MER Awards

Media24 Books Literary and Jan Rabie Rapport Awards

(formerly known as the Via Afrika Literary Awards)

were announced at an award ceremony on Friday 10 June
2011.

These
esteemed prizes are awarded annually for works published in the previous year
and aim to acknowledge and applaud excellence in local literature. Eighteen
judges from various spheres were appointed to adjudicate the entries received
across the various categories.

The
following two children’s book awards were given:

• The M.E.R Prize for best youth novel (ages 8 to 16,
  however not exclusive).


• The M.E.R. Prize for best illustrated children's book
  (ages 0 to 8, however not exclusive).

The
prize money is R35 000 per category. For the M.E.R. Prize for children’s
illustrated books, the prize money is divided between the author and the
illustrator.

The
winner of M.E.R. award for best illustrated children’s book is

Just
Sisi / Net Sisi by Wendy Hartmann, illustrations by
Joan Rankin

The
short list for the M.E.R. Prize for best illustrated children's book was (in alphabetical
order):

Just
Sisi
/Net Sisi
by Wendy Hartmann, illustrated by Joan Rankin, published by Human &
Rousseau

Thandiwe's Choice / Thandiwe
besluit by Mari Grobler,
illustrated by Elizabeth Pulles, published by Tafelberg

Nici's Pocket Presents / Sandra se seepresente by Marion Drew, illustrated by Vian Oelofsen,
published by Tafelberg

THE WINNERS

Wendy
Hartmann Joan Rankin

JUST SISI contains five stories by Wendy Hartmann: a
journey past unseen African dangers, a surprise party, painting the wall of
Gogo’s house, welcoming Dad home and saying goodnight. Also translated into
Afrikaans by Philip de Vos. Beautiful, expressive illustrations by
internationally known artist, Joan Rankin, compliment the sparingly written,
but spot on text.

About Wendy Hartmann

Born in Cape Town, South Africa

“When I was about five or six years old, I saw the
Easter Bunny. I was so excited I was hysterical. I was told it was not the
Easter bunny, it was a dog.

At first, I was stunned, but later I thought – ‘but
what if?’ But what if it was the Easter Bunny? What if I was the only person in
the world that could see it? What if… what if…?

Those words started the journey. Only now have I
realised how they have coloured my whole life. They crept into the stories I
told and when I started to write, those words sparked off so many ideas. They
still do.”

Wendy has been writing since 1986. She has had more
than 40 children’s books published. Some of these have been published in
America, Britain and Japan and have been translated into other languages. Her
books have been selected for Honours Lists and have won awards for writing and
illustration.

She has written television scripts for Children’s
Programmes and books ranging from concept and counting, educational and
beginner readers to picture books. She has a studio at home where she writes.
She also paints in her spare time. Wendy lives in Table View, which overlooks
Cape Town and the famous Table Mountain.

www.wendy-hartmann.blogspot.com

About Joan Rankin

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa

“All my life I have loved humorous books. All the
4-page books I made as a child were to amuse my family.

Animals have been a favourite subject. They are
non-racist and don't get offended when drawn doing silly things.

My first real efforts to become a children's book
person, were made in the years when my two younger daughters were writing their
matriculation. I must have been under the impression that I would have lots of
time on my hands. I did twelve books - none of which ever got published. It was
only when I won the Daan Retief prize that I got books to illustrate - all from
Daan Retief Publishers.

After illustrating forty books one gets a good idea
how to write. However, I have had a wonderful mentor in Niki Daly who has
helped and inspired me.

My grandchildren have also been a source of
inspiration.

It's quite a lonely career and one seldom hears if
anyone has even seen any of the books. On the other hand Grandchildren like you
to read the same book over and over until you are sick of it.

Another way to get together with people is to do
workshops. One not only learns a lot but it is such a reward to see the sparkle
in peoples’ eyes when they have achieved things that they didn't expect.”

Joan studied graphic art at Michaelis Art School Cape
Town and studied Fine Art with Sidney Goldblatt for several years. She worked
in Fibre Art and puppetry; mainly shadow theatre. She has illustrated over
thirty books for children, many of which she has written herself and which have
been published internationally. She won the HAUM Daan Retief Publishers
Competition for children’s book illustration in 1986, the Katrina Harris Award
for Children’s Book Illustration in 1991and the Oppenheim toy portfolio gold
award in 2003. Joan has participated in exhibitions in Barcelona, Bratislava,
Sarmede, Italy, New York and Japan. She lives with her husband and family in
Johannesburg. http://www.scbwi.za.org/2008/417-Joan-Rankin/about/

M.E.R.
Award for best Youth Novel is

Willem
Poprok by Derick van der Walt (Tafelberg)

The
short list for the M.E.R Prize for best youth novel was(in alphabetical
order):

Sidekick by Adeline Radloff, published by Tafelberg

Speurhond Willem op reis by Elizabeth Wasserman, published by Tafelberg

Willem Poprok by Derick van der Walt, published by Tafelberg

THE WINNER

Willem Poprok by Derick van der Walt

The story of the Van Vuurens of Pretoria, who own the Blou Bul Slaghuis in
the mall. There are three sons and a “laatlammetjie” little sister, with whom
the youngest son, Willem, has a special bond. The story revolves around a
competition for “Dad of the Year”, in which the sons enter their father.

This is an honest portrayal of an average South African family’s individual
struggles, loves, hopes, fears and how these keep them together. Very funny at
times – every reader will recognize dynamics from their own family life in this
story.

Also
Silver winner: Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature 2009

More about Derick van der Walt

Derick is the owner of a Pretoria-based communications
consultancy, specialising in corporate publishing.

He has been writing professionally for many years and,
although he won his first award for creative writing when he was only 11 years
old, in a competition organised by the South African Broadcasting Corporation,
he only recently tried his hand at serious writing. Lien se Lankstaanskoene,
his first book, won the 2007 Sanlam Golden Award for Youth Literature. Derick
plans to continue writing youth novels, as it is a genre he feels at home with.
However, he has also written a number of short stories aimed at adult readers.

But his interests are not limited to the written word.
Derick loves good food, cold wine and rugby (not necessarily in that order!),
and he is passionate about music of all kinds - from Norah Jones to Gershwin.
Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff's piano concertos are special favourites.

He lives in Pretoria with his wife, Lenie, and they
have three grown sons - Tjaart, Werner and André. http://www.tafelberg.com/authors/5851

ENGLISH ACADEMY AWARDS IN 2011 - Call for Entries

OLIVE SCHREINER PRIZE

The prize is awarded for original literary work in English. It is expressly intended as encouragement for a writer who has produced work of great promise, but cannot yet be regarded as an established novelist, short story writer, poet or playwright. It is conferred for excellence in prose, poetry and drama, and devoted to one of these categories each year. In 2011 it will be awarded for DRAMA.

Entries are invited for the prize from publishers and/or authors who have published plays during 2008, 2009 and 2010. Plays of two or more acts (alternatively, two one-act plays) which have been published and/or performed in South Africa by a recognized theatre group or company (amateur or professional) will be accepted. Radio and television plays are also eligible. The length of the stage plays should be such as to provide a substantial evening’s entertainment in the theatre; radio and TV plays should take up to approximately one hour (or two half hours) of viewing or listening time. Typescripts of plays which have been produced must be accompanied by all relevant details (where and when produced, name of producer and theatre company, copies of programmes and reviews, etc.).

SOL PLAATJE PRIZE

The prize is awarded for excellence in translation of a literary text of at least 1 000 words (except in the case of poetry which is, of necessity, exempt from the length criterion) in one of the other official South African languages into English. The English text must represent a reasonably accurate translation of the original, while standing as a well expressed literary text in and of itself.

The translation must have been published in 2009 or 2010. One published copy of the original work and one published copy of the translation must be submitted.

