Two Ukrainians shortlisted for Andersen International Literary Prize
Pravda Ukraine
Two Ukrainian writers have been shortlisted for the Hans Christian Andersen International Prize 2026.
Source: National Library of Ukraine for Children
Details: This year’s nominees from Ukraine are writer Sashko Dermanskyi and artist and writer Kateryna Shtanko.
The Ukrainian section of the International Board on Children’s and Youth Books (IBBY) nominated them.
The full list of nominees is not yet available. It will be published on 31 March.
Sashko Dermanskyi is a children’s writer and a member of Ukraine’s National Union of Writers. He won the BBC Book of the Year 2018 competition in the Children’s Book category and has won the all-Ukrainian Book of the Year award many times.
Kateryna Shtanko is an artist and writer. In 2014, her children’s book Dragons, Go! won the BBC Book of the Year Award.
Every two years, the Hans Christian Andersen Prize is awarded to writers and artists who have made remarkable contributions to children’s literature.
It takes place on 2 April, Andersen’s birthday. The highest award is the Gold Medal with a profile of the storyteller.
Background: In 2024, a scandal erupted around the Andersen Prize. Russian Anastasia Arkhipova was supposed to be one of the jury members. However, after several countries protested and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark refused to patronise the prize, she was removed.
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