Garnet Lawrence’s captivating work, ‘Anansi and the Fire Ants,’ has emerged victorious as the recipient of the esteemed 2023 Bocas Children’s Book Prize. The Trinidad and Tobago playwright, poet, and screenwriter, now based in Barbados, is set to be honored with this prestigious title. Commenting on Lawrence’s triumph, Head Judge Kevin Jared Hosein remarked, “In ‘Anansi and the Fire Ants’, the seemingly unstoppable plague of fire ants serves as an analogy to a slowly spreading disease within the village, resembling recent global experiences. Garnet Lawrence skillfully transforms this scenario into a playful parable with a delightful cast of animal characters.” Lawrence shared his thoughts on the win.
“This whole thing has been an emotional rollercoaster for me. The entire process from start to finish. First of all it wasn’t even a book in the first place, it was a public health campaign at the various school across Tobago and it wasn’t bought into for whatever reason 05:16 and i said this idea is too good to die, to let this seed die.” Lawrence described the concept as a divinely inspired idea, prompting him to transform it from a script into a book. He expressed profound gratitude to his wife for her invaluable contribution to the writing of the book.
‘Anansi and the Fire Ants’ stood out in a fiercely competitive field of entries, capturing the judges’ attention with its imaginative narrative, cleverly concise dialogue, and detailed illustrations. The Bocas Children’s Book Prize, dedicated to acknowledging exceptional books by Caribbean authors for readers aged 7 to 12, celebrates outstanding English-language children’s literature.