The purpose of the prize is to encourage effective mutual understanding in our multilingual country.

THOMAS PRINGLE AWARDS

The awards are for various achievements, attention being turned to three different categories each year. Below are the three areas for achievement which will be honoured in 2011:

• Reviews of plays, books, films, art exhibitions, radio or television programmes published in newspapers and magazines during 2011 (Ideally, a portfolio of work should be submitted).
• Poems in journals and magazines published in 2009 and 2010
• Articles on English in education and the teaching of English published in journals in 2009 and 2010.

Entries for these prizes are invited from editors of journals, magazines and newspapers as well as from individual authors. Entries published in online newspapers, magazines or journals are also eligible, as long as they were published within the years under review. Details of such publication must be provided.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Works submitted must have been written by a resident of a Southern African country and published in Southern Africa.

More than one entry by the same author may be accepted. There is no entry form. However, all entries must be accompanied by a covering letter listing the entries and providing the full contact details of the entrant.

Three copies of each entry must be submitted, excerpt in the case of the Sol Plaatje Prize (see specifications above). All entries must be sent to the Academy’s Administrative Officer at P O Box 124, Wits, 2050.

Works submitted will be acknowledged but cannot be returned.

Each winner will receive a cash prize and a certificate.

DEADLINES

Thomas Pringle Award for Reviews only – 30 June 2011

All other awards – 31 May 2011

For more information, please contact Naomi Nkealah on 011 717 9339 or at englishacademy@societies.wits.ac.za

PERCY FITZPATRICK PRIZE FOR YOUTH LITERATURE AND

The English Academy of Southern Africa is pleased to announce the winners of the above listed awards which were run in 2010.

PERCY FITZPATRICK PRIZE
Seven books were shortlisted for this award. These were:

The Billion Dollar Soccer Ball by Michael Williams (Maskew Miller Longman, 2009)
Dance of the Freaky Green Gold by John Coetzee (Tafelberg, 2008)
Daniel Fox and the Jester’s Legacy by Andy Petersen (Penguin, 2009)
Fuse by S A Partridge (Human & Rousseau, 2009)
Jesse’s Story by Fiona MacGregor (Maskew Miller Longman, 2008)
Sharkey’s Son by Gillian D`Achada (Tafelberg, 2008)
The Summer of Toffie and Grummer by Edyth Bulbring (Oxford University Press SA, 2008)

The award goes to Andy Petersen for Daniel Fox and the Jester’s Legacy (Penguin, 2009). The judges noted that ‘the novel is interesting, with engaging complex characters, an imaginatively constructed world and surprising plot twists’.

Honourable mention goes to Gillian D`Achada for Sharkey’s Son (Tafelberg, 2008) and to S A Partridge for Fuse (Human & Rousseau, 2009). Fuse was highly commended for its exploration of school violence, bullying and abuse, showing what might drive a bullied child to strike back, and Sharkey’s Son was described as a beautifully written novel, with an almost lyric feel to it at times.

Judges: Crystal Warren (Convener), Marike Beyers and Megan van der Nest


THOMAS PRINGLE AWARD (Short Story)
The following six stories were shortlisted for the award:

‘Buiten Street’ by Stephen Watson (New Contrast, Vol. 36 No 4 2008)
‘Arrested Development’ by Sandisile Tshuma (Words, Fourth Quarter 2008)
‘Help’ by Liesl Jobson (New Contrast, Vol. 36 No 2 2008)
‘Hannah Hunter Watson’ by Stephen Watson (New Contrast, Vol. 36 No 2 2008)
‘Strangers’ by Arja Salafranca (New Contrast, Vol. 37 No 4 2009)
‘Venus Crossing’ by Gail Dendy (New Contrast, Vol. 37 No 6 2009)


The award goes to Stephen Watson for ‘Buiten Street’. The judges were impressed by his discursive style and mastery of language and imagery. They noted that the story ‘captures the poignancy of the struggle we all go through to accept and understand the experiences that form us’.

Honourable mention goes to Sandisile Tshuma for ‘Arrested Development’. The judges described it as a ‘beautifully observed story of a journey – both literal and figurative’. They loved its “hustle, hassle, bustle and bluster” and felt that the images and noise came across beautifully.

Judges: Jo-Anne Richards (Convener), Hugh Hodge and Phakama Mbonambi

******************************************************************************


Each award is a cash prize and an illuminated certificate. The Percy FitzPatrick Prize carries a cash value of R7 000 and the Thomas Pringle Award R2 000. The award ceremonies will be organised in due course in collaboration with the publishers.

For more information on English Academy awards, please contact Naomi Nkealah on 011 717 9339 or at englishacademy@societies.wits.ac.za. You can also visit the English Academy web site www.englishacademy.co.za.

SA Pen Studzinski Literary Award

Circulated by SCBWI SA for SA PEN (http://www.sapen.co.za/)
- Any inquiries please e-mail SA PEN at rudebs@icon.co.za -

A call for entries
WRITE ! AFRICA WRITE !
PEN/STUDZINSKI LITERARY AWARD

Detailed rules and conditions for submission are available at http://www.sapen.co.za/, or e-mail SA PEN at rudebs@icon.co.za

Following the success of the HSBC/SA PEN Literary Awards, SA PEN announces a call for entries for the new PEN/STUDZINSKI Literary Award.

Writers from African and SADC countries are invited to submit original, previously unpublished, English-language SHORT STORIES

The best entries will be selected by an editorial board for inclusion in a book to be published next year, under the working title “NEW WRITING FROM AFRICA”

Three prize winners will be selected by
Nobel Laureate J M Coetzee
Prizes, given by John Studzinski, will be awarded:
£5 000, £3 000 and £2 000

Rules for submission of entries:
Entrants must be citizens of an African or SADC* country.
Stories, on any subject, must be in English; length should be 2 500 to 5 000 words.
Entries must be previously unpublished. More than one entry may be submitted.
Entries must be typed, in double spacing, on one side of A4 paper. Pages must be numbered and securely fastened together. Three copies must be submitted.
No name or address should appear on the typescript, but each page must carry the title of the story. The identity of authors will not be revealed to judges.
A covering letter with the name, e-mail & postal address, contact numbers, and photocopy of the ID of the entrant (as proof of citizenship) must be included. Entrants may currently reside outside of Africa.

Submission of entries implies adherence to all rules and conditions of this award, including that of copyright.
Closing date: 30th September 2008
Send your entry to: PEN/STUDZINSKI Literary Award, P O Box 30327, Tokai, 7966, Republic of South Africa. Fax and e-mail entries will not be accepted.

*SADC COUNTRIES
Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe

A website to visit regularly!

BOOKCHAT

An independent, non-profit website that seeks to promote South African children’s literature.

This is achieved by:

• A growing database aimed to include all indigenous children’s books (so far containing details of more than 2 200 books) with search facilities;
• News of local children’s book events;
• Details of South African children’s book awards;
• Lists of recommended books in different age groups and categories;
• “Thoughts by Jay” – a new feature containing a monthly essay by Jay Heale on an aspect of our local youth literature scene. Accessible on http://www.bookchat.co.za/

With kind premission from Jay the “Thoughts by Jay” article was reprinted from Bookchat website

Thoughts on

BOOK AWARDS AND PRIZES

By Jay Heale
Quite rightly, at the AGM of IBBY SA in August, attention was drawn to recent book awards in the field of children’s literature. Wendy Hartmann, Marjorie van Heerden and Johan van Heerden as author, illustrator and translator respectively of Nina and Little Duck had received the MER Prize; S. A. Partridge’s youth novel The Goblet Club was a winner of the “I am a writer!” competition; Piet Grobler had received three out of four of the recently presented (back dated) Katrine Harries Awards for illustration.

It was fitting that these book creators should receive an extra round of applause because there is precious little publicity concerning any of these book prizes. It’s like a pat on the back in the dark. What South Africa needs is recognition for its authors and illustrators.

