LIANZA Children’s Book Awards finalists announced

From stories exploring the lives and ideals of family and communities, to the reminiscence of roly-poly pudding, the finalists of the LIANZA (Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa) Children’s Book Awards are a true celebration of New Zealand writers and illustrators. The Awards are for excellence in literature, illustration, non-fiction and te reo Maori.

The Finalists are:

LIANZA ESTHER GLEN AWARD (Fiction)

Juno of Taris by Fleur Beale (Random House New Zealand)

Old Drumble by Jack Lasenby (HarperCollinsPublishers (New Zealand) Ltd)

The Tomorrow Code by Brian Falkner (Walker Books Australia)

The 10pm Question by Kate de Goldi (Longacre Press)

Violence 101 by Denis Wright (Penguin New Zealand)

LIANZA RUSSELL CLARK AWARD (Illustration)

Every Second Friday by Kiri Lightfoot, Illustrated by Ben Galbraith (Hachette New Zealand)

Herbert by Robyn Belton (Craig Potton Publishing)

My Favourite Places by Martin Bailey (Mallinson Rendel)

Oliver Goes Exploring by Margaret Beames, Illustrated by Sue Hitchcock (Scholastic)

Roadworks by Sally Sutton, Illustrated by Brian Lovelock (Walker Books Australia)

LIANZA ELSIE LOCKE (Non Fiction)

Atoms, dinosaurs & DNA by Veronika Meduna & Rebecca Priestley (Random House New Zealand)

Back & Beyond: New Zealand Painting for the Young & Curious by Gregory O’Brien (Auckland University Press)

Juicy Writing by Brigid Lowry (Allen & Unwin)

Piano Rock by Gavin Bishop (Random House New Zealand)

High-tech Legs on Everest by Mark Inglis with Sarah Ell (Random House New Zealand)

TE KURA POUNAMU (te reo Maori)

Mihiroa by Peti Nohotima (He Kupenga Hao i te Reo Ltd)

Nau te Rourou, Naku te Rourou by Rosalind and Waaka Vercoe (Huia Education)

Ko Maraea Me Nga Toroa by Patricia Grace, Illustrator Brian Gunson, Translator Waiariki Grace (Penguin NZ)

Toheroa by James Te Tuhi and Ross Gregory (Huia Education)

Hinemoa te Toa by Tim Tipene, Illustrator John Bennett, Translator Katerina Te Heikoko Mataira (Scholastic)

The 2009 Award Ceremony will take place in Wellington on Monday August 10th at Caffe L’affare, College Street. The LIANZA Children’s Book Awards 2009 are supported by Wheelers Books and Caffe L’affare.