Top Children’s Writers and Illustrators on Tour

News Release

For immediate release

Top Children’s Writers and Illustrators on Tour

Towns and cities all over New Zealand will come alive with books next week as some of the country’s best authors and illustrators visit in celebration of this year’s New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

Twenty-six of this year’s New Zealand Post Book Awards finalists will visit twenty five regions – from Whangarei to Gore - from the 11th to the 20th of May and they will be putting on some literary treat events; from readings and literary quizzes to treasure hunts, dress-ups and colouring competitions.

Booksellers New Zealand chief executive, Lincoln Gould says more writers and illustrators than ever before are touring to celebrate this years New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

‘Some of our best creative writers and illustrators are on show during the month of May. And they’ll be a part of some truly exciting events.

‘I urge parents, littlies and teenagers to check out what is happening in their region; there are some treats in store.’

This year’s New Zealand Post Book Awards finalists take to the road as part of the annual nationwide festival of children’s reading and literature, visiting schools, libraries and bookshops. Now in their 13th year, they are the nation’s most prestigious book awards, celebrating writing and publishing for children and teens.

The celebrations culminate in the announcement of the winners at the Auckland Museum on Wednesday 20 May.

For full details of the hundreds of events happening in your region, and around the country, go to www.nzpostbookawards.co.nz .

Most finalist authors in this year’s awards will be taking part in the Festival. The finalists in the 2009 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults are:

Picture Book

Duck’s Stuck! Written by Kyle Mewburn, illustrated by Ali Teo and John O’Reilly (Scholastic New Zealand)

Every Second Friday written by Kiri Lightfoot, illustrated by Ben Galbraith
(Hodder Children’s Books)

Piggity-Wiggity Jiggity Jig written by Diana Neild, illustrated by Philip Webb (Scholastic New Zealand)

Roadworks written by Sally Sutton, illustrated by Brian Lovelock (Walker Books)

The Were-Nana written by Melinda Szymanik, illustrated by Sarah Nelisiwe Anderson (Scholastic New Zealand)

Non-fiction

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

The Crafting of Narnia: The Art, Creatures, and Weapons from Weta Workshop
by Weta Workshop, Paul Tobin and Daniel Falconer (HarperOne)

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

Juicy Writing: Inspiration and Techniques for Young Writers by Brigid Lowry (Allen and Unwin)

Piano Rock: A 1950s Childhood by Gavin Bishop (Random House New Zealand)

Junior Fiction

Chicken Feathers by Joy Cowley, illustrated by David Elliot (Puffin)

Enemy at the Gate by Philippa Werry (Scholastic New Zealand)

Five (and a bit) Days in the Life of Ozzie Kingsford written by Val Bird,
illustrated by Rebecca Cundy (Random House New Zealand)

Old Drumble by Jack Lasenby (HarperCollins Publishers)

Payback by Michelle Kelly (Scholastic New Zealand)

Young Adult Fiction

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

Chronicles of Stone #1, Scorched Bone by Vincent Ford (Scholastic New Zealand)

Gool by Maurice Gee (Puffin)

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

The Tomorrow Code by Brian Falkner (Walker Books)

New Zealand Post has been a steadfast sponsor of the New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults 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 New Zealand Inc, New Zealand Post and other dedicated segments of the community actively encourage New Zealand children to read and enjoy books.

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

ENDS

·                     TOURING WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS ARE AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW

·                     IMAGES OF BOOK COVERS and AUTHORS ARE AVAILABLE

·                     KEY DATES 2009:

Friday 1 May               Children’s Choice Award voting closes

Monday 11 May          Festival week begins with finalist writers on tour

Wednesday 20 May    Awards ceremony in Wellington – winners announced

 
ends
 

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