Yes, we all know that Literacy is essential for our children – and apparently for our adult town councillors as well. But once they – young or old – possess the ability to read, only one thing is going to keep them reading: suitably relevant books created with quality. That means Literature.

There are two highly publicised international prizes for children’s literature. The longest established is the Hans Christian Andersen Award, presented by IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People) biennially to an author and an illustrator for their whole body of work. It is often called “The Little Nobel Prize” and it confers a gold medal but no financial reward. The newer award is the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, administered by the Swedish Arts Council and “may be awarded to authors, illustrators, narrators and/or promoters of reading whose work reflects the spirit of Astrid Lindgren”. The prize is worth about US$ 790,000.

We can be proud that South African authors and illustrators (and even a few book promoters like Biblionef) have been nominated for both these awards. Our work in this field is definitely of sufficient quality. Why haven’t we had a sniff at either of them? I think it’s because something is missing in this country – a national award that says clearly “South African considers that quality children’s literature is important”. Mark you, if cabinet ministers are as good at reading as town councillors, that’s hardly surprising.

UK has the highly publicised Carnegie awards; the USA trumpets aloud the Newbery winners; in Canada there is an annual Governor General’s Prize for the best Canadian children’s book of the year. What interest does the South African government take in the national children’s literature? None.

Joy Cowley is a popular and successful children’s author in New Zealand. Here are a few of the recognitions she has received: Commemoration Medal for services to New Zealand; Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to children’s literature; A W Reed Award for Contribution to New Zealand Literature; Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. There is an author who has been (justly) recognised for her contributions. There is no similar award on offer in South Africa.

Why can’t we have a President’s Book Award or a Minister’s Book Medal or a South African Children’s Book of the Year with money attached? Most of our few book awards are given by publishers. Praise to the new Exclusive Books IBBY SA Award (started last year) which does offer some money and a bit of useful publicity. But such a prize doesn’t do enough to raise the status of children’s literature in South Africa. That’s what I’m after – on behalf of the authors and illustrators (and translators) who work with such skill and dedication for so little recognition.

Is there anyone “up there” reading this?

Jay Heale – September 2008

2008 M-Net/Via Afrika Literary Award Winners and the Katrina Harris awards

• The M.E.R Prize for best illustrated children’s book – Nina and Little Duck
• The M.E.R Prize for best youth novel – The Goblet Club

The M.E.R. Prize was established in 1983 and is awarded annually by M-Net and Via Afrika in two distinct categories. A prize is awarded to the best illustrated children’s book and another to the best youth novel published during the previous year. The only condition is that the books must be aimed at younger readers and that the authors and illustrators must be South African citizens. The award is named after MER (Mimie E. Rothmann 1875-1975), for her groundbreaking work in the field of children’s literature. No distinction is made between English and Afrikaans books.

For more information about the awards, see: http://news.book.co.za/blog/2008/06/15/2008-m-net-and-via-afrika-award-winners/

Nina and Little Duck -
The M.E.R Prize for best illustrated children’s book was awarded to Wendy Hartmann (author) and Marjorie van Heerden (illustrator) for Nina and Little Duck published by Human & Rousseau (SA) in 2007 (also available in Afrikaans as Nina en Eendjie).

Nina, Simon, and Mr and Mrs Rajah, together with their cat and dog, all live on a quaint little street where shops and houses are built right next door to each other. Mr and Mrs Rajah own a shop on this street. Their house is part of the shop. Next to it is an entrance to the garden where they store a few things. It is charming, just the kind of place a duck would love to make a nest. Nina and Simon spend a lot of time playing close to Mr and Mrs Rajah’s house and shop. They often stop for a chat and sometimes go into the garden to play games. Little Duck also spends a lot of time in the street and around the shop. After a long search, she recently moved into the Rajah’s garden to raise her family. And this is where the adventures of Little Duck and her ducklings, Max, Molly and Martin really start. The text is supported by humorous and charming rhymes and illustrations that warm the heart and tickle the tummy.

Nina and Little Duck (English) - ISBN 978-0-7981-4824-5
Nina en Eendjie (Afrikaans) - ISBN 978-0-7981-4825-2
Written by Wendy Hartmann and Illustrated by Marjorie van Heerden
Published by Human & Rousseau Publishers (SA) [Aug 2007]
Format (soft cover): 280mm x 215mm; 64 pages
Readership: Toddlers, Read aloud & New Readers

Copies can be ordered from: http://www.kalahari.net/ or orders@onthedot.co.za

For more information about Wendy, see her websites:
http://www.wendy-hartmann.blogspot.com/
http://www.childlit.org.za/scbwi2006/03/INDEX.HTM

For more information about Marjorie, see her websites:
http://www.grafikon.co.za/
http://marjorie-van-heerden.blogspot.com/
http://marjorie-books.blogspot.com/

The Goblet Club - The M.E.R Prize for best youth novel was awarded to S.A. Partridge for The Goblet Club published by Human & Rousseau (SA) in 2007.

The Goblet Club is a Gothic novel in the tradition of the highly successful Harry Potter series, but with distinctly South African features and set in a mysterious boarding school somewhere on the South African platteland. When Mark is sent to St Matthew's College for Boys, it is one more punishment for years of bad behaviour. The school has a reputation for knocking boys like him into shape, run with an iron fist by the sinister headmaster, Mr Crabtree. As soon as he arrives, Mark enters a sinister world of questions: what is Mr Crabtree's secret, and why does he have a miserable sixteen-year-old secretary? Are his new friends who they say are? Mark sets out to find answers, with his friends, Trent, Vlad and Francis. Together, they are the Goblet Club, dedicated to the study of poisons. They begin to use their potions to rid the school of a plague of rats, but as Mark is drawn deeper in, their thoughts turn to murder…

The Goblet Club - ISBN: 9780798148788
Written by S.A. Partridge
Published by Human & Rousseau Publishers (SA) [Oct 2007]
Format (soft cover): 213mm x 137mm; 144 pages
Copies can be ordered from: http://www.kalahari.net/ or orders@onthedot.co.za;

For more information about Sally-Ann, see her websites:
http://sapartridge.book.co.za/
http://www.nb.co.za/listing/partridge/4573/

*********************************************

Katrina Harris award

Katrina Harris, 1914 -1978

The Katrina Harries Award was for many years the only Children’s book award for illustration in South Africa, but for the last 10 years it has been dormant. It has been resurrected by the efforts of Thomas van der Walt, Unisa's Children's Literature Research Unit (CLRU) http://www.childlit.org.za/clruindex.html) and will again from this year be awarded.

About the award:

The Katrine Harries Award for Children's Book Illustrations honours the work of a South African illustrator for a book published in the preceding two years. The illustrator must be a permanent South African citizen. The prize is named after the well-known South African artist Katrina Harris who won the first two awards in 1974 and 1976. Since 1998 the award has been managed by Unisa's Children's Literature Research Unit (CLRU). The award consists of a gold medal and is awarded biennially. (For more about Katrina Harris – see at the end of this e-mail.)

At a ceremony held at the University of Pretoria on 5 March 2008, the following awards were announced:
The 1999-2001, 2002-2003 and 2004-5 awards went to Piet Grobler for Doctor Me Di Cin / Dokter Me Di syn Human & Rousseau (2001), Toepa-toepa towery Protea (2003), Net een slukkie, padda! / Please Frog, just one sip! Human & Rousseau (2002), Die spree met foete Human & Rousseau (2002), Het Vogeljes ABC Lemniscaat (2005), Makwelane en die krokodil Human & Rousseau (2004) and Mia se ma / Mia's mom Human & Rousseau (2005) respectively.
The 2007 award went to Emily Bornoff for Prinses van die Afrikavlaktes Lapa (2006).

