) announced nominees last week.

Marie-Aude Murail from France, Eiko Kadono from Japan, Joy Cowley from New Zealand and Ulf Stark from Sweden are the other nominees for the award that is the highest international recognition given to an author and an illustrator of children’s books.

Hassanzadeh has authored over 80 books, including “The Backyard”, “The 7th Bench by the Lake”, “Bambak’s Scorpions”, “Watermelon with Love” and “Call Me Ziba”.

IBBY presents the Andersen award to a living author and illustrator whose complete works have made a lasting contribution to children’s literature.

The two winners will be announced at the IBBY press conference at the Bologna International Children’s Book Fair on March 26. 

The medals and diplomas will be presented to the winners during the 36th IBBY Congress in Athens, Greece on August 31. 

Photo: Farhad Hassanzadeh in an undated photo 

RM/MMS/YAW