UKLA Award For Icelandic Author

The English translation of Andri Snær Magnússon’s “The Story Of The Blue Planet” has won the UK Literacy Association (UKLA) award.

Andri Snær shared the news of the award, for the category of literature for children aged 7 to 11, which honours authors writing children’s literature taught in a classroom setting. This makes the first time a UKLA award has been given to a book in translation.

“The Story of the Blue Planet comes alive when you read it to a class of children who love the idea of a place populated entirely by children,” wrote Jane Steel, one of the award’s judges, of her decision. “Into this blissful existence comes the shady character of Jolly-Goodday who entices them into a whole new level of fun – but at a cost … Suspense, laughter and many questions accompany each chapter in this book, which has been enjoyed by classes throughout the 7-11 age range, each appreciating it on different levels and inspiring moral, philosophical and environmental debate.”

The New York Times, reviewing The Story of the Blue Planet in 2012, said in part that it was “immensely satisfying — a major contribution to the sparsely populated eco-lit genre, and one that could entice other authors to contribute.”

The award is a new one of many for Andri Snær, who has been a prolific author, playwright and film-maker for over a decade. The release of his novel Dreamland: A Self-Help Manual for a Frightened Nation brought him considerably more international recognition, and was later made into an award-winning documentary.

Related:

The First Capitalist-Realist Poet?

Hearing The Airwords With Andri Snær Magnússon

Larissa Kyzer’s Three Percent Review of LoveStar.

Andri Snær waxes poetic on the fall of an Icelandic mayonnaise company.