Hot competition for LIANZA Book Awards

Hot competition for LIANZA Book Awards

The LIANZA (Library and Information Association of NZ Aotearoa) Children’s book Awards, including NZ’s longest running book prize, announces its 2007 shortlist in the fiction, non-fiction, illustrated book, and te reo Maori categories.

These awards celebrate the unique contribution made to cultural heritage and national identity by NZ children’s authors and illsutrators.

Four awards are offered. they are: the Esther Glen Award, the Russell Clark Award, the Elsie Locke Award, and the Te Kura Pounamu.

The Esther Glen Award – Established in 1945, this is both NZ’s longest running book award and this country’s oldest award for children’s literature. It is offered to the author of a work which is considered to be a distinguished contribution to literature for chidlren or young people.

The titles shortlisted for this award in 2007 are: 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 Russell Clark Award – Established in 1975, the Russell Clark Award is presented to the artist or illustrator of a work which is considered to be a distinguished contribution to literature for children or young people. The artist or illustrator must be a citizen or resident of NZ.

The titles shortlisted for this award in 2007 are: Three Fishing Brothers Gruff written and illustrated 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 the 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 ilustrated by Gavin Bishop (Random House).

The Elsie Locke Award – Established in 1986 and previously called the LIANZA Young People’s Non-fiction Award, the Elsie Locke Award is presented to the author of a work which is considered to be a distinguished contribution to literature for children or young people.

The titles shortlisted for this award in 2007 are: 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 & Darryl Torckler (Puffin Books); Illustrated History of the South Pacific by Marcia Stenson (Random House); Nature Kids: Kakapo by Rod Morris (Reed Children’s Books).

Te Kura Pounamu – Established in 1995, the Te Kura Pounamu is presented to the author for a work in te reo Maori that is considered to be a distinguished contribution to literature for children or young people and promotes excellence of library resources in Maori.

The titles shortlisted for this award in 2007 are:Matatuhi by Robin Kahukiwa, translated by Kiwa Hammond (Puffin Books); Rekohu, taku kainga e by Hannah Rainforth (Huia); Whakaeke i nga ngaru by Gavin Bishop, translated by Katerina Te Heikoko Mataira (Random House); Tenei Mea te Poha Titi by Graham Metzger and Hana Pomare (H.A.N.A. Ltd); Te Tui by Sue Corkill and Te Huirangi Waikerepuru; Te Pukeko by Eriata Nopera and Te Huirangi Waikerepuru; Te Kereru by Sue Corkill and Te Huirangi Waikerepuru; and Te Tirairaka by Sue Corkill, Niwa Short, and Te Huirangi Waikerepuru (Series) (Huia).

These awards are an excellent opportunity for the library profession to recognise the recent work of NZ’s children’s authors and illustrators.

The judges were very impressed by the standard of many of the entries, especially in the area of fiction which resulted in six titles being shortlisted for the Esther Glen Award.

“This year’s finalists are the best I have come across in my three years as judge,” says panel convenor Bob Docherty.

“We named six finalists for the Esther Glen Award and could easily have named 15.”

For the non-fiction titles in the Elsie Locke Award Mr Docherty says, “It is a joy to see the colourful, interesting resources that are available to present aspects of the world and history to NZ’s young people.

“There was a very strong line-up for this year’s Russell Clark Award. It included several well-established children’s illustrators as well as some comparative newcomers.

“While our focus was predominantly on excellence in illustration, an all-important aspect for us was whether the illustration enhanced an already strong story, and how consistently and effectively it achieved this.”

The judges for the Te Kura Pounamu Award found that the quality and quantity of both fiction and no