NZ Post Children's Book Awards 2010 Finalists Announced

Literary Legends Mahy and Cowley Finalists in the 2010 NZ Post Children’s Book Awards

Books by two of New Zealand’s most revered children’s writers – Margaret Mahy and Joy Cowley – feature in this year’s New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards finalist line-up.

Cowley’s Cowshed Christmas, illustrated by Gavin Bishop, and Mahy’s The Word Witch, edited by Tessa Duder and illustrated by David Elliot, are both finalists in the Picture Book Category.

But they are up against some stiff competition with other award-winning authors and highly creative newcomers battling it out for the top prizes in the country’s premier, annual children’s book awards.

The 2010 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards judging panel convenor, Rosemary Tisdall commented that the overall quality of this year’s submitted books was outstanding and whittling the pile down to a final shortlist was a challenge.

‘It is very encouraging that even in a year of recession and the changing market for books, many publishers are still able to produce books of outstanding quality. This reflects the respect that is felt for the work of both authors and illustrators.’

A Te Reo Māori children’s book, Hū-Hū Koroheke, translated by Kāterina Te Heikōkō Mataira, is a finalist in the Picture Book Category this year, as well as the original English language edition, Old Hu-Hu, written by Kyle Mewburn and illustrated by Rachel Driscoll.

The Awards’ Te Reo Māori Advisor, Paora Tibble said Hū-Hū Koroheke was an excellent translation from the “Super Nanny of te ao Māori.”

‘The text is descriptive and rich in terms of the kupu (words) used by the author.  It could have been a ‘straight translation’, but the translator has created beautiful word pictures to complement the illustrations and it reflects the original English version,’ said Mr Tibble.

Many of the 20 finalist books reflect the essence of New Zealand: high country living, mud pools and geysers, the cowshed, gumboots and pavlovas. Other works give a taste of history, creatures, war and cyberspace.

They were selected from more than 130 children’s books published in New Zealand in 2009 and submitted for the Awards.

Mrs Tisdall, a children’s literature consultant, is joined on the judging panel by writer and reviewer Trevor Agnew, and former journalist, now children’s bookshop co-owner, Ruth McIntyre. Together they will decide which book will take the New Zealand Post Children’s Book of the Year prize and will choose winners from across the four categories: Picture Book, Non-fiction, Junior Fiction and Young Adult Fiction. Winners will be announced on Wednesday 19 May.

The 2010 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards finalists are:

PICTURE BOOK CATEGORY

	Cowshed Christmas Gavin Bishop, illustrated by Joy Cowley Random House New Zealand ISBN 978-1-86979-073-8 pb RRP $24.99 Target age 3+
	Old Hu-Hu Kyle Mewburn, illustrated by Rachel Driscoll Scholastic New Zealand ISBN 978-1-86943-897-5 hb RRP $29.99 Target age 4+ Hū-Hū Koroheke (Te reo edition) translated by Kāterina Te Heikōkō Mataira ISBN 978-1-86943-518-9 pb RRP$18.99
	Piggity-Wiggity Jiggity Jig Goes to Dad’s Cafe Diana Neild, illustrated by Philip Webb Scholastic New Zealand ISBN 978-1-86943-910-1 pb RRP $18.99 Target age 3+
	The Wonky Donkey Craig Smith, illustrated by Katz Cowley Scholastic New Zealand ISBN 978-1-86943-926-2 pb RRP $24.99 Target age 2+
	The Word Witch Margaret Mahy, illustrated by David Elliot, edited by Tessa Duder HarperCollins Publishers ISBN 978-1-86950-707-7 hb RRP $44.99 Target age 6+

NON-FICTION CATEGORY

	Ben & Mark: Boys of the High Country Christine Fernyhough & John Bougen Random House New Zealand ISBN 978-1-86979-068-4 pb RRP $36.99 Target age 8+
	Dear Alison Simon Pollard (editor) Penguin NZ ISBN 978-0-14330-460-9 hb RRP $30.00 Target age 5+
	E3 Call Home Janet Hunt Random House New Zealand ISBN 978-1-86979-276-3 pb RRP $24.99 Target age 7+
	Rangitoto Maria Gill, illustrated by Heather Arnold Puffin Books ISBN 978-0-14350-334-7 pb RRP $19.95 Target age 8+
	Willie Apiata, VC: The Reluctant Hero Paul Little & John Lockyer Puffin Books ISBN 978-0-14330-457-9 pb RRP $25.00 Target age 10+

