Percy FitzPatrick Award facts for kids
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 amazing 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. This rule made it hard for many authors to enter. That's because many South African children's authors published their books with companies outside of South Africa.
In 1977, the rules changed. Books could now qualify if they were written by South Africans. They could also qualify if the story was about South Africa. This made it easier for more great books to be considered for the award.
Who Manages the Award
In 1980, the SALA organization changed its name. It became the South African Institute of Librarianship and Information Science (SAILIS). The committee for children's books within SAILIS was in charge of the award. This continued until 1998, when the committee stopped its work.
Since 1998, the English Academy of South Africa has been responsible for the Percy FitzPatrick Award. They continue to choose the best children's books.
Important Moments
In 2014, something very special happened. Kagiso Lesego Molope became the first Black author to win the award. Her book, This Book Betrays My Brother, was a big success. This was an important step for the award and for South African literature.
Award Winners
| Year | Book | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Luntu Masiza | Penny Latimer |
| Sea Star Summer | Sally Partridge | |
| 2020 | Sing Down the Stars | Nerine 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 Wood-ash Stars | Marguerite Poland |
| 1979 | The Mantis and the Moon | Marguerite Poland |
| 1970–1978 | No award |
See also
- Olive Schreiner Prize
- Sol Plaatje Prize for Translation
- Thomas Pringle Award
