This award was established in memory of the significant and unique contribution made by Mary Vaughan Jones to the field of children’s literature in Wales. It is presented once every three years by the Books Council of Wales to a person who has made a valuable contribution to the field of children’s literature in Wales over many years.
The award was presented in 2024 to Bethan Gwanas Over her career as an author, Bethan Gwanas has published 51 books for children, young people and adults – for both fluent Welsh speakers and learners. She has made a wide and valuable contribution to children’s and young people’s literature, and her stories often feature strong and determined female characters, such as Efa in the series Y Melanai.
She has won the Tir na n-Og Award twice – with Llinyn Trôns in 2001 and Sgôr in 2003. Many of her books for children and young people are now considered classics such as Llinyn Trôns, Ceri Grafu and the Cadi series for younger readers.
ABOUT MARY VAUGHAN JONES (1918 - 1983)
Mary Vaughan Jones (1918-1983) was one of Wales’ leading authors of children’s literature. She was an inspirational teacher, and her work as a college lecturer proved invaluable to Welsh-medium education, but her most valuable contribution, however, was probably her rich and consistent contribution to the field of children’s literature in Wales over a period of nearly thirty years, despite a painful battle against progressive disease.
She wrote nearly forty books for children, some of her most well-known belong to a learning-to-read series featuring Sali Mali, Jac y Jwc and Jini – characters which generations of children have grown up and learnt to read Welsh with.
Those eligible to be considered for the award
The Mary Vaughan Jones Award is the highest Welsh accolade in the field of Children’s Books and was established in 1985 to commemorate Mary Vaughan Jones’ significant and unique contribution to children’s literature in Wales.
It is awarded every three years and anyone who has made an outstanding contribution to children’s books in Wales over a period of years can be considered for the award, whether as an author, artist, bookseller, librarian or in another capacity.
WINNERS
1985 – Ifor Owen
1988 – Emily Huws
1991 – T. Llew Jones
1994 – W. J. Jones
1997 – Roger Boore
2000 – J. Selwyn Lloyd
2003 – Elfyn Pritchard
2006 – Mair Wynn Hughes
2009 – Angharad Tomos
2012 – Jac Jones
2015 – Siân Lewis
2018 – Gareth F. Williams
2021 – Menna Lloyd Williams
2024 – Bethan Gwanas
