Hans Christian Andersen Award winning books on display in Tehran

TEHRAN,Dec. 3 (MNA) -- Iran’s Institute for Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (IIDCYA) is playing host to an exhibition displaying the books that won the Hans Christian Andersen Awards from 2000 to 2010. The exhibit includes the original or Persian versions of 60 books, which have been kept at IIDCYA’s library. The showcase runs until December 21 at the library located on Khalid Islambouli St. off Shahid Beheshti Ave. The Hans Christian Andersen Awards is held annually by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) in Switzerland. Sponsored by Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, the awards are presented to a living author and illustrator whose complete works have made a lasting contribution to children’s literature. The national branches of IBBY select the nominations and the recipients are selected by a distinguished international jury of children’s literature experts. Iranian illustrator Mohammad-Ali Bani-Asadi is among the 32 nominees contending for the 2012 Andersen Awards. In addition, Iranian children’s literature scholar and graphic designer Sahar Tarhandeh is a member of the 2012 Andersen Award jury. The winners will be announced at by IBBY at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair on March 19, 2012.