2008 WINNERS OF THE BAOBAB PRIZE

Winner Best Work of Fiction for readers aged 8 - 11 years

Lauri Kubuitsile, Lorato and her Wire Car

Wire cars are a common toy made by children in Botswana. They are made from various bits of recycled rubbish such as drink cans and fencing wire. Lorato’s wire car is special. She has added windows made from plastic drink bottles and fake leather seats made from an old handbag. She spends all of her spare time looking for things to add to her car. She likes the way the other children watch her when she drives her wire car down the paths of the village; she maybe likes it a bit too much. When the troublesome Motshereganye adds real working lights to his car, no one wants to look at Lorato and her wire car anymore. She throws her wire car away in frustration until her enemy shows her that it’s about more than fake leather seats and working lights. 

Winner Best Work of Fiction for readers aged 12 - 15 years

Ivor W. Hartmann, Mr. Goop