An announcement from LIANZA

Library Life
LIANZA Children’s Book Awards 2007

It’s that time of year again; time to announce the shortlist for the LIANZA Children’s Book Awards 2007.

This year’s judges have had their work cut out for them.
Over 80 entries were received from publishers large and small for all four awards.
Along with titles nominated by the judges, these then had to be whittled down by the two panels (one for Te Kura Pounamu and one for the English language awards) to create a shortlist of five titles per award. They have tackled this task with great enthusiasm and created an exciting shortlist that features the best of New Zealand children’s literature from 2006.

These awards are an excellent opportunity for the library profession to recognise the recent work of New Zealand’s children’s authors and illustrators. This year 24 outstanding new titles for children and young people by New Zealand authors and illustrators are featured, including one series. The judges were very impressed by the high standard of many of the entries, especially in the area of fiction, where a few tough choices had to be made. This resulted in six titles being shortlisted for the Esther Glen Award for fiction.

The two judging panels were:

Te Kura Pounamu Award Panel:
Alice Heather (Convener)Raewyn PaewaiEddie Neha

The Esther Glen, Elsie Locke, and Russell Clark Awards Panel:
Bob Docherty (Convener)Katherine ChisholmHelen O’Carroll

The awards will be presented at a ceremony in Rotorua on 11 September 2007 as part of the LIANZA annual conference.

The shortlisted titles for the LIANZA Children’s Book Awards 2007 are:

The Ester Glen Medal
This award for fiction was established in 1945 to commemorate the work of Esther Glen: author, editor and highly regarded journalist.

* The Whizbanger that Emmental Built by Reuben Schwarz (Puffin Books)
*Genesis: A Novel by Bernard Beckett (Longacre Press)
*Face It by Denis Martin (Puffin Books)
*Thor's Tale: Endurance & Adventure in the Southern Ocean by Janice Marriott (HarperCollins)
*The Assassin of Gleam by James Norcliffe (Hazard Press)
* Billy: A Lolly Leopold Story by Kate de Goldi (Trapeze)

The Elsie Locke Award
Previously known as the LIANZA Young People’s Non-fiction Award, this award was renamed after receipt of a generous bequest in 2001 in memory of Elsie Locke: writer, historian, and leader in peace movements and women’s affairs.

* Winging it!: The Adventures of Tim Wallis by Neville Peat (Longacre Press)
*Red Haze: Australians & New Zealanders in Vietnam by Leon Davidson (Black Dog Books)
*Birds-Eye View: Through the Eyes of New Zealand Birds by Maria Gill (Puffin Books)
*Illustrated History of the South Pacific by Marcia Stenson (Random House)
*Nature Kids: Kakapo by Rod Morris (Reed Children’s Books)

The Russell Clark Award
This award for excellence in children’s book illustration was named for renowned New Zealand illustrator Russell Clark. It was first awarded in 1975.


*Three Fishing Brothers Gruff by Ben Galbraith (Hodder Children’s Books)
* Kiss Kiss Yuck Yuck by Kyle Mewburn, illustrated by Ali Teo & John O'Reilly (Scholastic)
*Greedy Cat and Sneeze by Joy Cowley, illustrated by Robyn Belton (Scholastic)
*Shut the Gate by Elizabeth Pulford, illustrated by Jenny Cooper (Scholastic)
*Riding the Waves: Four Maori Myths written and illustrated by Gavin Bishop (Random House)

Te Kura Pounamu
This award goes to a book that is considered to be a distinguished contribution to literature for children or young people in te reo Māori and promotes excellence of library resources in Māori. It was first awarded in 1995.

*Matatuhi by Robyn Kahukiwa, translated by Kiwa Hammond (Puffin Books)
*Rēkohu, taku kāinga e by Hannah Rainforth (Huia)
* Whakaeke i ngā ngaru by Gavin Bishop, translated by Katerina Te Heikōkō Mataira (Random)*Tēnei Mea te Pōhā Tītī by Graham Metzger and Hana Pōmare (H.A.N.A. Ltd)
*Te Tui by Sue Corkill and Te Huirangi Waikerepuru;
Te Pūkeko by Eriata Nopera and Te Huirangi Waikerepuru;
Te Kererū by Sue Corkill and Te Huirangi Waikerepuru; and
Te Tīrairaka by Sue Corkill, Niwa Short, and Te Huirangi Waikerepuru (Series) (Huia)

Congratulations to all those shortlisted.