Breakdown

1999-2001

Piet Grobler vir Dokter Me Di Syn. H&R. (2001)

Eervol vermeld:

Jude Daly vir The Star-Bearer. Frances Lincoln. (2001)

Fiona Moodie vir Noko and the Night Monster. Frances Lincoln. (2001)

Niki Daly vir Fly, eagle, fly! Tafelberg. (2000)

Niki Daly, Jamela’s dress. Tafelberg. (1999)

2002-2003

Piet Grobler vir Toepa-toepa towery . Protea. (2003); Net een slukkie, padda!. H&R. (2002) en Die Spree met foete. H&R. (2002)

Eervol vermeld

Niki Daly vir One round moon. Songololo (2003).

2004-2005

Piet Grobler vir Het Vogeltjes ABC. Lemniscaat. (2005); Makwelane en die krokodil. H&R. (2004) & Mia se ma. H&R. (2005)

Eervol vermeld

Natalie Hinrichsen vir Roep die maan (Tell the moon). Tafelberg (2005)

Tamsin Hinrichsen vir We want tails (Ons soek sterte). Tafelberg. (2005)

Vian Oelofsen vir Hou vas, Seekoei H&R. (2005) en My sussie se tande. Lapa. (2004)

Emily Bornhoff vir Maroelaboomstories. Lapa. (2005)

2006-2007

Emily Bornhoff ir Prinses van die Afrikavlaktes. Lapa. (2006)

Eervol vermeld

Piet Grobler vir Sky Blue Accident. Groundwood Books. (2006)

Joan Rankin vir Theo die biblioteekkat; Theo en die sirkus; Theo en die kattekwaad. Lapa. (2007)

Shayle Bester vir The Cool Nguni. Jacana. (2007); Three friends and a taxi. Jacana. (2007)

Flip Hattingh vir My oupa Hoenders. Tafelberg. (2007)

Marna Hattingh vir Leander en Louise (Tiger and Louise). Tafelberg. (2007)

Fiona Moodie vir Fynbos feëtjies. Umuzi (2007)

***********************

Katrina Harris

Katrina was born in Berlin, Germany, in 1914. As a child she loved drawing and she often did illustrations for the stories she read. After school she studied art - the self portrait above was done during this time. Because she was Jewish she and her mother left Germany during the Second World War (1939) and moved to Cape Town and after a couple of years she started to do illustrations for periodicals and books . Her reputation as illustrator and designer was already firmly established when she was appointed to a part time teaching post at the Michealis School of Fine Art. She however continued to do illustration work.

As an illustrator of outstanding talent and sensitivity Katrina Harries made an important contribution to the raising of the standards of book production in South Africa, and par­ticularly of children's books in Afri­kaans. Her charming and often gently humorous drawings earned for her the warm appreciation of the authors with whom she worked. The value of her work as an illustra­tor was recognized by several prizes awarded her by the South African Library Association.

Her work as an independent draughtsman on paper, etching plate or lithographic stone is as importance as her book illustrations. Her drawings and graphic works have from the begin­ning been held in high regard by all true art lovers and earned her a Merit Award of the Cape Tercente­nary Foundation and a Medal of Honour of the Suid-Afrikaanse Aka­demie vir Wetenskap en Kuns. Katrina Harries was a quietly coura­geous, modest, somewhat reserved person, completely honest and highly critical of herself and of her own work. In the Michaelis School of Fine Art she established a depart­ment of graphic art which, under her gentle but firm guidance, developed into one of the strongest and sound­est departments of that School. Quite a few of our established children’s book illustrators were lucky to have been students of her… Paddy Bouma, Joan Rankin and Marjorie van Heerden. Her influence can bee seen in their work.

Nominations wanted for the Katrine Harries Award

Nominations awaited for the Katrine Harries Award for Children's Book Illustrations

The Katrine Harries Award, originally the only and most prestigious award in South Africa for children's book illustrations, but which has been dormant for the past ten years, will again be awarded from this year. Protea Boekhuis has agreed to sponsor the award on a permanent basis. This year the award will be made for books published during 2006-2007.

Since 1999 the Children's Literature Research Unit (CLRU) of Unisa, who is responsible for the Award, has tried without success to secure award sponsors for the books published during this period (1999-2005). Lapa Publishers has now agreed to sponsor one award (2004-2006). The CLRU hopes to find two additional sponsors so that four awards can be made. This promises to be a special occasion, having three or four of South Africa's best illustrators together on the podium.

As was traditionally the case, the Award will be made biennially for children's book illustrations by a South African illustrator. It includes books by South African illustrators resident in South Africa or abroad, irrespective of where their books have been published.

Publishers, illustrators and all interested parties are herewith invited to nominate books with illustrations made by a South African illustrator published in the period:

2006-2007
2004-2005
2002-2003
1999-2001

Please send your nominations asap to:
Thomas van der Walt
CLRU, Dept of Information Science, PO Box 382, 0003 UNISA vdwaltb@unisa.ac.za

The Katrine Harries Award was awarded for the first time in the early 1960's by the SA Library Association, later the South African Institute for Library and Information Science (SAILIS).It has been awarded to some of South Africa's most well-known illustrators: Katrine Harries personally received the award twice before it was named after her. Thereafter Niki Daly, Joan Rankin, Alida Bothma, Cora Coetzee, Jeremy Grimsdell (and others) have received it with Jude Daly finally receiving it in 1997 for Gift of the Sun. With the disbandment of SAILIS, the new library organisation, LIASA, was not interested in continuing with awards. The SAILIS Board requested the Children's Literature Research Unit to find new homes for the SAILIS awards. The CLRU did not succeed in finding a home for the award with the exception of 1997-98 when the magazine, Baba en Kleuter, sponsored the award - Jude Daly won it for The Stone.

The awards, 9-carat gold medals, will be made at a gala-evening in March
2008 during the University of Pretoria Book Festival.

JUNE 2007 - no.2 - The Newsletter of SCBWI SA

The Electronic Newsletter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, South Africa
June 2007 – no. 2

In this issue

EVENTS and ACTIVITIES

• Report back on Talk by Piet Grobler
• SCBWI Stand at the Cape Town Book Fair

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

• What publishers want
• BloggingBlogging for the busy writer/illustrator
• Marjorie’s blogspot

WRITERS’ AND ILLUSTRATORS MARKET AND NEWS

• StAAf 2nd Call for Children’s Stories
• Anansi Books
• 3rd Conference on South African Children’s Literature
  Call for submissions

COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS

• 2008 Hans Christen Anderson Awards
• CP Hoogenhoutoekenning vir Afrikaanse kinderboeke
• Exclusive Books IBBY SA Award for 2007
• IBBY Honor Books
• Maskew Miller Longman Award for Children’s Literature in Limpopo Indigenous Languages

