Some of New Zealand's favourite writers and illustrators for children are preparing to hit the road in a series of author tours visiting schools, libraries and bookshops in a national festival of reading and literature beginning on Monday 9 May 2005.

Some of New Zealand's favourite writers and illustrators for children are preparing to hit the road in a series of author tours visiting schools, libraries and bookshops in a national festival of reading and literature beginning on Monday 9 May 2005.

The fourteen touring writers and illustrators are finalists in the New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children & Young Adults 2005. Their tours and events culminate in the New Zealand Post Book Awards ceremony at Parliament on Thursday 19 May, when the winners of the Awards will be announced.

Two-time winner of the Junior Fiction category in the awards, V M Jones, will be visiting schools and libraries in the Auckland region from 9 May. Her book, Beyond the Shroud is a finalist in the Junior Fiction category this year. This book is the second in the fantasy series, The Karazan Quartet, the first of which, The Serpents of Arakesh, was a finalist in the same category last year. V M Jones won this category in 2004 with her novel, Juggling with Mandarins and in 2003, with Buddy.

Carl Bland, illustrator of the Picture Book category finalist, The Night Kite: Poems for Children will be sharing his artistic talents with children in Northland. The poems are written by his father, Peter Bland, a well-known actor and writer.

Last year's New Zealand Post Book of the Year winner, Janet Hunt, will be visiting to South Auckland and the Waikato. Her latest book, From Weta to Kauri: A Guide to the New Zealand Forest, is a finalist in the Non Fiction category.

Children in Tauranga enjoying the New Zealand Post Book Awards in 2004
©BAY OF PLENTY TIMES, A DIVISION OF WILSON & HORTON

Melanie Drewery, best-known for the Nanny Mihi series, will be talking to children in Tauranga, Rotorua and Taupo about her Picture Book category finalist, Koro's Medicine, a story and beginner's guide to traditional Maori medicine all in one.

David Hill returns to Gisborne and the Hawkes Bay. They must have liked this perennially popular author as he was there last year! David's novel, Coming Back is a case study of a tragic car accident that changes many lives. It's a finalist in the Young Adult Fiction category.

The 'Clubs' epidemic hits Taranaki and Wanganui when Kate De Goldi comes to town. Her book, Clubs: A Lolly Leopold Story, a lively, fun story about belonging to a club, is a Picture Book category finalist this year.

Bernard Beckett will have teenagers in Palmerston North and the Kapiti Coast rolling around the floor in laughter as he regales them with the story of 16-year-old Malcolm and his latest project - a documentary on sex for the school science fair. To read the full story, check out Bernard's Young Adult Fiction category finalist book, Malcolm and Juliet.

Wellington region has five writers and illustrators participating in events. Fleur Beale, who has two books in this year's Awards - My Story: A New Song in the Land - The Writings of Atapo, Paihia, c. 1840 and Walking Lightly - will be visiting Porirua. Sabrina Malcolm, the illustrator of Koro's Medicine, will be in the Wairarapa before heading to Upper Hutt.

Shirley Corlett, author of the Junior Fiction category finalist, You've Got Guts, Kenny Melrose, will be telling Kenny's tough-life story to kids in Wellington, before travelling to Southland and Queenstown.

Greg O'Brien will also talk about his Non Fiction finalist book, Welcome to the South Seas: Contemporary New Zealand Art for Young People, in Wellington before visiting Christchurch and Dunedin.

Award-winning author and illustrator, Gavin Bishop, will be entertaining children in the Canterbury region, with stories from Taming the Sun: Four Maori Myths, a finalist in the Picture Book category.

Prolific Auckland writer, Jennifer Beck will visit the Nelson and Marlborough regions. Jennifer's inspirational biography, John Britten: The Boy Who Did Do Better is a finalist in the Non Fiction category. And, last but not least, Joanna Orwin, author of the Young Adult Fiction category finalist, Out of Tune, will be travelling to the West Coast.

Full details of all events, including dates, times and venues will be available on-line at www.nzpostbookawards.co.nz from early April.

The New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children & Young Adults celebrate quality and excellence in books for children and teenagers. These awards and the festivities which surround them, have enjoyed the support of New Zealand Post as principal sponsor since 1997. The author tours for this festival are made possible thanks to a grant from Creative New Zealand.

New Zealand Post works closely with Booksellers New Zealand to encourage children to read and enjoy books. New Zealand Post is committed to building literate communities through its sponsorship of the awards. The awards are also supported by Creative New Zealand and Book Tokens (NZ) Ltd and are administered by Booksellers New Zealand.

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For further information, please contact:
Sandra Noakes
Media Co-ordinator
New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children & Young Adults 2005
Ph 09 411 9908 / 027 228 7013
Email sandra.noakes@xtra.co.nz
www.nzpostbookawards.co.nz

Important Dates:
Monday 9 May Nationwide festival and celebrations begin, writers on tour
Tuesday 3 May Children's Choice Award voting closes
Thursday 19 May Winners announced in Wellington at Parliament