Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing

On March 18, 2024, the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) officially named Judy Blume the 2024 laureate of the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing, often referred to as the 'Little Nobel Prize' and considered the most prestigious international recognition in children's and young adult literature.

This award is unique in that it honors an author's entire body of work and lasting contribution to children's literature on a global scale, rather than a single title. Blume became one of the relatively few American authors to receive this distinction since the award's inception in 1956, joining a select group of internationally celebrated writers for young people.

At age 86, Blume's selection as the 2024 laureate came more than five decades after her first published book, testament to the extraordinary and enduring international impact of her work. Her novels had by this point been translated into over 32 languages and sold more than 90 million copies worldwide, reaching generations of young readers across vastly different cultures and countries who nonetheless recognized the universal truths in her depictions of adolescence.

The IBBY jury specifically cited Blume's fearless, honest engagement with subjects that remained difficult for many cultures to discuss openly with young people—puberty, sexuality, death, divorce, and bullying—and her groundbreaking role in establishing young adult literature as a legitimate and vital literary category. The award represented a capstone recognition of a career defined by courage in the face of persistent censorship efforts across multiple countries and decades.