THE BOLOGNA CHILDREN’S BOOK FAIR 2007

EVENTS and ACTIVITIES

Report back on Talk by Piet Grobler
Paddy Bouma
The well known author/illustrator Piet Grobler, recently nominated by IBBY SA for the Hans Christian Andersen Award, gave an interesting and informative talk about his work to the SCBWI at Bellville Gallery on 22 May.
He showed original artwork from some of his recent publications including the delightful “Little Birds’ ABC” and explained his work process and technique. He also showed us the handmade paper he uses, his watercolours and pens – details that are always fascinating to other illustrators!
This was a thoroughly worthwhile and inspiring talk, many thanks to Piet for so generously sharing with us.
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SCBWI Stand at the Cape Town Book Fair
This year SCBWI had its own stand at the Cape Town Book Fair, a joint venture between the Publishers’ Association of South Africa and the Frankfurt Book Fair in association with the Sunday Times. More that 49 000 book lovers attended the Fair as opposed to 26 000 last year. The SCBWI stand, which provided a wonderful opportunity for writers and illustrators to showcase their work, drew a great deal of interest. Stunning posters designed by Marjorie van Heerden, Joan Rankin, Piet Grobler, Samantha van Riet and Paddy Bouma were on sale. If you missed the chance to get copies, email Marjorie without delay. ===================================
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Cape Town
Date: Saturday 18th August 2007
Time: 11:00—17:00
Where: Marjorie’s House – 153 Beach Rd, Gordon’s Bay. Tel: 021 856 0432
Cost: For Non-members R60 per person (includes tea & lunch)
For SCBWI members R30 per person (includes tea & lunch)
RSVP: Bookings@SCBWI.za.org by 1 August at the latest. Please use “Cape Town August Meeting” in the subject line.
Description: Children’s book illustrators and writers – Come and spend a day with Marjorie at her home to talk about children’s Books. We will talk about the CT Book Fair and everyone will have a chance to tell their experiences at the Fair –
Paddy will talk about her recent visit to the Bologna Book Fair (the International Children’s Book Fair in Italy).
Helen King, one of the Commisioning editor of Macmillan Education, from England, is currently in South Africa and we will invite her to come to meet writers and illustrators and tell about their publishing company. Bring your work in progress, portfolio, recent books with you to show.
And if there is time, Marjorie will also talk about blogging & show on her computer how to start your own blog.

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Gauteng
Date: 12 July 2007
Time: 9:00—13:00
Where: Brescia House School, 14 Sloane Street off William Nicol, with parking off Pytcheley Rd, Bryanston.
Cost: For Non-members R80 per person (includes tea & lunch)
For SCBWI members R40 per person (includes tea & lunch)
RSVP: Bookings@SCBWI.za.org by 5 July at the latest. Please use “Illustrators and writers share their books” in the subject line.
Description: Children’s book illustrators and writers share their books.
Programme
9:00 – 9:15 Registration
9:15 – 9:30 Welcome
9:30 – 10:30 Rob Marsh
10:30 – 10:45 Tea
10:45 – 11:30 LeAnne Hardy
11:30 - 12:00 Agueda Nunes
12:00 - 12:15 Discussion
12:15 Lunch
Rob Marsh will take a selection of his published books and show in some detail the process he followed to conceive and create each of them. He will explain his methods and techniques. He will also talk about the publishers he works with, how he first made contact and how his relations with publishers have developed.
LeAnne Hardy will show her books and talk about how she has turned her real life experiences on several continents into fiction.
Agueda Nunes will talk about the importance of believing in yourself as a writer.
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What publishers want …
By Jenny Hatton – Assistant Advisor
The Gauteng region of the SCBWI discussed the topic What publishers want … at its meeting on 8 May at Sandton library. Margaret Houliston, Sandton Librarian, kindly hosted the meeting which was held in the auditorium. Jenny Hatton chaired the meeting which was attended by 34 interested writers, illustrators and other children’s book people.
Children’s book publishers from Gauteng introduced themselves and briefly described the types of books they publish. They outlined some common mistakes made by illustrators and writers when submitting their work and gave some very welcome tips to the participants.
Russell Clark, project editor from Jacana Media, one of South Africa’s fastest-growing independent publishers, focused on the need for books with a South African focus as well as on books for newly-literate readers.
Jacana is proud of the fact that it publishes what it likes. It began as an ecological publisher. Approximately 70% of their books are non-fiction. Jacana often commissions titles and therefore prefers authors and illustrators to submit proposals. They receive many unsolicited manuscripts and very seldom publish any of these.
Picture 1: Rod Marsh & Russell ClarkeRussell outlined some problems that they experience. One of these is writing level. Often writers use language that is too difficult for children or they mix levels. He stressed the challenge of writing for children. He suggested that it may be useful to have a small age bracket as the target group. In addition, he asked that writers and illustrators not adopt a European viewpoint. There is a great demand for non-fiction and Russell said he’d circulate a list of topics on which books are often requested by users of Cape Town libraries. He suggested that in certain circumstances, it could be useful for writers and illustrators to develop books together. Finally, Russell mentioned Jacana’s role with regard to innovative, original, fresh books and used the word “edgy” to describe what they may consider publishing. Some tips he gave included:
Develop a clear concept for your book.
Put together a proposal and submit it.
Keep your target group in mind.
Limit the age bracket for which you’re writing.
Don’t ignore non-fiction.
Keep your language level consistent for the target group.
Do not patronise your audience.
Write from an African perspective.
For more information about Jacana visit www.jacana.co.za.

Miemie du Plessis, head of the children’s book department at LAPA Publishers in Pretoria, is responsible for the publication and marketing of approximately 70 children’s books per year. About half of these are co-editions with mostly UK publishers. Her focus is on Afrikaans books and fiction titles. However, Lapa also publishes English books if they are South African and distinctly local in content, and they do also publish non-fiction titles.
Miemie truly believes that books can make a difference in the lives of children and is therefore committed to the establishment of a reading culture amongst the children of South Africa. Miemie began her talk quoting the distressing statistic that 5 % of South Africans are book buyers! On top of that she feels that reading skills are worsening day by day.
Miemie’s main focus is on the market, namely the children who read Lapa’s books. Therefore, she goes to schools and listens to what children have to say about books. She also pays children to review books and adapts these according to the information she gets back from the target group. Books must be entertaining. Therefore, they must be “fun, fun, fun” !
Miemie indicated that her focus is the text. If she gets a good text, then she can commission illustrations. She prefers to get advice about illustrations, font etc from experts. She gets lots of poor manuscripts and stressed the importance of quality. Lapa sometimes commissions writers to develop stories on particular topics. She addressed the problem of authors not knowing the market. Miemie does not have hard and fast rules about length of text etc. If the story is gripping enough, if it is “fun”, then she is interested. She suggested that authors and illustrators should:
Carry out research into the market.
Read books for the age group.
Identify popular genres and gaps in the market.
Write credible dialogue.
Develop interesting plots and characters.
Take a new approach.
Read your story aloud and listen to how it sounds.
For more information, visit http://www.lapa.co.za

