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Percy FitzPatrick Award facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Percy FitzPatrick Award is a special prize given to the best children's book written in English in South Africa. It started in 1970 and is named after a famous author, Sir Percy Fitzpatrick. This award celebrates great stories for young readers.

How the Award Started

The South African Library Association (SALA) created this award in 1970. At first, only books written and published in South Africa could win. But many South African authors published their books with companies outside the country. So, in 1977, the rules changed. Books written by South Africans, or books about South Africa, could now be considered.

Who Manages the Award?

In 1980, SALA changed its name to the South African Institute of Librarianship and Information Science (SAILIS). This group continued to manage the award until 1998. Since then, the English Academy of South Africa has been in charge of the Percy FitzPatrick Award.

Important Winners

In 2014, Kagiso Lesego Molope made history. She became the first Black author to win the award.

Past Winners

Year Book Name
2020 Sing Down the Stars Neriene Dorman
2018 Fault Lines Joanne MacGregor
2016 The Mark Edyth Bulbring
2014 This Book Betrays My Brother Kagiso Lesego Molope
2012 Melly, Fatty and Me Edyth Bulbring
2010 Daniel Fox and the Jester's Legacy Andy Petersen
2008 Superzero Darrel Bristow-Bovey
2006 Savannah 2116 AD Jenny Robson
2004 The eighth man Michael Williams
2002 Skyline Patricia Schonstein Pinnock
2000 The slayer of the shadows Elana Bregin
1994–1995 The boy who counted to a million Lawrence Bransby
1992–1993 Stories South of the Sun compiled by Christel and Hans Bodenstein and Linda Rode
1990–1991 92 Queens Road Dianne Case
1988–1989 A Cageful of Butterflies Lesley Beake
1986–1987 The Strollers Lesley Beake
1982–1983 The Woodash Stars Marguerite Poland
1979 The Mantis and the Moon Marguerite Poland
1970–1978 No award

Related Awards

  • Olive Schreiner Prize
  • Sol Plaatje Prize for Translation
  • Thomas Pringle Award
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