LIANZA Children’s Book Award Finalists 2012

A librarian, finance product manager, cartoonist and a storyteller are among the finalists in this year's LIANZA Children's Book Awards.

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.

LIANZA (The Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa) received over 110 nominations for the 2012 awards.

Convenor of judges and manager of Gisborne district libraries Pene Walsh said there were more publishers involved this year.

"It has been a privilege to read almost all of the previous year’s best New Zealand books for young people. ‘Total immersion’ in a reading pressure cooker for three months intensified the terrific writing we enjoyed, constantly renewing our respect for Kiwi authors and publishers. We were delighted to see a greater number of publishers supporting their authors.”

“We are certain that children, in particular boys, have a great selection of books to choose from this year and we know that librarians are making sure they get into children’s hands.”

Alice Heather, convenor of the Te Kura Pounamu award, said a number of the entries made history, legends and Māori tikanga more accessible to children. 

“However, it was most disappointing to see the sharp drop in the number of te reo Māori titles published this year. Let’s hope this trend does not continue.”

The LIANZA Children’s Book Award 2012 Finalists:

LIANZA Junior Fiction Award – Esther Glen Medal

The Travelling Restaurant by Barbara Else, (GECKO Press)

The Peco Incident by Des Hunt, (HarperCollins Publishers (NZ) Ltd)

The Wolf in the Wardrobe by Susan Brocker, (HarperCollins Publishers (NZ) Ltd)

Super Finn by Leonie Agnew, (Scholastic) Leonie teaches at Sancta Maria Catholic Primary school in Manukau.

The Flytrap Snaps; Book One in The Fly Papers by Johanna Knox, (The Hinterland Press Ltd) Johanna published this book with her partner, designer Walter Moala.

LIANZA Young Adult Fiction Award

The Shattering by Karen Healey, (Allen & Unwin)

Pyre of Queens by David Hair, (Penguin NZ) David was inspired to write this fantasy novel by the time he spent living in India. He writes around his work in financial services.

Dirt Bomb by Fleur Beale, (Random House New Zealand)

The Bridge by Jane Higgins, (The Text Publishing Co Australia)

Recon Team Angel: Assault by Brian Falkner, (Walker Books Australia)

LIANZA Illustration Award - Russell Clark Award

Rāhui (Māori  ed) by Chris Szekely and Malcolm Ross, (Huia) Chris is Chief Librarian at the Alexander Turnbull Library. He worked with Malcolm Ross (now deceased) 20 years ago in the School Services department of the National Library. The book is based on their memories of holidays at the beach with whānau.

The Call of the Kokako by Maria Gill and Heather Arnold, (New Holland Publishers (NZ) Ltd)

Fantails Quilt by Gay Hay and Margaret Tolland, (Page Break Ltd)

Bruiser by Gavin Bishop, (Random House New Zealand)

Marmaduke Duck and Bernadette Bear by Juliette MacIver and Sarah Davis, (Scholastic)

Waiting for Later by Tina Matthews, (Walker Books Australia)

LIANZA Non Fiction Award – Elsie Locke Medal

Digging up the Past: Archaeology for the Young & Curious by David Veart, (Auckland University Press)

Nice Day for a War by Chris Slane and Matt Elliott, (HarperCollins Publishers (NZ) Ltd)

Chris Slane is a cartoonist. Matt Elliott is a comedian, historian and biographer.

The Call of the Kokako by Maria Gill and Heather Arnold, (New Holland Publishers (NZ) Ltd)

New Zealand Hall of Fame: 50 Remarkable Kiwis by Maria Gill and Bruce Potter, (New Holland Publishers (NZ) Ltd)

Te Kura Pounamu (te reo Māori)

Rāhui (Māori ed) by Chris Szekely and Malcolm Ross, translated by Brian Morris (Huia)

Te Poiwhana by Te Kauhoe Wano and Andrew Burdan, (Huia)

Ihenga by Aunty Bea – Piatarihi Tui Yates and Katherine Quin Merewether, (Ihenga Charitable Trust)

Kei Wareware Tātou by Feana Tu’akoi and Elspeth Alix Batt, translated by Katerina Mataira, (Scholastic)

 Katerina was a writer, artist and academic. She was created Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2011 for her services to Māori language. She died later that year. Katerina has been a finalist nearly every year since this award began. 

Nga Taniwha i Te-Whanga-nui-a-Tara by Moira Wairama and Bruce Potter, (Penguin NZ)

 Moira is a storyteller who loves to bring Māori legends to life. This myth was first told to her by Tipene O’Regan over 30 years ago. She was inspired to get it published after her audiences kept asking where they could read it for themselves.

The 2012 Award Ceremony will take place in Wellington on Monday August 6^th at Caffe L’affare, College Street. The winner of each category is awarded a medal or taonga and $1,000.

The LIANZA Children’s Book Awards 2012 are supported by Fishpond.co.nz, Caffe L’affare and The Children’s Bookshop, Kilbirnie, Wellington.