Books by two of New Zealand’s most revered children’s writers – Margaret Mahy and Joy Cowley – feature in this year’s New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards finalist line-up.
Cowley’s Cowshed Christmas, illustrated by Gavin Bishop, and Mahy’s The Word Witch, edited by Tessa Duder and illustrated by David Elliot, are both finalists in the Picture Book Category.
But they are up against some stiff competition with other award-winning authors and highly creative newcomers battling it out for the top prizes in the country’s premier, annual children’s book awards.
The 2010 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards judging panel convenor, Rosemary Tisdall commented that the overall quality of this year’s submitted books was outstanding and whittling the pile down to a final shortlist was a challenge.
‘It is very encouraging that even in a year of recession and the changing market for books, many publishers are still able to produce books of outstanding quality. This reflects the respect that is felt for the work of both authors and illustrators.’
A Te Reo Māori children’s book, Hū-Hū Koroheke, translated by Raglan author, Kāterina Te Heikōkō Mataira, is a finalist in the Picture Book Category this year, as well as the original English language edition, Old Hu-Hu, written by Kyle Mewburn and illustrated by Rachel Driscoll.
The Awards’ Te Reo Māori Advisor, Paora Tibble said Hū-Hū Koroheke was an excellent translation from the “Super Nanny of te ao Māori.”
‘The text is descriptive and rich in terms of the kupu (words) used by the author. It could have been a ‘straight translation’, but the translator has created beautiful word pictures to complement the illustrations and it reflects the original English version,’ said Mr Tibble.
Many of the 20 finalist books reflect the essence of New Zealand: high country living, mud pools and geysers, the cowshed, gumboots and pavlovas. Other works give a taste of history, creatures, war and cyberspace. They were selected from more than 130 children’s books published in New Zealand in 2009 and submitted for the Awards.
Winners will be announced on Wednesday 19 May.
Long considered one of the highest accolades a children’s author can receive, children of school age from all over New Zealand vote on this Award. Voting can be placed online at www.nzpostbookawards.co.nz or by using the special voting card available from bookshops, libraries and schools. Voting closes at 5.00pm, Friday 30 April.
All winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony held in Auckland’s Town Hall on Wednesday 19 May.
Finalists will be participating in children’s book events around the country as part of a nationwide festival celebrating the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards. The festivities begin on Monday 10 May and continue through to Wednesday 19 May.
New Zealand Post has been a steadfast sponsor of the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards since 1997. Its partnership has seen the awards flourish, growing from strength to strength over the last decade. The New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards are also supported by Creative New Zealand and Book Tokens (NZ) Ltd and are administered by Booksellers NZ.
KEY DATES
4 March Children’s Choice Award voting opens
10-19 May New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Festival week,
finalists on tour nationwide
19 May New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards winners announced