Fiona
Moodie’s Noko and the Kool Kats
(Tafelberg) has been announced as the winner of the 5th Exclusive Books IBBY SA
award - for the best picture book of the
past two years (2013 and 2014). In
the words of the jury, “It’s a witty and engaging tale, seamlessly accompanied
by illustrations that are deceptively simple, their spontaneity underpinned by
a keen eye and fine sensibility. The likeable and down-to earth character of
Noko the porcupine is hilariously offset by the spoilt and egotistical Kool
Kats. The generous scale of the book contributes a great deal to its
appeal. This is a notable contribution
to picture books that celebrate our home in Africa.”
The two
runners-up are also wonderful examples of high quality South African children’s
literature:
- Wendy Hartmann and Joan Rankin’s Sisi goes to school and other stories (H&R 2013) is described by the jury as “ a delightful compilation of story and rhyme, filled with warmth, love and friendship. Joan Rankin’s watercolour illustrations are astonishingly beautiful and create the right atmosphere of gentleness and charm.”
- According to the jury, in Dianne Hofmeyr and Piet Grobler’s The name of the tree is Bojabi (H&R, 2013), “Piet Grobler creates in his illustrations a humorous but real world inhabited by the animals of Africa. The story has a repetitive element which makes it wonderfully suitable for storytelling, and children will enjoy the playful names and rhymes.”
Warm
congratulations and thanks to the books' publishing teams. They are
books to be proud of.
IBBY South Africa is grateful to Exclusive Books for
generously partnering us in this award - and for hosting
yesterday's celebratory brunch.
Genevieve
Hart - IBBY SA Chairperson
No comments:
Post a Comment