Gavran's works have been translated into 38 languages, and this 54-year old novelist, playwright and stage director has so far won a score of theatre and literary awards.
He has written dozens of plays and seen more than 120 first nights of his work in Croatia, the Netherlands, the United States, Slovenia, Poland, Bulgaria, Argentina, France, Greece, Hungary and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
He writes novels as well as books for young readers.
The Hans Christian Andersen Award is the highest international distinction given to authors and illustrators of children's books. Given every other year by IBBY, the Hans Christian Andersen Awards recognize lifelong achievement and are given to an author and an illustrator whose complete works have made an important, lasting contribution to children's literature.