Zaida Sanches Eyes Global Stage After ALMA Nomination
Cape Verdean author Zaida Sanches is eyeing the global stage after being named a nominee for the 2027 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA), one of the most prestigious honors in children’s and young adult literature. Speaking to Lusa, Sanches expressed her hope that the recognition will allow her stories to “grow beyond borders.”
A Milestone for Cape Verdean Literature
The nomination places Sanches among 263 candidates from 74 countries. For an author who has spent 17 years crafting stories rooted in the Atlantic archipelago’s culture, the nod from the Swedish Arts Council is both a personal triumph and a victory for her nation’s literary heritage.
“I am still a bit speechless, trying to believe it,” Sanches said. “It is a recognition that provides encouragement, but it also brings more responsibility to the work I have been doing.”
Sanches’ journey began in 2009, born out of a desire to provide her daughters with stories that reflected their own identity. “I saw a lack of materials of our own—works that spoke about us, our identity, and our culture,” she recalled. Rather than simply transcribing oral traditions, she reimagined them, creating the “Stera” (Mat) collection to evoke the ancient tradition of children sitting with elders to hear tales.
From Tradition to Global Themes
While her early work focused on Cape Verdean memories, Sanches shifted her focus in 2019 to address pressing global issues. Her recent titles include O Planeta Mágico (The Magic Planet), which explores the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and O Planeta Azul (The Blue Planet), which tackles environmental conservation and ocean life.
Her book Sou diferente (I am different), which promotes inclusion and diversity, has already become a staple in Cape Verdean education, featured in the national 4th-grade curriculum. Sanches believes the book’s message is more vital than ever.
“From what I see in the world today, with so much intolerance and a lack of respect for others, it is becoming an increasingly essential book,” she noted, adding that she is proud to see her work “contributing to a more just, equitable, and equal world.”
Looking Toward 2027
Currently serving as an official for the Cape Verdean Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Embassy in Lisbon, Sanches hopes the ALMA nomination will lead to her works being translated and published internationally.
The winner of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award—which was awarded to Canadian illustrator Jon Klassen this year—will be announced on April 6, 2027. Sanches is not the only Lusophone representative on the list; Portugal is also represented by nominees Margarida Fonseca Santos, António Jorge Gonçalves, and the artistic association Andante.
Image: Pexels – Fabricio Miranda
