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TOKYO, March 27 Kyodo - Japanese author Eiko Kadono, known for her novel "Kiki's Delivery Service," has won the 2018 Hans Christian Andersen Award, considered the Nobel prize in children's literature, the Swiss-based award organizer said. "Kadono's books are always surprising, engaging, and empowering.And almost always fun. And always life affirming," the International　Board on Books for Young People said on its website. Kadono, 83, is the third Japanese to receive the award, following　Michio Mado in 1994 and Nahoko Uehashi in 2014. "I am really honored to receive the award named after Andersen,whom I have loved since my childhood," said Kadono. Kadono has produced a number of picture books and novels, including one about a girl named Kiki who in following her mother to become a witch must live by herself in a town and survive by using her powers. An award ceremony will be held on Aug. 30 in Athens. The Hans Christian Andersen Award is given every other year to an　author and an illustrator whose works have made an important and lasting contribution to children's literature. The author's award has been given since 1956 and the illustrator's award since 1966. The award winners are picked by an international jury of children's　literature specialists. The selection criteria include aesthetic and　literary qualities as well as the ability to see things from a child's　point of view.