Big Guns’ of New Zealand publishing in LIANZA

‘Big Guns’ of New Zealand publishing well represented in the 2013 LIANZA Children’s Book Award Finalists

Awarded by Librarians for outstanding children’s literature in New Zealand, the LIANZA Awards are for excellence in junior fiction, young adult fiction, illustration, non-fiction and te reo Māori.

The judges gave up their usual social lives for the last few months, in favour of a concentrated social life of the imagination, when they read over 130 books submitted to LIANZA (The Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa).

Convenor of judges and manager of Gisborne district libraries Pene Walsh said the judges, as experienced librarians, have a unique insight into selecting the right books for young people.

“Librarians, parents and booksellers can confidently give any one of the finalists selection to a child knowing without a doubt it is going to be a terrific read”.

Among the finalists this year are a number of big names in New Zealand’s children’s publishing including former LIANZA winners Gavin Bishop, Kyle Mewburn, Kate de Goldi, Ken Catran, Mandy Hager, Barbara Else and the late Margaret Mahy.

“Our most glorious librarian Margaret Mahy won the Junior Fiction Elsie Locke Award six times and she is once again a featured finalist” Ms Walsh said.

While thrilled with the growing number of quality fiction books for children and young adults, the judges could only confidently present three books as finalists in the non-fiction category.

“It was disappointing to see a lack of attention to indexing and production in non-fiction submissions, however it allowed us to add two extra books into the excellent illustration and junior fiction categories”.

Ms Walsh said contributions to the Young Adult category came with a wide range of themes, most predominantly New Zealander’s experiences of war.

“This year’s selection leans toward older teenager readers and signals a closing of the gap between kiwi books for younger teenagers and the leap over the vacuum into New Zealand adult fiction”.

The high standard of this year’s entries for Te Kura Pounamu present history, legends and world views to New Zealand children and young adult readers.

Te Rangi Rangi Tangohau, Convenor of the Te Kura Pounamu award deems it a privilege to have read and appreciated the fantastic written works of New Zealand’s finest authors and publishers.

“The shortlisted titles are beautifully illustrated and translated picture books, graphic novels, chapter books and a ‘must read’ novel which have all attained a level of excellence for library resources in te reo Māori”.

The LIANZA Children’s Book Award 2013 Finalists:

LIANZA Junior Fiction Award – Esther Glen Medal
• The Queen and the Nobody Boy: A tale of Fontania by Barbara Else, (GECKO Press)
• Drover’s Quest by Susan Brocker, (HarperCollins Publishers (NZ) Ltd)
• When Empire Calls by Ken Catran, (Scholastic NZ Ltd)
• Red Rocks by Rachael King, (Random House New Zealand)
• The ACB with Honora Lee by Kate de Goldi, (Random House New Zealand)
• Lightening Strikes: The Slice by Rose Quilter, (Walker Books Australia)

LIANZA Young Adult Fiction Award
• My Brother’s War by David Hill, (Penguin NZ)
• The Nature of Ash by Mandy Hager, (Random House New Zealand)
• Marked by Denis Martin, (Walker Books Australia)
• Earth Dragon, Fire Hare by Ken Catran, (HarperCollins Publishers (NZ) Ltd)
• Snakes and Ladders by Mary-anne Scott, (Scholastic NZ Ltd)

LIANZA Illustration Award - Russell Clark Award
• The Dragon Hunters by James Russell, illustrated by Link Choi, (Dragon Brothers Books Ltd)
• Mister Whistler by Margaret Mahy, illustrated by Gavin Bishop, Gecko Press)
• Kiwi: The Real Story by Annemarie Florian, illustrated by Heather Hunt, (New Holland Publishers Ltd)
• Blue Gnu by Kyle Mewburn, illustrated by Daron Parton, (Scholastic NZ Ltd)
• Melu by Kyle Mewburn, illustrated by Ali Teo and John O’Reilly, (Scholastic NZ Ltd)
• A Great Cake by Tina Matthews, (Walker Books Australia)

LIANZA Non Fiction Award – Elsie Locke Medal
• At the Beach: Explore & Discover the New Zealand Seashore by Ned Barraud and Gillian Candler, (Craig Potton Publishing)
• Eruption! Discovering New Zealand Volcanoes by Maria Gill, (New Holland Publishers (NZ) Ltd)
• 100 Amazing Tales from Aotearoa by Simon Morton and Riria Hotere, (Te Papa Press)

Te Kura Pounamu (te reo Māori)
• Hautipua Rererangi story by Julian Arahanga, illustrated by Andrew Burdan, (Huia)
• Ngā Waituhi o Rēhua by Katerina Te Heikoko Mataira, (Huia)
• Arohanui by Huia Publishers, illustrated Andrew Burdan, (Huia)
• Ko Meru by Kyle Mewburn, translated by Ngaere Roberts, illustrated by Ali Teo and John O’Reilly (Scholastic)
• Taea ngā whetū by Dawn McMillan, translated by Ngaere Roberts, illustrated by Keinyo White, (Scholastic)

Follow the LIANZA Children’s Book Awards:
http://www.lianza.org.nz/awards/lianza-childrens-book-awards
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/LianzaChildrensBookAwards
Twitter - #lianzacba
ENDS

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