Björn Sundmark named to the jury of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award

The Swedish Arts Council Board has named Björn Sundmark, Professor of English Literature at Malmö University, to the jury for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. Sundmark takes up the position on 1 July.

‘Björn Sundmark has wide-ranging experience and expertise in the field of literature for children and young people. Through his research, he is active in an international context and has a wide network. His qualifications make him an excellent complement to the existing makeup of the jury,’ says Bongi MacDermott, Director of International Cooperation for the Arts Council.

Björn Sundmark is Professor of English Literature and the director of English studies at the Department of Culture, Language and Media at Malmö University. He principally teaches literature in the primary and upper secondary school teacher training programmes, but he also offers elective courses such as ‘Children’s Literature in a Global Perspective’. Sundmark supervises doctoral candidates in the educational sciences.

Sundmark is also a children’s book author. His debut book, Klättra i träd, illustrated by Per Gustavsson, was published in 2022.

‘I am thrilled at the opportunity to serve on the jury of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. It is an important job where you make choices that can have an impact on children’s and young people’s reading. The jury members have different skills and specialties with bearing on children’s literature, so it will be personally enriching as well. What I can offer is my familiarity with the history and development of children’s literature and with applying a range of critical perspectives to reading and literature,’ says Sundmark.

Sundmark takes up the post on 1 July, succeeding departing member Elina Druker.