2008 LIANZA Children’s Book Awards

On Monday night the LIANZA Children’s Book Awards were held at the National Library of New Zealand. The Drawbridge Mural added some background glitter, the acrobatic stilt walkers some lofty entertainment and the passionate observations from readers, authors, speakers and judges were as lively and engaging as the finalists. A point judging panel convener Bob Docherty noted when he congratulated all those on the shortlist, “here is real quality writing and such a variety of genre and style”. And so to the winners, they are.

Esther Glen Award - for fiction Smashed by Mandy Hager (Random House New Zealand). The judges described this novel by Wellington based author Mandy Hager 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.”

"A brilliant story, from a master illustrator." Rats by Gavin Bishop (Random House New Zealand) took out the Russell Clark Award for illustration. Certainly a popular choice with the audience and in a lovely touch of Rats synchronicity Bishop noted in his speech (above) that this is the year of the rat, that he had recently come face to face with a rat in his compost bin, “we both shrieked” and that Russell Clark was one of his art tutors at University. "A book that will be around for a long time," and one that works particularly well as a read aloud the judges concluded

While the judges were, "disappointed in the number and the variety of entries for the non fiction award," they were encouraged “by the superb quality of the five finalists in the Elsie Locke Award for non fiction.” That prize went to Draw New Zealand Birds by Heather Arnold (Raupo Publishing). Here is a book the judges described as, "timeless, it will still be relevant in 50 years time... A professionally written, and laid out book"

The Te Kura Pounamu prize was given to Kai Ora! 2 – Tikanga a Iwi series (Hana Ltd) by Kararaina Uatuku, Hana Pomare, Charisma Rangipunga, Hana O’Regan and Che Wilson. This award recognises outstanding work in te reo Māori for children and young people. The judges said this beautifully photographed series was, “unique with nothing else available on the topics in Maori or English.”

Each award consists of a medal or Taonga and $1,000 prize money. Heartfelt congratulations to the finalists, the winners - and judging panel; Bob Docherty, Alice Heather, Belynda Smith, and Rosemary Tisdall.