CONNECT - Read to Me! Quarterly

Read to Me! Nominated for Prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award

Read to Me! has been nominated for the 2007 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, the world's largest children's literature and literacy award. The award, founded by the Swedish government, honours the world famous children’s author Astrid Lindgren, creator of the much loved children's book Pippi Longstocking. The purpose of the prize, worth approximately $800,000, is to increase interest in children's literature and to strengthen children's rights on a global level. The prizewinner is selected by a 12 person jury based on nominations from selected nominating bodies around the world. Read to Me! was nominated by the Canadian Library Association.

Jackie Halsey reading at 'Shake Rattle and Read' at Alderney Gate Library

In December, we were honoured with a visit from two jury members of the Astrid Lindgren Award: Lars Gustafsson, a Swedish pediatrician and advocate for children's rights and Birgitta Fransson, founder of a Swedish journal of children's culture and author of The World of Children's Books, a collection of interviews with children's authors from around the world.

During their visit they had the opportunity to see many aspects of the Read to Me! program, including meeting with some of our wonderful volunteers, seeing new parents receive their Read to Me! bag, visiting two of the 11 hospitals in the province that deliver the program and meeting members of the Read to Me! Foundation Inc. Board. They also attended a "Pippi Potluck" at the Writers Federation of Nova Scotia where they spent a lively evening with Atlantic Canadian children's authors and illustrators. Before returning to Sweden they had a chance to visit the Alderney Gate Library’s "Shake, Rattle and Read" baby program and meet with many of the provincial partners that support the work of Read to Me! across Nova Scotia.

Authors Budge Wilson and Sheree Fitch meet Jury Members Lars and Birgitta

One hundred and thirty-three authors and illustrators have been nominated for the 2007 award along with 29 reading promotion programs from around the world. The winner of the 2007 Astrid Lindgren Award will be announced in March.

About Astrid Lindgren
Astrid Lindgren was one of Sweden’s best known and beloved authors. Her books are known and loved around the world. Astrid Lindgren spoke for life, for peace and for democracy. She also spoke against all forms of violence. Above all, she spoke on behalf of those who could not make their voices heard - children.

“The state of tomorrow's world relies, to a high degree, on the imaginative faculty of those currently learning to read. Therefore, children need books” . Astrid Lindgren