About the NZ Post Children's Book Awards

Category Awards
New Zealand Post Book of the Year
Best First Book Award
Judging Criteria

The New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children & Young Adults reward excellence in children's literature, recognising the best books for children and teenagers published annually in New Zealand.

CATEGORY AWARDS

Awards for the New Zealand Post Book Awards are made in four categories: Young Adult Fiction, Junior Fiction, Non-fiction, Picture Book.

Five finalists are selected for each category and from these a winner in each category is selected.

Young Adult Fiction and Junior Fiction

The awards in these categories are for creative writing only, and the text must be the heart of the book. Entered in the Junior Fiction category are books considered suitable for primary or intermediate school level. Entered in the Young Adult Fiction category are books considered suitable for secondary school students, generally 13 years and up.

The Junior Fiction and Young Adult Fiction Awards carry a prize of $7,500 each.

Non-fiction

This award is for books which present well-authenticated data, with consideration given to imaginative presentation, interpretation and style. Poetry, folklore and retellings of myths and legends will be included in this category. Text books and resource kits are not eligible. Non-fiction books with intended audiences ranging from children through to young adults may be entered in this category.

The Non-fiction Award carries a prize of $7,500.

Picture Book

In this category the illustrations, with the text, carry the impact of the story. Illustrations must comprise at least half of the content. Reprinted illustrations compiled from other sources are not eligible. Picture books with intended audiences ranging from children through to young adults may be entered in this category.

For the Picture Book Award, the author and illustrator receive $3,750 each.

Honour Awards

The judges may, at their discretion, make an Honour Award for each category. Honour Awards will be presented only to books selected as finalists and will receive $500 each.

NEW ZEALAND POST BOOK OF THE YEAR

The New Zealand Post Book of the Year is awarded to one of the four category winners. This supreme winner is the book which, in the opinion of the judges, achieves outstanding excellence in all general judging criteria.

The winner of the New Zealand Post Book of the Year receives additional prize money of $7,500.

BEST FIRST BOOK

The Best First Book Award is made to a previously unpublished author or illustrator. An award winner may be drawn from any category.

This award carries a prize of $2,000.

JUDGING CRITERIA

General Judging Criteria

The following judging criteria apply to all categories:

• appeal
• use of language (and illustrations where appropriate)
• integrity
• plot and storyline
• character
• design and production

Judges also look for the lasting qualities that make a book stand out.

In judging books written in Te Reo Maori and/or incorporating Maori subject matter the judges consider the credibility of the material presented, the perspective of Maori children as readers and the quality of the language used.

All books submitted to the New Zealand Post Book Awards are judged on their individual merits as stand-alone entries.

SPECIFIC CRITERIA

Additional specific judging criteria apply to each of the categories.

Young Adult Fiction and Junior Fiction Categories

Judges look for an insight into the world of the target reader and an extension of that reader's experience and understanding of their world. Judges also assess plot, structure, language and character development.

Picture Book Category

Judges look for a complementary relationship between text and illustration, imaginative storytelling and illustrations which bring the story to life.

Non-fiction Category

Judges look for a harmony between all elements which engages and enhances understanding as well as assessing accuracy of date and current state of knowledge.

Honour Award(s)

The judges may, at their discretion, make an Honour Award for each category. Honour Awards will be presented only to books selected as finalists. The judges will consider the criteria as listed in the relevant categories above.

New Zealand Post Book of the Year

This award is presented to one of the four category winners which, in the opinion of the judges, achieve outstanding excellence in all general judging criteria. Judges will also consider the impact of the book on young readers and the extent to which it will encourage further exploration of books and reading.

Best First Book Award

This award supports new and emerging talent. It will be presented to an author or illustrator whose work demonstrates excellence in the general judging criteria and stands out as exceptional amongst that from other new authors and illustrators.

The judging criteria are available in full on request from the Awards Administrator: anna.burtt@booksellers.co.nz