TEHRAN -- Iranian children’s book illustrator Mohammad-Ali Bani-Asadi is among those selected for the 2012 Hans Christian Andersen Awards.

The National Sections of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) from 32 sections made the selections, submitting 27 authors and 30 illustrators as candidates for the Hans Christian Andersen Awards.

The Children’s Book Council of Iran mentioned “Bani-Asadi’s illustration of more than 80 books for children, use of Iranian and Islamic symbols in most of his artwork, and teaching contemporary illustrators” as some of the reasons for selecting him as the Iranian representative for the 2012 Hans Christian Andersen Award this week.

Iranian painter and graphic designer Farshid Mesqali won the award in 1974, and Hushang Moradi Kermani and Mohammadreza Yusefi were nominated from Iran for the award in 1992 and 2000 respectively. Moradi Kermani was highly praised by the jury.

The independent researcher in children’s literature, freelance graphic designer and art director Sahar Tarhandeh was among the IBBY 2012 Jury.

The jury was selected by IBBY’s Executive Committee from nominations made by its national sections.

The Hans Christian Andersen Awards are presented every two years by IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People) to an author and an illustrator whose complete works have made an important and lasting contribution to children's literature. 

SB/YAW

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