STORYLINES’ NOTABLE BOOKS ANNOUNCED



The Storylines Children’s Literature Trust’s annual list of New Zealand’s notable books for children was announced at the Storylines Margaret Mahy Day in Auckland on Saturday 29 March 2008.

The list is chosen annually by a panel of children’s literature professionals including past and present members of the Storylines management committee, all of whom have a wealth of experience and knowledge in the field of children’s literature. Many have served as judges for the New Zealand Post Book Awards (and its previous incarnations) and the LIANZA children’s book awards.

The list comprises 10 books in each of four categories – picture books, junior and young adult fiction. In non-fiction this year, the judges named only nine books.

“These 39 books represent the very best books for young people published in New Zealand during 2007,” says Storylines Trust chairperson Dr Libby Limbrick. “Teachers, and parents, as well as authors, illustrators and publishers, have come to see the list as providing a valuable benchmark for outstanding storytelling, illustrating and design.”
The Notable Books list was instituted in 1999.



STORYLINES NOTABLE BOOKS 2008


Picture books
Is Your Grandmother a Goanna? by Pamela Allen. Penguin Australia.

The Bean’s Story by Tatiana Aslund; artwork by Vasanti Unka. Scholastic New Zealand.

Rats! by Gavin Bishop. Random House New Zealand.

Hairy Maclary’s Hat Tricks by Lynley Dodd. Mallinson Rendel.

Dad's Takeaways by Melanie Drewery; illustrated by Christopher White. Mallinson Rendel.

The Grumble Rumble Mumbler by Melanie Drewery, illustration and design by Loudmouth Productions. Huia Publishers.

Tahi: One Lucky Kiwi by Melanie Drewery, designed and illustrated by John O’Reilly and Ali Teo. Random House New Zealand.

Mere McKaskill's Boil-up by Tracy Duncan. Reed Children’s Books (now Raupo Publishing).

No Room for a Mouse by Kyle Mewburn, illustrated by Freya Blackwood. Scholastic Australia. The Puppet Box by Moira Wairama, illustrated by Bruce Potter. Scholastic New Zealand.



Junior fiction
Snake and Lizard by Joy Cowley, illustrated by Gavin Bishop. Gecko Press.

The Mad Tadpole Adventure by Melanie Drewery, illustrated by Jenny Cooper. Scholastic New Zealand.

The Dumpster Saga by Craig Harrison. Scholastic New Zealand.

Shadows in the Ice by Des Hunt. HarperCollins New Zealand.

Dead Dan’s Dee by Phyllis Johnston. Longacre Press.

What Happened that Day by Marie Langley. Reed (now Raupo Publishing).

Taking Off by Janice Marriott. HarperCollins New Zealand.

Yo, Shark Bait! by Vicki Simpson. Scholastic New Zealand.

Archie’s Adventures by Leonie Jayne Thorpe. HarperCollins New Zealand.

The Great Chocolate Cake Bake-off by Philippa Werry. Scholastic New Zealand.



Young adult fiction
The Transformation of Minna Hargreaves by Fleur Beale. Random House New Zealand. Monsters of Blood and Honour by Ken Catran. Random House New Zealand.

Salt by Maurice Gee. Penguin Books.

In Too Deep by D.C. Grant. Scholastic New Zealand.

Smashed by Mandy Hager. Random House New Zealand.

Time of the Eagle by Sherryl Jordan. Simon & Schuster.

Losing It by Sandy McKay. Longacre Press.

The Sea-wreck Stranger by Anna Mackenzie. Longacre Press.

Hideout by Lorraine Orman. Longacre Press.

Zillah by Penelope Todd. Longacre Press.



Non-fiction
Draw New Zealand Birds by Heather Arnold; photographs by Geoff Moon and Rod Morris. Reed (now Raupo Publishing).

Weather Watch New Zealand by Sandra Carrod. Reed (now Raupo Publishing).

The Dalai Lama Story by Andrew Crowe. Longacre Press.

Which New Zealand Spider? by Andrew Crowe. Penguin Books.

Rubbish! by Rachael Goddard, photographs by Cheryl Reynolds, illustrated by Moira Corridan. Reed (now Raupo Publishing).

Reaching the Summit: Sir Edmund Hillary's Story by Alexa Johnston with David Larsen. Puffin Books.

Poetry Pudding: A Delicious Collection of Rhyme and Wit edited by Jenny Argante, illustrated by Debbie Tipuna. Reed (now Raupo Publishing).

Illustrated History of Antarctica by Marcia Stenson. Random House New Zealand.

What Is a … ? series by Feana Tu’akoi, designed by Vasanti Unka. Scholastic New Zealand.

The judging panel would like to make special mention of Illustrated Myths and Legends of the Pacific by AW Reed, illustrated by Jenny Cooper, published by Reed (now Raupo Publishing). The stories were first published in 1969 as Fairy Tales from the Pacific Islands. The panel considers this edition, with new illustrations, to be a treasure for New Zealand children.