News Room

Winners of the LIANZA Children's Book Awards Announced at the Launch of Library Week

19 August 2008

Master illustrator awarded the Russell Clark Award

Christchurch based author and illustrator Gavin Bishop has received The Russell Clark Award for his intriguing hardcover picture book Rats (Random House), awarded at the LIANZA Children's Book Awards ceremony at the National Library, Wellington. The Russell Clark Award was established in 1975 and celebrates a distinguished contribution to illustrated children's books. Gavin Bishop has been a regular recipient of LIANZA nominations and awards and was the winner of the New Zealand Post Book of the Year 2008 for Snake and Lizard along with Joy Cowley. The judges described Rats as "a brilliant story, from a master illustrator that will be around for a long time."

Wellington writer and teacher Mandy Hager was awarded New Zealand's longest running book prize, The Esther Glen Award. The Award was established in 1944 and is given to the author who is considered to have made the most distinguished contribution to literature for children. The prize was presented to Hager for her young adult fiction book, Smashed (Random House) and is defined by judges as "a stand-out story about seeking the truth, with characters that are believable, strong and still in our minds long after we close the covers."

Graphic Designer Heather Arnold claimed the Elsie Locke Award for her first book Draw New Zealand Birds. A step by step guide. (Raupo). The judges described Arnold's book as "a timeless professionally written book..." The Elsie Locke Award was established in 1986 and celebrates a distinguished contribution to non-fiction for young people.

The Te Kura Pounamu was presented to Kai Ora! 2 - Tikanga a Iwi series (Hana Ltd) by Kararaina Uatuku, Hana Pomare, Charisma Rangipunga, Hana O'Regan and Che Wilson. The Te Kura Pounamu celebrates a work in te reo Māori that promotes excellence in library resources in Māori and makes a distinguished contribution to literature for children and young people. The judges said this fantastically photographed series was "unique with nothing else available on the topics in Maori or English."

Judging Panel Convenor Bob Docherty congratulated New Zealand authors, "there is real quality writing and such a variety of genre and style".

The LIANZA Children's Book Awards ceremony is sponsored by Wheelers Books. The awards celebrate the unique contribution made to cultural heritage and national identity by New Zealand authors and illustrators. Each award consists of a medal or taonga and $1,000 prize money.

For more information please contact:

Wendy Walker
Children's Book Awards Coordinator
LIANZA
wendy@lianza.org.nz