Percy FitzPatrick Award

ぱーしー・ふぃっつぱとりっくしょう

A literary award given to children's books written in English in South Africa. Established in 1970.

Children's literatureSouth African literary awardsChildren's literary awards

Established: 1970
Organizer: English Academy of Southern Africa (formerly South African Library Association / SAILIS)
Category: Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Selection Method: Open call
Target: Open
Frequency: Once a year
Announcement Period: around May–August
Status: Active

Description

The Percy FitzPatrick Award was established in South Africa in 1970 to commemorate Sir Percy Fitzpatrick and is awarded to children's books written in English. Initially, only books written and published in South Africa were eligible, but in 1977 the criteria were expanded to include works by South African authors or works with a South African perspective. In 1980, SALA was reorganized into SAILIS, and the Committee for Children's Books took charge of the selection, but the committee disbanded in 1998, and since then the English Academy of South Africa has been managing the award. Kagiso Lesego Molope is said to have become the first Black winner in 2014.

Prize

Main Prize: Top award given to English children's books in South Africa (Percy FitzPatrick Award)

Selection

Selection Process

Stage	Judges	Pass Rate	Announcement
From establishment to 1998 (SALA / SAILIS)	Committee for Children's Books of the South African Library Association (SALA) handled the selection	—	Official announcement by the organizing body
From 1998 onwards (English Academy of South Africa)	Selection committee of the English Academy of South Africa	—	Official announcement by the English Academy of South Africa

From establishment to 1998 (SALA / SAILIS)

Judges Committee for Children's Books of the South African Library Association (SALA) handled the selection

Announcement Official announcement by the organizing body

From 1998 onwards (English Academy of South Africa)

Judges Selection committee of the English Academy of South Africa

Announcement Official announcement by the English Academy of South Africa

Criteria

Must be a children's book written in English
Must be a work written in South Africa or possessing a South African perspective (expanded criteria since 1977)
Superior literary quality and expression (general selection criteria)