- 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 - 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/
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Katrina Harris award
Katrina Harris, 1914 -1978 The Katrina Harries Award was for many years the only Children’s book award for illustration in
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
The 1999-2001, 2002-2003 and 2004-5 awards went to
The 2007 award went to Emily Bornoff for Prinses van die Afrikavlaktes Lapa (2006).
Breakdown
1999-2001
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
Eervol vermeld
Niki Daly vir One round moon. Songololo (2003).
2004-2005
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
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)
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Katrina Harris
Katrina was born in
As an illustrator of outstanding talent and sensitivity Katrina Harries made an important contribution to the raising of the standards of book production in
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.
