MARY VAUGHAN JONES
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.
About the Mary Vaughan Jones 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
