Michael Rosen has been awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing.

Presented every other year by IBBY, the International Board on Books for Young People, the Hans Christian Andersen Award is the highest international distinction given to authors and illustrators of children’s books and recognizes lifelong achievement and a lasting contribution to children’s literature.

Cai Gao from China is awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration

The criteria used to assess the nominations included the distinctive literary and artistic qualities of writing and illustrating, the capacity to engage the reader with confidence in the child’s abilities to process complexities, the authentic representation of cultural aspects, as well as the freshness and innovation through the body of work; the ability to see the child’s point of view and to stretch their curiosity. All the nominees were assessed on their lifetime achievement to date and the continuing relevance of their works to children and young people.

Seventy-eight candidates from forty-four countries were nominated for the 2026 IBBY Hans Christian Andersen Award by the IBBY Sections. After in-depth discussions related to the criteria, the international jury carefully and thoroughly assessed each one of these highly qualified candidates.

The citation for Michael Rosen states: ‘Michael Rosen’s body of work demonstrates an extraordinary ability to speak to children with honesty, humour, intelligence, and respect. His writing reflects the rhythms of children’s language and thought, combining playfulness with emotional depth and social awareness. Across poetry, novels, and non-fiction, his work invites children into literature, encourages empathy, and opens space for discussion about history, family, loss, identity, and society. His work shows that literature for children can be playful and profound at the same time. Through his extensive and influential body of work, Michael Rosen has made a lasting and significant contribution to children’s literature internationally.’

On receiving the award, Michael Rosen said, ‘I am truly honoured and moved by receiving the Hans Christian Award. I’ve always thought that there is no greater mark a person can receive than being given an award by one’s peers. I have long respected and admired the work of IBBY bringing people together from all over the world to share ideas and perspectives on how, in a deeply troubled and divided world,  we can inform, enlighten, educate and entertain young people. If I may, I regard this award as not only an extremely kind recognition of my work, but also as a sign of IBBY‘s continued commitment to the right of children to have access to ideas and the imagination.  Receiving the Hans Christian Award has spurred me on to go on doing what I can to make books that children will want to read and to do what I can to help us all put books into children’s hands.’

2026 Illustrator Winner: Cai Gao
Cai Gao’s work demonstrates outstanding artistic quality and a unique visual language that expands the possibilities of illustration for children. Her illustrations combine technical mastery with creativity, sensitivity, and innovation. Her work moves between tradition and modernity, creating images that are visually striking, emotionally resonant, and meaningful for young readers. Through her use of colour, composition, and visual storytelling, she creates books that invite children to explore, imagine, and interpret the world visually. Her body of work represents a significant and lasting contribution to the art of children’s books.

The shortlist of six authors and six illustrators, announced in January this year, included the following.

Authors:
Ahmad Akbarpour from Iran
María José Ferrada from Chile
Timothée de Fombelle from France
Lee Geum-yi from the Republic of Korea
Pam Muñoz Ryan from the United States
Michael Rosen from the United Kingdom

Illustrators:
Beatrice Alemagna from Italy
Linda Bondestam from Finland
Cai Gao from China
Gundega Muzikante from Latvia
Walid Taher from Egypt
María Wernicke from Argentina

The ten-member 2026 Hans Christian Andersen Award Jury comprised the following experts: Brenda Dales (United States), Nadia El Kholy (Egypt), Giorgia Grilli (Italy), Diana Kovach (Argentina), Shailaja Menon (India), Mare Müürsepp (Estonia), Margaret Anne Suggs (Ireland), Fengxia Tan (China), Holly Tonks (United Kingdom), and Morgane Vasta (France). The Jury was led by Jury President Shereen Kreidieh. Carolina Ballester acted as Jury Secretary.