Jaco Jacobs is a famous children’s book author who writes in the Afrikaans language.
He is the most famous author of children’s books in the Afrikaan language in the world and has authored more than 170 children’s books, and copies of his books have been sold more than a million times across the globe.
Jaco Jacobs was born in Carnarvon, a small town in the Karoo in South Africa on February 22, 1980.
Jaco loved writing from an early age and explored his career as a writer during his school days. He used to participate in numerous competitions as an aspiring author.
In addition to children’s literature, Jacobs also writes magazine articles and columns. He has translated more than 250 books from English and Dutch to Afrikaans.
He wrote his first book, Pretpark, at the end of matric (but it would only be published a lot later). He made his debut with Troeteldrog (2001) and has since written more than 140 books for toddlers, children and young adults.
What is Jaco Jacobs’ favourite food??
Jaco Jacob’s favourite food is Lasagne among the other different foods.
The author of “Grandpa Zombie” (Oupa Zombie in Afrikaans) stated that he loved tomato juice the most in an interview with the Pan Macmillan South Africa.
“I’m a bit addicted to tomato juice, so that’s one thing I’m going to stockpile if we ever have to resort to looting shops. “, he said in the interview.
Interesting Facts about Jaco Jacobs
Jaco Jacobs was only seven years old when he wrote and illustrated his first story but it was published much later.
The author’s first children’s book “Pretpark” was written while he was still in school.
Jaco finished his B.A. Communication Science degree after school and completed his honours in Afrikaans and Dutch literature at the University of the Free State. before starting work at the
He was the editor of a successful youth magazine called JIP in the Volksblad newspaper agency in Bloemfontein. These days he is a publisher of children’s and youth books at LAPA Publishers.
Jaco is happily married to a lady named Elize Jacobs. The two couples are blessed with two lovely daughters which they named Mia Jacobs and Emma Jacobs.]
Jaco Jacobs lives in Bloemfontein with his wife, Elize, his little girls, Mia and Emma, three dogs, Pippie, Binki and Otto, and a pet Python.
Jaco’s father and grandfather both were sheep farmers so he grew up around folktales which later became an inspiration to his books.
He has got Acrophobia; a condition where an individual has for fear of heights. He avoids anything that involves climbing and heights always freak him out.
He also cannot tie a knot properly; he is awful when it comes to knotting a tie.
One of his favourite meals is called Lasagne and his favourite drink is tomato juice.
Jaco Jacobs writes most of his books in Afrikaans and his book “A Good Day for Climbing Trees” was his first book that made it to the international stage and was published by Oneworld Publications.
His book “A Good Night for Shooting Zombies” was selected and released as a movie in South Africa.
In the year 2007, one of his young adult novels, titled Suurlemoen!, was awarded by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY).
Jaco Jacobs has also translated more than 250 books from English and Dutch to Afrikaans.
His translation of Chris Riddel’s Ottoline and the Yellow Cat (Willemien en die Geel Kat) was awarded the Elsabe Steenberg Prize for children’s book translation and the SATI Prize for the translation of children’s books.
Jaco has won the Alba Bouwer Prize twice (in 2007 for Wurms met tamatiesous en ander lawwe rympies (Worms In Tomato Sauce and Other Silly Poems), and in 2019 for Moenie hierdie boek eet nie (Don’t eat this book))
How much is Jaco Jacobs’ net worth?
Jaco Jacobs‘ net worth is yet to be ascertained but is estimated to be around US$2 million.
Jaco Jacobs is one of the richest writers & listed as the most popular Writer.