The shortlist for the LIANZA Children's Book Awards have been announced. These awards celebrate the unique contribution made to cultural heritage and national identity by New Zealand children's authors and illustrators.

"This year's finalists are the best I have come across in my three years as judge," said panel convenor Bob Docherty. "We named six finalists for the Esther Glen Award and could easily have named fifteen."The shortlist for the LIANZA Children's Book Awards have been announced. These awards celebrate the unique contribution made to cultural heritage and national identity by New Zealand children's authors and illustrators.

"This year's finalists are the best I have come across in my three years as judge," said panel convenor Bob Docherty. "We named six finalists for the Esther Glen Award and could easily have named fifteen."The Esther Glen Award
Established in 1945, this is both New Zealand'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 children 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 New Zealand.

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 illustrated 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 (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 in and promotes excellence of library resources in Maori.

The titles shortlisted for this award in 2007 are:

Matatuhi by Robyn Kahukiwa, translated by Kiwa Hammond (Puffin Books)
Rēkohu, taku kainga e by Hannah Rainforth (Huia)
Whakaeke i nga ngaru by Gavin Bishop, translated by Katerina Te Heikōkō Mataira (Random House)
Tēnei Mea te Pōha Tītī by Graham Metzger and Hana Pōmare (H.A.N.A. Ltd)
Te Tui by Sue Corkill and Te Huirangi Waikerepuru;
Te Pūkeko by Eriata Nopera and Te Huirangi Waikerepuru;
Te Kererū by Sue Corkill and Te Huirangi Waikerepuru; and
Te Tīrairaka by Sue Corkill, Niwa Short, and Te Huirangi Waikerepuru (Series) (Huia)

Judging panels

There are two judging panels for these awards. For the Te Kura Pounamu Award the judges are: Alice Heather (Panel Convener), National Library, Auckland; Raewyn Paewai, Manukau Public Libraries; and Eddie Neha, Te Rōpū Whakahau.

For the Esther Glen, Elsie Locke, and Russell Clark Awards the judges are: Bob Docherty (Panel Convenor), National Library, Christchurch; Katherine Chisholm, National Library, Palmerston North; and Helen O'Carroll, Christchurch City Libraries.

These awards are an excellent opportunity for the library profession to recognise the recent work of New Zealand'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.

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony taking place from 11am on Tuesday 11 September at the Energy Events Centre in Rotorua as part of the LIANZA Annual Conference. The winners receive a medal or taonga and $1,000.

About LIANZA

The Library & Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa: Te Rau Herenga o Aotearoa (LIANZA) is the professional organisation for the New Zealand library and information services sector.

28/8/07