The Feng Zikai Chinese Children's Picture Book Award (trad. Chin.: 豐子愷兒童圖畫書獎) 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. 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 $10,000. In addition, the "Outstanding Children's Picture Book Award" will be given to 10 authors who will each win $1,000.

Prize winners

The 8th Awards, 2023

Source: Best Chinese Children's Picture Book Award – winner Outstanding Chinese Children's Picture Book Award

The 7th Awards, 2021

Source: Best Chinese Children's Picture Book Award – winner Outstanding Chinese Children's Picture Book Award === The 6th Awards, 2019 === Judges: Sarah Ko, Fang Weiping, Sandra Lee, Hsu Su-hsia, Meilo So, Chen En Li, Ji Zhao Hua Best Chinese Children's Picture Book Award – winner Outstanding Chinese Children's Picture Book Award

The 5th Awards, 2017

Best Chinese Children's Picture Book Award – winner Outstanding Chinese Children's Picture Book Award === The 4th Awards, 2015 === Best Chinese Children's Picture Book Award – winner Outstanding Chinese Children's Picture Book Award === The 3rd Awards, 2013 === Best Chinese Children's Picture Book Award – winner Outstanding Chinese Children's Picture Book Award === The 2nd Awards, 2011 === Judging Panel’s Recommended Award === The 1st Awards, 2009 === Best Chinese Children’s Picture Book Award This inaugural winner was translated into English and published by Candlewick (US) and Walker Books (UK). In 2011 it was selected as one of the New York Times Book Review’s 10 Best Illustrated Books of the Year. Judging Panel’s Recommended Writing Award Outstanding Children’s Picture Book Award