Jonathan Williams, of Pan Macmillan, manages the publishing process for all of Pan Macmillan’s local imprints. This includes books for children and adults, fiction and non-fiction. In the last four months he has been covering for Pan’s children’s publisher Lara Cohen, who is on extended maternity leave.
Jonathan focused on Pan’s three main lists. Giraffe books are illustrated 32-page, high quality books for children between the ages of 4 and 10. They are translated into 13 different languages (South Africa’s 11 official languages as well as Portuguese and Lesotho’s Sesotho) and comprise fiction and non-fiction titles. The list of Giraffe publications is very small. Their other two lists include General books and Takalani Sesame Street books. The last list comprises books that are curriculum based. They must show how they cover the South African curriculum as well as be approved by the American franchise holder. They often commission known authors to write for them.
Jonathan confirmed what the two previous speakers had said regarding the quality of manuscripts. He can tell if a book is worth looking at within about 10 minutes. He stressed the need for writers and illustrators to carry out thorough research. They should remember that publishing is a business. Books which do not meet their needs or which cannot be marketed will not be published. They don’t have the manpower to rework books. He said:
Research the market.
Motivate why a book should be published (include a proposal).
Know what books are on Pan’s lists.
Be a step ahead of the publishers with regard to the market.
Try to work out what the trends are with regard to books on the market.
Keep “issues” in mind.
Keep a South African or African focus.
Bear the rural and urban audiences in mind.
Submit the text and illustrations together.
Think about the space needed for translations (for example, Tshivenda may take up to 2 ½ times the space taken by English text).
Keep writing level consistent.
Bear in mind that reading age and the child’s age may differ.
Learn to promote books.
What was particularly interesting was that each publisher has a slightly different philosophy and focus. Although they may sometimes be in competition, they may also publish together occasionally. All the publishers had both educational and trade publications. All the publishers were concerned about costs and keeping these down.
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Mentorship Programme
As we announced in the March newsletter, the South African chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators decided to institute a mentorship programme this year in the interests of continuing excellence in the creation of children’s literature in South Africa. This is a wonderful opportunity for South African children's book writers and illustrators or potential children’s book writers and illustrators to develop their work by working one-to-one for six months with an experienced, established writer/illustrator.
2007 Winning Applicants
In Gauteng, writer Jenny Hatton will be mentored by Miemie du Plessis and Yvette de Beer will be mentored by Joan Rankin.
In the Western Cape, Samantha van Riet will be mentored by Mariana Brandt and Sandy Mitchell will be mentored by Paddy Bouma.
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Blogging
Blogging for the busy writer/illustrator
Damaria Senne
Last year this time I decided I was finished with blogging. It was an interesting experiment but it was too much work and brought too few returns. So I quit.
Weeks later, a colleague sent me a quick email to say my blog was getting stale. He was looking forward to the next post, he said. I hadn’t promoted the thing (still learning how it works, no time) so I thought my blog was like performing to an empty room. I didn’t realize that over time, fans were filling up the seats.
My colleague was not even the reader I thought would be interested in my folktales and parenting adventures. But there he was, a single White man in his early twenties, newly graduated from varsity; neither a parent, creative writer, school teacher or librarian.
He liked my blog enough to give me a kick in the butt when he thought I was slacking on the job. So I took my chastised self back to the stage and started telling him more stories. I even began to enjoy the experience, once I got into the rhythm of it.
GETTING STARTED
The reason I’m telling this story is to make the point that writers and illustrators who are initially sceptical of blogging can make it work for them too. Also, you can get over the stumbling blocks and get to enjoy the experience. Some of the issues to keep in mind when starting a blog are:
1) Setting up a blog is not as hard as many people fear. Most blogging platforms provide step by step instructions as you register, write and publish your first post. You can explore the site later to learn what else you can do and add interesting features over time
2) Do short posts if you have time limitations. C. Hope Clark, American writer and publisher of Funds for Writers generally has about two paragraphs and a picture in each post.
3) To find something to blog about will require serious thought, so your parameters are clear. What are you willing to talk about regarding your life? What would get you into trouble with your employer/ publisher/ family/ friends? Keep in mind that whatever you write will be for public consumption, and thanks to Google cache, your posts will remain on the Internet even if you delete your blog.
4) Pace yourself and post once a week or so. Burnout is common among bloggers.
STORY IDEAS
· Post a picture/doodle a week.
· Post a poem, a short short children’s story every other week.
· Interview experts your readers would be interested in talking to. All you have to do is type up 5 burning questions and email them, clean up the copy and post it.
· Link to interesting articles/resources you found on the web. (www.ezinearticles.com).
· Find free articles on your subject, ready to be published at Ezine Articles (www.ezinearticles.com
PROMOTING YOUR BLOG
1) Judge your blog traffic by the quality of your visitors (strong interest in subject), not the quantity.
2) Most blogging gurus suggest bloggers on same subject visit each other’s blogs and leave a comment. Do it judiciously and don’t waste your time cultivating people who won’t reciprocate.
3) Experts also advise bloggers to provide visitors with unique, practical resources they can use.
4) Writing about other people is an effective way to build community. It allows the people who you interview to bring their own community to your blog.
5) Publish short essays/articles to drive traffic to your blog. We’re not talking about complicated stuff here. Just a short piece – sometimes as short as 250 words - based on work/writing or life experiences and resources. Ezine Articles and similar portals accept such articles and serve as distribution points.
6) Invite friends and relatives to visit your blog. My personal choice was not to invite them at the beginning. I wanted to put my best foot forward, because they are the people who will potentially market the blog for me. If they like it, they’ll brag to colleagues and friends: “check out my cousin Damaria’s blog here. She’s very talented, don’t you think?”
7) Link your blog to aggregators, so people outside your network can see your posts. Local aggregators include Afrigator.co.za and Amatomu.co.za. Also check out Jacketflap.com. It has over a thousand writers, illustrators, agents, publishers and librarians.
THE BENEFITS
Here are some lessons I learnt after blogging for 18 months:
1) A blog is an online place for you to showcase your work. You can refer editors to your online portfolio/clips.
2) You can allow readers to subscribe, which in turn allows you to build a captive audience you’ll market your books to.
3) There is also a growing international trend for bloggers to collate some of their posts into non-fiction books. A good local example is Tertia Albertyn, the Cape Town based woman who started blogging about her infertility and in vitro fertilisation procedures. Her book, So Close, published by Oshun Books, was based on the blog.
4) It provides a platform for new writers to practise writing and to get feedback on their work.
5) You meet very interesting people.
RESOURCES
The many reasons people blog
http://quasifictionalviews.blogspot.com/2007/06/fine-art-of-blogging_14.html
Sample blogs in the children’s publishing field
www.jacketflap.com
Choose a platform
Platforms I’m familiar with are Blogger (www.blogger.com), Wordpress (www.wordpress.com ) and My Digital Life (www.mydigitallife.co.za; local, owned by my employer.)
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Damaria Senne is a journalist and author based in Johannesburg. She blogs about writing and parenting at http://damariasenne.blogspot.com. Read her business/technology articles on the telecommunications industry (Internet and cellphones) at www.itweb.co.za.

MARJORIE VAN HEERDEN'S BLOGS
Marjorie is another enthusiastic blogger
“I have recently become very interested in blogging and looked at quite a few children's book writers and illustrators’ blogs. I found that I tend to go back regularly to some to check up on what new info they had posted and that made me realise what a wonderful way to let people know what you working on – it is a wonderful self promotional tool and very easy to put up and to maintain - blog creation and maintaining instructions are very user friendly.
I have had reactions to my blog (http://www.marjorie-van-heerden.blogspot.com) from Taiwan, Brazil, Canada, USA, Spain, Holland and of course South Africa & even a job commission from USA. Please go and have a look at my blog and think strongly about beginning your own blog.
I would also like to circulate a list of Children's Book writers and illustrators’ web site addresses & their blogs on the SCBWI mailing list so please send me your addresses with a VERY SHORT bio.(about 60 words - NO MORE) - your name, writer or illustrator, what type of books- for what age you write/illus.
Marjorie van Heerden
Co-Regional Advisor of the SCBWI SA
Send your info to Bookings@SCBWI.za.org . Please use “Blogs and websites” in the subject line.

