Sendak shares literature award

American Maurice Sendak and Austrian Christine Noestlinger, whose tales have amused and informed millions of kids, were given the first Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award for Literature on Tuesday. The writers will share the $583,850 prize, which Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria will present June 4 in Stockholm.

Established last year by the Swedish government, the prize is presented annually to promote children’s literature and to honor writers whose work focuses on the rights of children. The prize was named for Lindgren, the beloved Swedish children’s author who created the character of Pippi Longstocking.

Noestlinger, 66, received the prize for her “diversified and highly committed authorship,” which is characterized “by disrespectful humor, clear-sighted solemnity and inconspicuous warmth.” Her works include “The Fiery Frederica,” which she illustrated, and “Conrad the Factory-Made Boy.”

Sendak, 74, whose works include the Caldecott Medal-winning “Where the Wild Things Are,” was cited for his “courageous exploration of the most secret recesses of childhood, to the delight of constant new readers.”

From Associated Press