25 jaar van die wonderwêreld van Jaco Jacobs

Pan Macmillan vier vanjaar ’n monumentale mylpaal in die Suid-Afrikaanse kinderboekbedryf met die 25ste herdenking van die publikasie van Jaco Jacobs se eerste boek. Sedert sy eerste boek in 2001 verskyn het, het Jaco Jacobs ’n huishoudelike naam en ’n Afrikaanse kulturele ikoon geword. Die afgelope 25 jaar gryp hy die verbeelding van miljoene jong lesers die land oor – en oorsee – aan.

Ter ere van hierdie kwarteeu van stories, is Pan Macmillan trots om die publikasie van sy 300ste boek in Mei 2026 aan te kondig. ‘n Jaar lange veldtog skop hierdie maand af met die tema:

Die wonderwêreld van Jaco Jacobs – 25 jaar van storieplesier

’n Produktiewe baanbreker

Jaco Jacobs, ’n boorling van die Karoodorpie Carnarvon en deesdae ’n trotse Bloemfonteiner, het in sy loopbaan die definisie van ’n produktiewe skrywer op sy kop gekeer. Terwyl sommige Suid-Afrikaanse skrywers tussen 20 en 30 boeke in hul leeftyd publiseer, het Jaco oor ’n tydperk van 25 jaar ’n gemiddeld van 12 boeke per jaar gelewer. Dit wissel van prenteboeke vir kleuters tot fiksie vir tieners, feiteboeke, speletjiesboeke, bundels met kinderverse en topverkoperreekse. Almal is goed ontvang.

In die breër konteks van die Afrikaanse letterkunde is sy uitsette ongekend. Wat  gewildheid en verkope betref, staan hy tans langs die misdaadfiksiekoning Deon Meyer as ’n baken in die Afrikaanse boekbedryf. Sy 300 boeke plaas hom egter in ’n kategorie van sy eie.

Pan Macmillan is sedert 2020 die trotse uitgewer van Jaco se werk. Gedurende hierdie vennootskap het sy skryfwerk van krag tot krag gegaan en nuwe hoogtes bereik. Sy status as kampvegter vir kinderboeke en lees-vir-die-lekker, staan vas.

Die 25ste herdenking sal deur die loop van die jaar met verskeie geleenthede gevier word. Ons rig graag ’n spesiale uitnodiging aan skole en biblioteke om by ons aan te sluit en self inisiatiewe van stapel te stuur. Ons wil graag sien hoe lesers met die wonderwêreld van Jaco en sy karakters omgaan – hetsy deur leeskringe, kreatiewe werkswinkels of deur soos die karakters in sy boeke aan te trek.

Hou ons sosiale media en verdere mediaverklarings dop vir geleenthede en eksklusiewe herdenkingsinhoud.

Jaco Jacobs in syfers

• Wêreldklas: Met 300 boeke op sy kerfstok, sluit Jaco aan by ’n spesiale klub van superproduktiewe skrywers. Hy het reeds meer boeke geskryf as wêreldbekende topverkopers soos Nora Roberts en R.L. Stine in dieselfde stadium van hul loopbane.
• Suid-Afrikaanse rekord: Jaco is sonder twyfel die produktiefste skrywer nóg in Suid-Afrika. Hy het reeds meer as dubbel die aantal boeke die lig laat sien as die meeste ander toonaangewende plaaslike kinderboekskrywers.
• Luisterryke loopbaan: Kwaliteit was nog nooit ondergeskik aan kwantiteit nie. Jaco het reeds meer as 45 toekennings vir sy werk ontvang, onder meer die gesogte Alba Bouwer-prys (drie keer), die Tienie Holloway-medalje en 38 ATKV-kinderboektoekennings, waarvoor jong lesers self stem.
• Veeltalige ikoon: Jaco is weliswaar ’n Afrikaanse ikoon, maar baie van sy boeke is ook in Engels beskikbaar – plaaslik en internasionaal. Sy boeke is ook in Italiaans, Mandaryns, Nederlands, Portugees, Sloweens en Spaans vertaal – wat hom een ​​van Suid-Afrika se suksesvolste literêre uitvoere nóg maak. Hy is boonop self ’n produktiewe vertaler, wat al meer as 340 boeke in Afrikaans vertaal het.

Pan Macmillan se kinderboekuitgewer, Miemie du Plessis, se jare lange werkverhouding met Jaco het met sy heel eerste boek in 2001 begin. Sy sê: “Ek het gou besef dat ek met ’n skrywer te make het wat die Afrikaanse kinderboeklandskap onherroeplik sou verander. Jaco is ’n kinderboekskrywer sonder weerga. Van meet af aan wou hy die soort boeke skryf wat kinders sal geniet en lief sal maak vir lees. En 25 jaar, 300 boeke en bykans 2 miljoen kopieë later doen hy dit steeds. Dit is vir my en Pan Macmillan Suid-Afrika ’n enorme voorreg om deel te wees van sy reis.” 