For another blogspot, see http://www.SCBWIGauteng.blogspot.com
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WRITERS’ AND ILLUSTRATORS MARKET AND NEWS
StAAf 2nd Call for Children’s Stories
Stories Across Africa (StAAf) a core project of the African Academy of Languages, the official language agency of the AU, is a pan African project intending to:
develop and support the use of African languages in print;
support mother tongue based bilingual education in Africa;
stimulate and support the African publishing industry and African literary and visual artists to create and foster the use of children’s literature;
begin to create a common store of written children’s literature for African children;
support possibilities for reading for enjoyment as part of literacy learning and development.
In collaboration with a local publisher from each of Southern, West, Central, East and North Africa, StAAf is publishing three anthologies of writing for children:
Early Childhood (0-8),
Middle Childhood (9-12) and
Teenagers (13+)
We invite you to submit stories and poems in any African language (with a summary or translation in English, French or Portuguese) or any of the AU official languages. Please follow the following guide (suggested maximum words per submission) with respect to length:
ECD: 800 words
Middle: 1200 words
Teen: 2000 words
The selection process will be made by the StAAf steering committee and their decision will be final. Authors of submissions which are selected for inclusion in one of the anthologies will be paid a permission fee for the use of their writing. Authors of manuscripts selected for publication will be informed before the end of October 2007.
Selected stories and poems will:
arise from and give an African point of view;
have definite literary merit;
reflect diversity in terms of gender, ethnicity etc;
challenge discrimination;
include humour and avoid being didactic and preachy;
include not only ‘problem literature’ but fantasy and experimental, non-linear texts too.
Selection issues to be considered include:
Style: How is the story or poem written? Are the ideas easily understandable? Is it readable for the target age group?
Translation: Will it be possible to adapt this poem or story into a variety of languages used on the African continent?
Theme: Is the theme relevant for the age group? Will it have continent-wide appeal? Is the theme interesting? Does it portray positive roles for the readers? Is it gender sensitive?
Attractiveness: Is the story or poem appealing to the target audience? If there is humour, is its appeal continent-wide? Does the language attract the reader?
Clarity: Is the rhythm, diction and syntax clear and appealing? Does the language contribute to transmitting the message and attracting/ entertaining the audience? Is the use of language original and lively?
Submission Details
Submission deadline: 30 July 2007
Please submit stories and poems by post or email.
If the story has already been published, please submit a copy of the title and imprint pages.
Please make and keep a copy of any story you submit for yourself. StAAf will not return stories to the sender.
No story will be accepted unless it is accompanied by a completed submission form.
Please submit entries to: Carole Bloch, StAAf Central Co-ordinator, Room 14, Arts Block, PRAESA, UCT, Private Bag Rondebosch 7700, Cape Town, South Africa, Email: carole.bloch@uct.ac.za, Tel: 0027 21 6503589 Fax: 0027 21 6503027
StAAf 2nd Call for Children’s Stories
SUBMISSION FORM Please complete a new form for each submission – e-mail carole.bloch@uct.ac.za for form

Anansi Books
It is with pride and a sense of excitement that we announce that our new website is active. Yes, Anansi has arrived in cyberspace. Visit us on the information super highway at www.anansibooks.co.za
As you already know, we specialize in picture books for Grade R to Grade 3 learners as well as storybooks for the older learners who have become more independent readers. Our titles are published in six languages namely isiZulu, isiXhosa, Afrikaans, English, SeTswana and SeSotho.
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3rd Conference on South African Children’s Literature
Invitation to attend and participate in the 3rd Conference on South African Children's Literature 17-20 September, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus
As was the case with the preceding conferences, this conference is for all who are currently involved or who wish to become involved in the production (e.g. oral storytellers, writers, illustrators, translators, publishers), marketing and distribution (e.g. publishers, agents, book suppliers), mediation (e.g. educators/facilitators, parents, librarians, and the media - newspapers, radios, television) and reception of children’s literature (by toddlers, children and teenagers as listeners to, or readers of children’s stories, poetry, stage productions and films).
A special feature of the conference is the addition of a number of writing/authoring/hands-on sessions with the theme “Writing (on) South African Children’s Literature” - practical sessions on the writing of scholarly articles, as well as sessions on writing children’s stories and poems. These sessions will be presented by renowned writers in the field of children’s literature: Prof Maria Nikolajeva (Stockholm, Sweden), author of several academic articles and books as well as fiction, Prof Elwyn Jenkins, author of several articles and books on children’s literature, Prof Osa Osayimwense, editor of the journal African Children’s and Youth Literature (JACYL), and Prof Hans du Plessis, Director of the ATKV School for Creative Writing in Potchefstroom.
READ MORE: http://www.puk.ac.za/fakulteite/lettere/klw/index.html
Enquiries to: Betsie van der Westhuizen - Phone: 018 2991491 E-mail: Betsie.VanDerWesthuizen@nwu.ac.za
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Call for submissions
Call for submissions of articles for a special issue of The Lion and the Unicorn (April 2008): Children’s Literature in South Africa
South Africa is a multilingual and multicultural society in which its people are increasingly taking pride in the development of their own languages and cultural inheritance. Children’s literature, and those involved with it, play an important role in creating positive changes in society. By sharing problems, challenges, solutions and successes with each other over a number of years now, a healthy discourse between role players working in the field is starting to develop, which holds the promise of many co-operative possibilities which could potentially yield a wealth of literary dividends. These endeavours are also supported by government policy.
Submissions are being solicited for a special issue on Children’s Literature in South Africa, to be published in The Lion and the Unicorn in April 2008. Possible topics include issues related to: the production (e.g. oral storytellers, writers, illustrators, translators, publishers), marketing and distribution (e.g. publishers, agents, book suppliers), mediation (e.g. teachers/facilitators, parents, librarians, and the media - newspapers, radio, television) and reception (by oddlers, children and teenagers as listeners to, or readers of, stories, poetry, stage productions and film).
All topics regarding South African children’s literature are welcome, including:
Production of children’s literature: topics and themes in children’s literature, oral storytelling, the writing of stories, poems, drama/stage, publishing.
Viewpoints with regard to the “needs” of the “market”, “going with the global flow” and/or/but seeing writing is an act of resistance against globalization.
Illustrations in children’s books.
The fusion of different genres and styles in writing and illustrating children’s books.
The influence of the literary content, style and other aspects of the systems of children’s literature of different parts of the world on South African children’s literature.
Marketing and distribution: agents, bookshop industry.
Mediation: reading stories and poems to children, children’s theatre, facilitating literature for toddlers, children and adolescents in all phases of school life, bibliotherapy, narrative therapy
Reception: needs and reading patterns of South African toddlers, children and adolescents, readers’ response patterns.
DEAR - Drop Everything and Read, Drop All And Read.
Humour in children’s literature.
Liminal spaces in South African children’s literature, e.g. the exchange of racial, cultural, linguistic and other cultural forms between and across the borders of different languages.
The history/histories of children’s literatures of the different and related South African languages and cultures - aspects of the bridging of difficult times and the development of children’s literature within the broad liminal spaces where many South African languages meet.
Comparative studies that read South African children’s literatures in an international context.
Commonalities and diversities between the language identities of the language groups in the broad South African language landscape, e.g. the commonalities and diversities between children’s literature in Nguni-languages and children’s literature in Sotho-languages.
Commonalities and diversities between South Africa as multilingual country and other multilingual countries.
The advancement of literature for toddlers, children and teenagers in all South African languages.
Deadline: 30 July 2007
Please send enquiries or complete manuscripts, using MLA style, double-spaced, between twenty-five and thirty pages in length (4000-5000 words), to preferably the following email address: Betsie.VanDerWesthuizen@nwu.ac.za or to the following address:
Prof Betsie van der Westhuizen
Vakgroep Afrikaans en Nederlands/ Subject Group Afrikaans and Dutch Skool vir Tale/ School of Languages Fakulteit Lettere en Wysbegeerte/ Faculty of Arts Potchefstroomkampus/ Potchefstroom Campus Noordwes-Universiteit/ North-West University Privaatsak X6001/ Private Bag X6001 Potchefstroom 2520 Suid-Afrika / South Africa, Tel.: +27 18 2991491 or: 018 2991491; Faks/ Fax: +27 18 2991562 or: 018 2991562 E-pos/ Email: Betsie.VanDerWesthuizen@nwu.ac.za
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COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS
2008 Hans Christen Anderson Awards
IBBY National Sections from 35 countries have made their selections, submitting 30 authors and 30 illustrators as candidates for the 2008 Hans Christian Andersen Awards. In the following months the works of each candidate will be studied and discussed in depth by the Jury of ten experts around the world, led by Jury President Zohreh Ghaeni.
The nominees for the 2008 Awards include: Jackie French and Shaun Tan (Australia), Anne Provoost and Kitty Crowther (Belgium), Brian Doyle and Pierre Pratt (Canada), Qin Wenjun (China), Iva Procházková and Adolf Born (Czech Republic), Marie Desplechin and Claude Ponti (France), Mino Milani and Roberto Innocenti (Italy), Shuntaro Tanikawa and Akiko Hayashi (Japan), Beverley Naidoo and Piet Grobler (South Africa), David Almond and Jan Pienkowski (UK), Lloyd Alexander and David Wiesner (USA).
In 2006, the Andersen Awards went to author Margaret Mahy (New Zealand) and illustrator Wolf Erlbruch (Germany). In 2004 it went to author Martin Waddell (Ireland) and illustrator Max Velthuijs (Netherlands).
All 2008 nominees <<http://tinyurl.com/2sypqw>>
IBBY website <<http://www.ibby.org

