LIANZA Children's Book Awards Winners Announced

The Library & Information Association (LIANZA) has paid tribute to some of New Zealand’s most famous writers and artists in their annual LIANZA Children's Book Award Winners. (drum roll please)

Hill and Hole by Kyle Mewburn and Vasanti Unka, (Puffin Books) has won the 2011 Russell Clark medal. The judges said that Hill & Hole is an inspiring treasure that conveys envy, affection and contentment of a hole and a hill. The content and calibre of illustrations are stunning with multi layered original paintings and collage. Pene Walsh said “this book has all the makings of a classic, one that will be treasured by today’s children in 50 years time”.

Northland based Diana Menefy received the LIANZA Esther Glen medal, New Zealand’s oldest book prize for The Shadow of the Boyd, (HarperCollins Publishers (NZ) Ltd). Based on a true story The Shadow of the Boyd tells a powerful tale from our colonial past, the bitter clash of two cultures from the point of view of Thomas Davidson, an apprentice sailor who survived the infamous massacre of the Boyd.

Fierce September by Wellingtonian Fleur Beale,(Random House New Zealand) received the LIANZA Young Adult medal and poignantly deals with a community’s transition into life in New Zealand where they don’t know everyone, where life has changed fundamentally and they are living isolated like refugees. Fierce September can be read as a standalone novel but Belynda Smith, judge and panel convenor, is holding her breath for a third book in the Juno series.

The Te Kura Pounamu was awarded for the first time to a graphic novel, Ngarimu: te tohu toa researched and retold by Kawata Teepa and illustrated by Andrew Burdan, (Huia Publishers).

More information about the awards and the winners can be found on the LIANZA website

LIANZA Children's Book Award Finalists 2010

From the LIANZA (Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa) website here is the full list of the LIANZA Children’s Book Award 2010 Finalists:

LIANZA Esther Glen Award (Fiction)
Friends: Snake and Lizard by Joy Cowley, Illustrated by Gavin Bishop (Gecko Press)

The Loblolly Boy by James Norcliffe (Longacre Press)

Top Secret: Pass it on by Jaqueline Chapman (Longacre Press)

Glory by Fifi Colston (Scholastic)

The Billionaires Curse by Richard Newsome (Text Publishing)

LIANZA Young Adult (Fiction)
The Bone Tiki by David Hair (HarperCollins Publishers (NZ) Ltd)

Banquo’s Son by Tania Roxborogh (Penguin Group NZ)

The Crossing by Mandy Hager (Random House New Zealand)

About Griffen’s Heart by Tina Shaw (Longacre Press)

Brainjack by Brian Falkner (Walker Books)

LIANZA Russell Clark Award (Illustration)
Rhinehold the Mouse by Di Batchelor (Di Batchelor/ Fraser Books)

There was a Crooked Man by Gavin Bishop (Gecko Press)

Old Hu-Hu by Kyle Mewburn/ Rachel Driscoll (Scholastic)

The Wonky Donkey by Craig Smith/ Katz Cowley (Scholastic)

Tiny Miss Dott and her Dotty Umbrella by Michelle Osment/ Sarah Nelisiwe Anderson (Scholastic)

LIANZA Elsie Locke (Non Fiction)
Nic’s New Zealand Nature: Invaders by Nic Valance & Rod Morris (New Holland Publishers (NZ) Ltd

Dear Alison by Simon Pollard (Penguin Group NZ)

Ben and Mark: Boys of the High Country by Christine Fernyhough & John Bougen (Random House New Zealand)

E3 Call Home by Janet Hunt (Random House New Zealand)

Get Growing: A NZ Step-by-Step Guide by Helen Cook (Random House New Zealand)

Te Kura Pounamu (Te Reo Maori)
Pūao Series: Te Kahikatea, Te Miro, Te Tutu, Te Horopito by Keri Pewhairangi (Huia Publishers)

Hū-Hū Koroheke by Kyle Mewburn, Rachel Driscoll translated by Kāterina Te Heikōkō Mataira (Scholastic)

Te Wāhi me te Taiao Series: Hauraki, Waipā, Kāwhia Moana, Takaparawhau by Huia Publishers Hewa by Darryn Joseph (Pearson (NZ) Ltd)

Hautipua Rererangi by Huia Publishers/ Andrew Burdan (Huia Publishers)

2009 LIANZA Children's Book Awards Announced

New Zealand's oldest book prize, the Esther Glen Award, was presented at the LIANZA Children's Book Awards ceremony in Wellington on Monday 10 August.

The Esther Glen Award was established in 1944 and is presented to the author whose work is considered a distinguished contribution to fiction for children. The prize was presented to Wellington writer Fleur Beale for her young adult novel Juno of Taris (Random House). The judges said Beale "excels in descriptions of life as a feisty teenage girl. Juno is a remarkable character, the reader delights in her triumphs and commiserates in her disappointments."

Dunedin based author and illustrator Robyn Belton received the Russell Clark Award for Herbert: The Brave Sea Dog (Craig Potton Publishing). The Russell Clark Award was established in 1975 and celebrates a distinguished contribution to illustrated children's books. The judges could imagine "librarians uming and ahing about whether to place this book in the true story, non-fiction, or picture-book sections of the library. We thought the connectivity of text and illustration resonates with readers of all ages and the superb endpapers intrigue the reader. An entirely satisfactory and uplifting ending that touches all reader's hearts."

For the first time the Te Kura Pounamu Award has been won by a novel. Mihiroa by Peti Nohotima with illustrations by Misty (He Kupenga Hao I te Reo) caught the judge's attention for its skill in capturing a teenage perspective. "From texting to teenage jealousy, from budding relationships to the intensity of sporting competition, one of the most captivating features is how the language is used to develop the characters and their interactions. The delightful line drawings add to the story's attraction too." This award was established in 1995 and celebrates works written in te reo Māori for children and young people.

Radio New Zealand host Veronika Meduna and science historian Rebecca Priestly were the recipients of the Elsie Locke Award for Atoms, Dinosaurs and DNA (Random House). The judges noted that the book had developed out of a 2006 National Library science exhibition, and delighted in the insights it gives to the lives of the sixty eight New Zealand scientists profiled. "Did you know that entomologist George Hudson did his field work in a three piece suit? Beneath his suit he wore head to toe pink woolen underwear. As librarians we knew that this book filled a gap in our collections."

Together the LIANZA Children's Book Awards celebrate the unique contribution New Zealand authors and illustrators make to our cultural heritage and national identity. Award recipients are selected from a shortlist of five titles and receive a medal or taonga and $1,000 prize money.