Missing Page type: KR - Artikelsida

Anna Cokorilo, Tomas Lundqvist and Katherine Paterson.

A display cabinet devoted to winners of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award was opened on 30 May at Junibacken by this year's award winner, Katherine Paterson. The cabinet, designed by Marit Törnqvist and painted by Eva-Karin Fröberg, is shaped like a splendid, old-fashioned bookcase in white and gold. In drawers and books of different colours you can read about the award winners and see pictures from the award ceremonies. In the part were family portraits would usually stand in a traditional bookcase there are framed pictures of the six people who have so far received the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, i.e. Maurice Sendak, Christine Nöstlinger, Lygia Bojunga, Ryoji Arai, Philip Pullman and Katherine Paterson. A world map specially designed by Fibben Hald shows the award winners' countries of origin.

The cabinet, which stands next to Junibacken's own Vimmerby Station where visitors queue to board the Story Train, also has room for future winners of the award.
With a pair of scissors presented to her on an embroidered cushion, Katherine Paterson cut the silk ribbon in front of the cabinet, and as the cameras flashed, children from the International School sang Hello World, bringing tears to the eyes of many spectators.

Katherine, who had brought her entire family with her to Stockholm, told everyone that her grandchildren had already visited Junibacken, declaring it the "best place in the world, Stockholm the best city and Sweden the best country".
"And I'm inclined to agree with them," she said. "I shall be returning to America to tell everyone that we ought to live like the Swedes, caring as much as they do for children's books."

This really set a seal on the event. Everyone then proceeded to board the Story Train, then drank coffee and squash and ate strawberry tart, and it felt as if the sun was shining despite the rain which stubbornly continued to fall outside.



Text: Birgitta Fransson
Photo: Helene Komlos Grill