Augustpriset 2024

The children's book winner for Augustpriset (the August Prize) 2024 is the picture book Chop Chop: En tapper jordbos berättelse, which is both written and illustrated by Linda Bondestam. Augustpriset is awarded annually by the Swedish Publishers' Association in three categories of Swedish literature. Winning authors receive 100,000 kronor. Chop Chop is the story of a strong little robot who is programmed for multiple jobs. It opens up discussions about ways in which artificial intelligence is helpful or harmful and the value our society places on speed. Linda Bondestam's work has been nominated several times for Augustpriset, including for Om du möter en björn and Djur som ingen sett utom vi, which she illustrated, and has also been recognised by several other awards. She is a member of Svenska Barnboksakademin (The Swedish Academy for Children's Books).

Chop Chop, winner of Augustpriset 2024

Other nominees for the prize in 2024 were Barrbarnet by Klara Bartilsson, En djungelsaga by Jenny Bergman and Lotta Geffenblad, Brorsans kompis Robban by Maja Hjertzell and Joanna Hellgren, Utan att passera gå by Lova Lakso, and Ingen utom jag by Sara Lundberg.

Barrbarnet

En djungelsaga

Brorsans kompis Robban

Utan att passera gå

Ingen utom jag

Last year's winner was Vitsippor och pissråttor by Oskar Kroon and Hanna Klinthage.

Vitsippor och pissråttor

The Astrid Lindgren Prize 2024

Astrid Lindgren-priset (The Astrid Lindgren Prize) is awarded to a children's author every year on Astrid Lindgren's birthday in November, sponsored by the publisher Rabén & Sjögren. The author receives 100,000 kronor. In 2024, the prize went to Petter Lidbeck, who has written over 40 books for children. Lidbeck said he writes for kids who struggle with reading, since he himself was not a great reader as a child. He discovered Lindgren's work when he read her stories with his daughter. See past winners of the award here: Astrid Lindgren Prize. Here's a selection of Lidbeck's books. Have you read any?

Kan Man by Petter Lidbeck

Anna Larssons hemliga dagbok, nominated for Augustpriset, 2003

Den magiska kepsen

Världens elakaste fröken

Mördarmormor

Another award in Lindgren's name is the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA), which is administered by the Swedish Arts Council. You can read more about that award here: alma.se.

Barnradions Bokpris 2024

Barnradions bokpris (the children's radio book prize) for 2024 has been announced! The winner is E.P. Uggla for her book Draker och Demoner: Uppvaknandet. It is an adventure story set in the fictional world of the game Dungeons and Dragons. Barnradions bokpris is unique in that the winner is selected by children ages 9–12. The author of the winning book receives 30,000 kronor. The jury of five this year said that this book was well written and has really good descriptions. Other nominees for the prize in 2024 were: Världens sämsta syster by Elin Lindell, Trådar by Emma Andersson, Brinn alla hästar by Helena Hedlund, and Fake by Astrid Mohlin.

Uppvaknandet, winner 2024

Världens sämsta syster, nominee 2024

Trådar, nominee 2024

Brinn alla hästar, nominee 2024

Fake, nominee 2024

You can listen to the book discussions here: Bokpris 2024

Last year's winner was Den yttersta vildmarkens historia: Kuben by Nils Lundkvist.

Kuben, winner 2023