The Alma Prize, Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, was established in 2002 by the Swedish government with the aim of honoring the memory of Astrid Lindgren and increasing interest in children's and young people's literature in the world.

This year, 288 candidates from 71 different countries were nominated and now it is clear that it is Eva Lindström who wins the honor and the prize money of five million kronor.

She is thus the second Swedish winner ever, the first was Barbro Lindgren in 2014. The jury's chairman Boel Westin reaches a shocked and happy winner by phone.

- No!

Well, she says when she is reached by the message and continues:

- I'm so surprised.

And I thank you so very much.

I just came home with the dog and was just about to start working on a book.

I do not know what to say.

Thanks so much!

"An enigmatic world of images in constant change"

The twelve-headed jury, which includes authors, illustrators, critics and librarians, has appointed Eva Lindström with the motivation:

“Eva Lindström's enigmatic world of images is constantly changing.

Trees move abroad, dogs assume enormous proportions and objects disappear to suddenly return.

With fast brushwork and condensed color, Eva Lindströmen creates an ambiguous dialogue in text and image.

The boundary is fluid between children, adults and animals.

With deep seriousness and wild humor, they wrestle with the eternal questions: Who are we?

Where are we going?

Who has taken our hats? ”.

"Uncompromising and cross-border"

Eva Lindström was born in 1952 in Västerås and lives in Stockholm.

She started working as a cartoonist in the 80s for, among others, Kamratposten and DN.

Her first children's book, Kattmössan, was published in 1988. Since then, she has been awarded the August Prize, the Elsa Beskow plaque and the picture book prize Snöbollen.

The Alma jury describes her artistry as uncompromising and cross-border and that it is characterized by great originality.

She has created three cartoons and several of her stories have been filmed, including A Bird Day, My Friend Team and I Escape !.

The latest book Nothing is Impossible for Us was published in 2021 and is about two small children and their dog who lands on another planet.

The text is updated.