JUNIOR FICTION CATEGORY

	Cry of the Taniwha Des Hunt HarperCollins Publishers ISBN 978-1-86950-731-2 pb RRP $18.99 Target age 9+
	Friends: Snake and Lizard Joy Cowley, illustrated by Gavin Bishop Gecko Press ISBN 978-1-877467-26-4 hb RRP $ 29.99 ISBN 978-1-877467-25-7 pb RRP $19.99 Target age 6+
	The Loblolly Boy James Norcliffe Longacre Press ISBN 978-1-877460-25-8 pb RRP $19.99 Target age 10+
	My Story: The Mine’s Afire! Susan Battye & Thelma Eakin Scholastic New Zealand ISBN 978-1-86943-887-6 pb RRP $17.99 Target age 10+
	Sting Raymond Huber Walker Books ISBN 978-1-921150-89-0 pb RRP $16.99 Target age 8+

YOUNG ADULT FICTION CATEGORY

	Banquo’s Son T.K. Roxborogh Penguin NZ ISBN 978-0-14320-249-3 pb RRP $37.00 Target age 12+
	The Beginner’s Guide to Living Lia Hills Text Publishing ISBN 978-1-921520-07-5 pb RRP $25.00 Target age 14+
	Blood of the Lamb: The Crossing Mandy Hager Random House New Zealand ISBN 978-1-86979-150-6 pb RRP $19.99 Target age 13+
	Brainjack Brian Falkner Walker Books ISBN 978-1-921150-95-1 pb RRP $19.99 Target age 12+
	End of the Alphabet Fleur Beale Random House New Zealand ISBN 978-1-86979-070-7 pb RRP $19.99 Target age 12+

In selecting finalists, the judges consider points such as creative writing, use of language, impact, integrity, design and production values. Additional criteria for the Picture Book category include harmony between text and illustration. For the Non-fiction category the judges take into account integration of text, graphics, how illustrations were used to engage interest and enhance understanding, plus accuracy of data.

Finalists also compete for the coveted Children’s Choice Award, where kids, not the Awards’ judges, get to choose their favourite book. Voting for the Children’s Choice Award begins today.  Long considered one of the highest accolades a children’s author can receive, children of school age from all over New Zealand vote on this Award.  Voting can be placed online at www.nzpostbookawards.co.nz or by using the special voting card available from bookshops, libraries and schools. Voting closes at 5.00pm, Friday 30 April.

All winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony held in Auckland’s Town Hall on Wednesday 19 May.

Finalists will be participating in children’s book events around the country as part of a nationwide festival celebrating the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards.  The festivities begin on Monday 10 May and continue through to Wednesday 19 May. 

New Zealand Post has been a steadfast sponsor of the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards since 1997. Its partnership has seen the awards flourish, growing from strength to strength over the last decade. New Zealand Post’s support of these Awards reflects their deep commitment to promoting literacy and literature throughout the country. Working closely with Booksellers NZ, New Zealand Post and other dedicated segments of the community actively encourage New Zealand children to read and enjoy books. For those with limited access to new works, New Zealand Post also purchases and distributes books by the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards finalists in support of the annual Books in Homes programme.

The New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards are also supported by Creative New Zealand and Book Tokens (NZ) Ltd and are administered by Booksellers NZ.

KEY DATES
4 March          Children’s Choice Award voting opens
10-19 May      New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Festival week,
                       finalists on tour nationwide
19 May            New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards winners announced

For interview opportunities, review copies, images of finalist authors and their books, promotional giveaways or further information please contact: Penny Hartill, Hartill Communications Ltd on 09 445 7525, 021 721 424, phartill@xtra.co.nz