Gavin Bishop at Kumeu Library

Award winning new Zealand author Gavin Bishop paid a visit to Kumeu Library yesterday and I believe he got a very good reception over in west Rodney. The visit was part of the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards and Festival. Here is the introduction given by Kumeu Children's Librarian Tina Collins, together with a list of his awards to date.

"Our guest today, Gavin Bishop is very talented and we are excited to have him visit us at Kumeu Library. As children’s book author and illustrator Gavin Bishop has won numerous national and international awards for his distinctive ink and watercolour illustrations and his original text. This year Gavin has 2 books nominated as finalists in the NZ Post Children’s Book Awards. Friends: Snake and Lizard and Cowshed Christmas. The Awards will be announced on 19 May. Gavin’s awards are too many to mention but are listed if you want to check out how his talent has been acknowledged.

His illustrations have been exhibited at international shows from Japan to Czechoslovakia, and he has appeared as a teacher and guest speaker at many international forums. He has been commissioned to write and design several successful ballets for the Royal NZ Ballet Company
In 1985 Gavin wrote and designed a ballet– Terrible Tom that toured the country for 18 months.

Gavin was a high school art teacher for many years, but now works full-time as an illustrator and teacher of illustration. Gavin’s first book 'Mrs McGinty and the Bizarre Plant' was published in 1981. In 2002, Gavin’s plaque became part of Christchurch’s Writers’ Walkway. In 2003 Gavin's short story, ‘Giant Jimmy Jones’, was launched as the world's first 3D animated children's picture book. In 2009, Storylines launched the Gavin Bishop Award for Picture Book Illustration, in honour of one of New Zealand’s celebrated children’s illustrators. "

Awards that Gavin Bishop has won

Noma Concours for Children’s Picture Book Illustration 1982 runner-up.
Russell Clark Award 1982 Winner for Mrs McGinty and the Bizarre Plant.
New Zealand Government Publishing Awards - New Zealand Picture Book of the Year Award 1983 for Mr Fox.
Noma Concours for Children's Picture Book Illustration Grand Prix 1984.
Russell Clark Award 1988 shortlist for A, Apple Pie.
Russell Clark Award 1991 shortlist for Katarina.
Arts Council Grant, International Cultural Exchange Scheme to the USA 1993.
AIM Children’s Book Awards 1994 Picture Book Winner for Hinepau.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 1997 Picture Book shortlist for Maui and the Sun.
Creative New Zealand Project Grant 1998.
Russell Clark Award 1998 shortlist for Little Rabbit and the Sea.
Spectrum Print Award for the Best Use of Illustration in a New Zealand Book 2000.
White Ravens List 2000 for The Video Shop Sparrow.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2000 Picture Book shortlist for The Video Shop Sparrow.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2000 Picture Book Winner for The House that Jack Built.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2000 Book of the Year Winner for The House that Jack Built.
Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal 2000.
Storylines Notable Books 2000 Picture Books list for The House that Jack Built.
Storylines Notable Books 2000 Picture Books list for The Video Shop Sparrow.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2001 Picture Book shortlist for Stay Awake, Bear!
Russell Clark Award 2001 shortlist for Stay Awake, Bear!
Storylines Notable Books 2001 Picture Books list for Stay Awake, Bear!
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2002 Picture Book shortlist for Tom Thumb.
Smash Palace Art and Science Collaboration Grant with the HIT Lab, Canterbury University 2002.
Storylines Notable Books 2002 Picture Books list for Tom Thumb.
Noma Concours jury member 2002.
Ursula Bethell Residency in Creative Writing, Canterbury University 2003.
Waikato University Writer in Residence 2003.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2003 Book of the Year Winner for Weaving Earth and Sky.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2003 Non-fiction winner for Weaving Earth and Sky.
Elsie Locke Award 2003 shortlist for Weaving Earth and Sky.
Storylines Notable Books 2003 Non-fiction list for Weaving Earth and Sky.
Creative New Zealand Project Grant 2004.
Sylvia Ashton Warner Fellow, University of Auckland 2004.
Russell Clark Award 2004 shortlist for The Three Billy-goats Gruff.
Storylines Notable Books 2004 Picture Books list for The Three Billy-goats Gruff.
Represented New Zealand at the World Summit Award 2005 with ‘Giant Jimmy Jones’.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2005 Picture Book shortlist for Taming the Sun.
Russell Clark Award 2005 shortlist for Taming the Sun.
White Ravens List 2005 for Taming the Sun.
Storylines Notable Books 2005 Picture Books list for Taming the Sun.
Russell Clark Award 2006 Winner for Kiwi Moon.
Russell Clark Award 2006 shortlist for The Waka.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2006 Picture Book shortlist for The Waka.
Storylines Notable Books 2006 Picture Books list for Kiwi Moon.
Storylines Notable Books 2006 Picture Books list for The Waka.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2007 Picture Book shortlist for Riding the Waves.
Russell Clark Award 2007 shortlist for Riding the Waves.
Storylines Notable Books 2007 Picture Books list for Riding the Waves.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2008 Picture Book shortlist for Rats!
Russell Clark Award 2008 Winner for Rats!
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2008 Junior Fiction Winner for Snake and Lizard.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2008 Book of the Year Winner for Snake and Lizard.
Storylines Notable Books 2008 Picture Books list for Rats!
Storylines Notable Books 2008 Junior Fiction list for Snake and Lizard.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2009 Non-fiction shortlist for Piano Rock.
Elsie Locke Award 2009 shortlist for Piano Rock.
PANZ Book Design Awards 2009 Children’s Book Winner for Piano Rock.
Storylines Notable Books 2009 Non-fiction list for Piano Rock.

Phew - That's a pretty impressive list in anyone's book (pardon the pun).

I spoke briefly to Tina this morning who said the visit was a great success. Gavin was really friendly and worked well with the kids. Gavin has his own website which you can visit but stay tuned to the blog for photos of the Kumeu visit.