Pan Macmillan nooi elke onderwyser, ouer en jong leser uit om saam met ons hierdie ongelooflike mylpaal te vier.

Oor Jaco Jacobs

Jaco Jacobs is die skrywer van 300 boeke, wat wissel van prenteboeke tot jeugromans. Sy werk is vir film verwerk en sy boeke in Engels, Italiaans, Mandaryns, Nederlands, Portugees, Sloweens en Spaans vertaal. Hy het meer as 45 toekennings gewen, onder meer verskeie ATKV-Kinderboektoekennings, die Tienie Holloway-medalje en die Alba Bouwer-prys. Hy woon in Bloemfontein saam met sy vrou, twee dogters en ’n versameling troeteldiere.

Pan Macmillan is proud to celebrate a monumental milestone in the South African children's book industry this year-the 25th anniversary of the publication of Jaco Jacobs' first book. Jaco Jacobs has become a household name and an Afrikaans cultural icon since his very first book was published in 2001. For the past 25 years, he has captured the imaginations of millions of young readers across the country and abroad.

In honour of this quarter century of stories, Pan Macmillan is thrilled to announce the publication of his 300th book in May 2026. This release kicks off a year-long campaign with the theme:

The Wonderful World of Jaco Jacobs – 25 Years of Reading Fun

A prolific pioneer

Jaco Jacobs, a native of the Karoo town Carnarvon and currently a proud resident of Bloemfontein, has redefined the term prolific writer during his career. While some South African authors publish between 20 and 30 books in their lifetime, Jaco has delivered an average of 12 books per year over a 25-year period. His work ranges from picture books for toddlers to fiction for teenagers, non-fiction, activity books, children's verse collections, and bestselling series – all of which have been well-received.

Pan Macmillan has been the proud publisher of Jaco’s work since 2020. During this partnership, his writing has gone from strength to strength, reaching new heights. His status as a champion for children's books and reading-for-pleasure remains steadfast.

Join the celebration

The 25th anniversary will be celebrated throughout the year with various events. We extend a special invitation to schools and libraries to join us and launch their own initiatives. We can’t wait to see how readers interact with the wonderful world of Jaco and his characters – whether through reading challenges, creative workshops, or by dressing up as characters from his books. Keep an eye on our social media and further press releases for events and exclusive anniversary content.

Jaco Jacobs in numbers

• World Class: With 300 books to his name, Jaco joins a special club of super-prolific authors. He has already written more books than world-renowned bestsellers like Nora Roberts and R.L. Stine at the same stage of their careers.
• South African Record: Jaco is undoubtedly the most prolific writer ever in South Africa. He has already produced about twice as many books as most other leading local children's book authors. Jaco’s tally of 300 published books is unprecedented and places him in a unique category of his own. He currently stands alongside crime fiction king Deon Meyer as a beacon in the Afrikaans book industry in both popularity and sales.
• Decorated Career: Quality has never been secondary to quantity. Jaco has received more than 45 awards for his work, including the prestigious Alba Bouwer Prize (three times), the Tienie Holloway Medal, and 38 ATKV Children's Book Awards, the last of which are voted for by young readers themselves.
• Multilingual Icon: While an Afrikaans icon, many of his books are available in English, both locally and internationally. His books have been translated into Dutch, Italian, Mandarin, Portuguese, Slovenian and Spanish, making him one of South Africa’s most successful literary exports. He is a prolific translator himself, having translated more than 340 books into Afrikaans.

A word from his publisher

Miemie du Plessis, Pan Macmillan’s Children’s Book Publisher, has had a long working relationship with Jaco that began with his very first book in 2001. She says:

“I quickly realized I was dealing with a writer who would irrevocably change the Afrikaans children's book landscape. Jaco is a children's book author without equal. From the start, he wanted to write the kind of books that children would enjoy and that would make them love reading. And 25 years, 300 books, and nearly 2 million copies later, he is still doing it. It is an enormous privilege for me and Pan Macmillan South Africa to be part of his journey.”

Pan Macmillan invites every teacher, parent, and young reader to celebrate this incredible milestone with us.

About Jaco Jacobs

Jaco Jacobs is the author of 300 books, ranging from picture books to youth novels and non-fiction. His work has been adapted for film and translated into numerous languages, including English, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, and Dutch. He has won more than 45 awards, including several ATKV Children’s Book Awards, the Tienie Holloway Medal, and the Alba Bouwer Prize. He lives in Bloemfontein with his wife, two daughters, and a collection of pets.