The Feng Zikai Chinese Children's Picture Book Award is a biannual award aimed at promoting original, quality Chinese children's books and recognising the efforts of authors, illustrators and publishers. The Award is named after one of China's best-known illustrators, Feng Zikai (1898-1975). It is the first international Chinese children's picture book award.
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The Award is sponsored by the Chen Yet-Sen Family Foundation, a Hong Kong-based charitable institution, which supports childhood literacy projects. The first awards were made in July 2009 and, thereafter, every other year.
The Award is comparable to the Caldecott Medal, which honours the most distinguished American picture book for children published in the United States each year.
Background
The best children's picture books in the Chinese-speaking world are often translated from foreign languages. As a result, they may not always be relevant to the experiences of Chinese children. The Feng Zikai Award is aimed at addressing the current inadequacy of high quality, original Chinese picture books.
The Award recognises the achievements of writers and illustrators of Chinese children's picture books. By doing so, it hopes to encourage the production and distribution of high quality children's picture books.
Recognising the importance of reading in a child's development, the Feng Zikai Award also aims to promote reading and to help develop a reading culture amongst children in the Chinese-speaking world.
Prizes
The main prize will go to the winner of the "Best Children's Book Award", who will be awarded a cash prize of US$20,000. The organiser will also purchase 3,000 copies of the winning book, which will be distributed amongst schools.
The "Judging Panel's Recommended Illustration Award" and the "Judging Panel's Recommended Writing Award" winners will each receive a cash prize of US$10,000.
In addition, the "Outstanding Children's Picture Book Award" will be given to 10 authors who will each win US$1,000.
Prize winners
The 4th Awards, 2015
The 3rd Awards, 2013
The 2nd Awards, 2011
The 1st Awards, 2009