The Astrid Lindgren prize is the world’s biggest award for literature aimed at children and young people. Argentinian author and illustrator Isol beat 206 nominees including Roald Dahl illustrator Quentin Blake and War Horse writer Michael Morpurgo to take home the $5 million kronor ($780,000) annual prize.
Since her debut Vida de Perros (A Dog’s Life) in 1997, Isol has written and illustrated 10 children’s books. She has also illustrated works for Argentinian poet Jorge Luján and US novelist Paul Aster.
Isol, born Marisol Misenta in Buenos Aires in 1972, was a fine arts teacher before working as an author and illustrator. She also works as a singer and composer.
Her winning book Tener un Patito Es Útil (It’s Useful to Have a Duck) can be read from two different directions with a different story told each time, either what a boy can use a duck for or what a duck can use a boy for.
‘Taking the child’s clear view of the world as her starting point, she addresses their questions with forceful artistic expressions and offers open answers,’ said the jury in a statement. ‘With liberating humour and levity she also deals with the darker aspects of existence.’
The jury also described her work as ‘humorous with surprising twists, occasionally philosophical and always subtle.’
‘Isol is on the children’s side, seeing the world through their eyes and exposing the absurdities of the adult world.’
The author and illustrator received a phone call at 6:30am to be informed of the good news. ‘It’s all really unbelievable, especially as the other nominees are amazing,’ she told Reuters. ‘It’s about being able, sometimes, like children do, to fearlessly ask questions and answer back a bit.’
‘The idea is to do something both artistic and fun, which breaks a bit from what’s expected,’ she told Associated Press. ‘I like playing with words, and surprising people. The fact is that any truly artistic work has this quality. I want my books to be fun for children and for adults, too.’
Swedish author Astrid Lindgren is one of the world’s most translated writers, better known for creating Pippi Longstocking. The Swedish government has been giving out the award annually to an individual or organisation working in the spirit of Lindgren to ‘safeguard democratic values’ since the author’s death in 2003.
Isol will be presented with the award in Stockholm on May 27.
