Swedish writer Barbro Lindgren was announced as the winner of Sweden's 2014 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award on Tuesday.

Barbro, born in 1937, is a Swedish author of "innovative and multifaceted" works for children of all ages. Her work mainly includes picture books, poetry, plays and books for young adults.

"Barbro Lindgren is a literary pioneer. Using adventurous language and rich psychological nuance, she has re-invented not only the picture book for the very young but also the absurd prose story, the existential children's poem, and realistic fiction for young adults," according to the jury's citation.

"With perfect pitch, she presents to us both playful shenanigans and moments of bright joy, and the inscrutable nature of life and the nearness of death," says the jury.

Barbro Lindgren's stories are often humorous and possess a warm tone of voice that speaks directly to children, whether she is offering amusing escapades or more serious reflections, said the jury in a statement.

Lindgren has an education in the arts and has illustrated several of her own books including her first book Mattias' Summer published in 1965.

After that she started her long-time cooperation with the illustrator Eva Eriksson when The Story of the Little Old Man came out in 1979. Their "greatest success" came with a series of picture books about the a child named Little Max and his everyday adventures.

Since her debut, she has published over 100 titles and her work has been translated into more than 30 languages.