CP Hoogenhoutoekenning vir Afrikaanse kinderboeke
Dit is vir Unisa se Eenheid vir Navorsing in Kinderliteratuur aangenaam om bekend te maak dat Protea Boekhuis ingestem het om weer die CP Hoogenhoutoekenning vir Afrikaanse kinderboeke te borg. Die toekenning word tweejaarliks gemaak aan oorspronklike Afrikaanse kinderboeke geskik vir kinders van sewe tot twaalf jaar. Die vorige wenner was Leon de Villiers vir Droomoog, Diepgrawer. Soos dit tradisioneel sedert 1960 die geval is, sal die toekenning weer 'n 9karaat goue medalje wees. Dit sal in September tydens die Aardlop Kunstefees aan die wenner oorhandig word. Aangesien die prys nie verlede jaar toegeken kon word nie, sal vanjaar se toekenning gemaak word vir boeke wat in 2004 en 2005 gepubliseer is. Uitgewers word uitgenooi om die titels van boeke wat in aanmerking kom vir die toekenning aan Thomas van der Walt by ENIK te stuur. 'n Paneel bestaande uit 'n kinderbibliotekaris, onderwyser, ouer, kinderboekskrywer en akademikus sal verantwoordelik wees vir die beoordeling. Thomas van der WaltENIK, Unisavdwaltb@unisa.ac.zaFaks: (012) 4293972Prof T.B. van der Walt Children's Literature Research Unit Department of Information Science University of South Africa PO Box 392, 0003 PretoriaTel: +27 12 4296520, Fax: +27 12 4293400 Exclusive Books IBBY SA Award for 2007
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Exclusive Books is delighted to announce its sponsorship of a new award, in association with IBBY S.A., for the best original children's picture book or illustrated children's story book published in South Africa.
For the EXCLUSIVE BOOKS IBBY SA AWARD for 2007, we invite submissions of books published between 1 January 2006 and 30 June 2007. For a copy of the rules and conditions please e-mail me at pennyh@exclusivebooks.co.za or Robin Malan at robinmal@iafrica.com. Please send your submissions (two copies of each title) to me at Exclusive Books Head Office by 30 June 2007.
We do hope this new Award will encourage the publication of wonderful new South African children's books, as it rewards our talented authors and illustrators. - Penny Hochfeld, Exclusive Books Head Office
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IBBY Honor Books
Publishers are invited to submit titles of books to be considered to represent the South African book production as Honor books for 2008. The nominations must reach IBBY by 15 September 2007.
Categories:
Books are eligible which have been published no earlier than three years before nomination.
Countries with a book production in several languages can propose up to three writers or translators.
One title for illustration only. So:
One to three books to be named for writing.
One to three books to be named for translation.
One book to be named for illustration.
After we receive your nominations, a panel of judges will decide which books will be nominated. At that stage the publishers involved will be contacted to complete the nomination forms and pay the fee of CHF 75.00 for each nominated title. If copies are needed for reviewing, we will let you know.
Contact me if you have any questions.
Best wishes, Lona Gericke for ( IBBY SA - Awards), ; Designation: Librarian(Children's Services): Bellville Library, Branch: Library & Information Services, City of Cape Town, Tel: +27 21 918-2281, Fax: + 27 21 948-9313, E-mail: Bellville.library@capetown.gov.za, Website: www.capetown.gov.za, Lona.Gericke@capetown.gov.za
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Maskew Miller Longman Award for Children’s Literature in Limpopo Indigenous Languages
The purpose of this competition is to encourage the creation of children's literature in Limpopo indigenous languages, especially in Sepedi, Xitsonga, Tshivenda and IsiNdebele.
Requirements:
The story must be suitable for Foundation Phase (4-9 years).
The entries must be previously unpublished and original.
The text must be suitable for a picture book- no illustrations necessary but suggested artwork briefs can be added.
Easy readers with simple text.
Stories should be in the following languages: Sepedi, Tshivenda, Xitsonga and IsiNdebele.
Length: around 600 words.
Manuscripts must be typed in double spacing and submitted in duplicate hard copies.
Prizes:
Maskew Miller Longman will award R500 for the best entry in Sepedi, Xitsonga, Tshivenda and IsiNdebele.
Maskew Miller Longman will publish the winning entries if they meet their publishing requirements. Non-winning entries may also qualify for publication.
Maskew Miller Longman has the right to rework the story according to their requirements.
Evaluation will be done by a panel of experts and the suitability for publication for the specified target market (Foundation Phase) will be the norm. The judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Closing date: Friday, 27 July 2007
No restrictions on the number of entries. An official entry form must accompany every manuscript. All details should be neatly filled in.
All entries should be submitted to:
Physical Address: Magriet Lotz or Emma Lehonye, Polokwane City Library, Cnr Hans van Rensburg and Jorissen Streets, Polokwane.
Postal address: Ms. M Lotz, Polokwane City Library, P.O. Box 111, Polokwane 0700
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THE BOLOGNA CHILDREN’S BOOK FAIR 2007
Paddy Bouma
What an experience! This annual Fair is huge – probably four times the size of the recent Cape Town Book Fair. It is not open to the public, just to professionals in the trade, principally publishers, agents, translators, writers and illustrators.
The first thing one sees on entering is the very inviting-looking Illustrator’s Café (which has nothing to do with food!) It houses an attractive auditorium area, an Illustrators’ Exhibition for which copies of the magnificently produced exhibition catalogue are on sale and the prize-winning books are beautifully displayed. To one side is an area where illustrators are allowed to pin up their business cards and publicity material.
There are 4 international halls, the first two housing English-language books from Great Britain, the USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, India and Hong Kong. There is also a Literary Agents’ Centre and one for TV/film licensing rights.
The other two halls house publishers from a wealth of countries, including Rwanda, Croatia, the Ukraine and Iran. China has a large presence. The guest of honour this year was Wallonia- Brussels with a beautifully designed stand featuring such favourites as Tintin. Also present here are IBBY and the International Youth Library, on whose exhibition of their choice of the most notable books of the year I was fortunate enough to be represented.
Many publishers offer the opportunity for illustrators to show their portfolios. It is a good idea to contact publishers about 2-3 months before the fair to arrange an interview, particularly for author-illustrators who would like to show a dummy book. Otherwise go around, preferably on the first day, and make as many appointments as possible. Some publishers have set times at which illustrators may come by, and then it is a case of joining the queue! Or else, if you notice that an art editor has just finished with another illustrator, and from the look of the stand you think your work may fit in, present yourself with a smile… On the whole, it’s amazing how friendly and helpful the editors are, considering the vast numbers they deal with.
The fair is located a little outside the city centre and is easily accessible by a local bus. Bologna is a beautiful old city and to stay close to the Piazza Maggiore is a good option – it’s pleasant to walk around town in the evening, enjoy a glass of wine in the piazza and an excellent meal at one of the many restaurants.
If you plan to go to Bologna, check the website first – illustrators are offered a reduced entry fee of 10 Euros a day if one registers online. The fair runs over four days and one needs to spend at least three there to take in as much as possible. Also find out what illustrator events are offered. Some are really special. This time there was an interview with Wolf Erlbruch, who was the featured artist and did the poster and cover for the exhibition catalogue.
This Fair, the world’s biggest dealing with children’s books, gives one an excellent overview of what is happening in publishing worldwide. But it’s not for the faint-hearted!