The Otto Foundation is calling on children’s authors to enter its inaugural Otto Foundation Children’s Book Award competition.
The organisation, with an office in District Six, helps under-resourced schools to set up libraries and run reading programmes.
Entries for the competition opened on Friday May 17 and will run until Wednesday July 31.
According to Otto Foundation CEO Dr Frouwien Bosman, there are two categories: one for a picture book aimed at children aged 5 to 9, and one for a chapter book or graphic novel aimed at children aged 10 to 13.
The winners will each receive R25 000, and the winning titles will be promoted by the foundation.
Participating authors must have had their book published within the last 18 months or it should be available in print by the end of July. Local self-published books will also be welcomed.
Entries for the book awards can be sent to bookaward@ottofoundation.org
Otto Foundation chairperson Zephne Ladbrook said young readers could participate in selecting the winners. That would happen, she said, when shortlisted titles were included in the Otto Foundation’s annual Reading Relay to take place in October and November at six schools in the District Six area.
Book reviews submitted by participating pupils would be considered in the final selection of the award winners.
Ms Ladbrook said the judges would consider a range of factors including authentic representation of South African culture and traditions, creativity and the originality of the storytelling, relevance to the target audience and diversity and inclusivity.
The winners will be announced at the beginning of next year.
Go to ottofoundation.org/book-award for details about the entry requirements or email Nonikiwe Mashologu at nonikiwe@ottofoundation.org for more information.
