From a field of 166 entries, the 28 finalists in the 2021 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults were announced on Thursday 10 June. Across six main categories, these books offer the nation’s young readers a tasty smorgasbord of titles, packed with meaty themes and addictive plot lines.
Below is a list of the finalist titles we hold copies of in the library, for a full list of all finalists please click HERE:
Picture book Award
Hare & Ruru by Laura Shallcrass
Hare needs to find quiet. Everywhere there is noise, and so Hare sets off on a journey to find peace and stillness. The theme of mindfulness is captured in a story that encourages readers to consider Hare’s feelings. With good pace, beautifully designed spreads, and stunning images that evoke emotion, this is a gentle book for children and adults who know what it is like to be anxious.
Hound the Detective by Kimberley Andrew
Hound loves to solve mysteries — but has he missed something important? Readers are invited to search, question and link ideas along with Hound as he gathers clues and tries to make sense of them. There is much to discover in the fun, busy illustrations, which carry clever messages that connect to reveal a humorous twist at the end. This interactive book will be looked at over and over again.
The Hug Blanket by Chris Gurney
A visually bright book that deals with love and the loss of a grandparent in a sensitive and straightforward way. The text does not shy away from using words like ‘died’, ‘coffin’ and ‘graveside’, but softens the impact of these through warm illustrations depicting family images and treasured memories. A wonderfully constructed story that will leave us all reaching for our own Hug Blankets
This Is Where I Stand by Kieran Rynhart
Depicting a World War I soldier as the central character. The statue remembers those who went to war, and he also watches and gathers the stories of the people he has seen come and go across time, saying “I am Memory”. An economy of words allows the evocative images to speak, together giving thoughtful voice to Anzac history.
Junior Fiction
Across the Risen Sea by Bren MacDibble
The gentle way of life of Neoma’s and Jag’s community is endangered. When Jag is taken to the Valley of the Sun, Neoma must embark on a sea voyage to rescue him. The friends must use all their wits and diplomacy to help two cultures accept each other and live peacefully. This is a well-paced story with quiet humour and a subtle environmental message, which draws readers into a credible future.
Charlie Tangaroa and the Creature from the Sea by T K Roxborogh
Development of a port is degrading the ocean and has reignited tension between the Māori gods, throwing both the human world and the realm of the gods into chaos. A ponaturi, a sea goblin, believes that Charlie Tangaroa straddles the two worlds and that only he can restore calm. Somehow Charlie must find a way to reunite the gods and stop the destruction. Believable, gripping and thoroughly enjoyable.
Red Edge by Des Hunt
In post-earthquake Christchurch, unlikely friends Cassi and Quinn investigate mysterious comings and goings in a broken-down house on the edge of the Red Zone. Helped by an ex-journalist, the pair expose an environmental crime and a pair of opportunists exploiting their culture for profit. A compelling, credible read with enjoyable characters, with whom we empathise as they deal with personal demons and the attitudes of their peers.
The Inkberg Enigma by Jonathan King
Book-loving Miro and camera-toting Zia stumble across a secret in the seaside town of Aurora. Together they discover why Aurora’s fishing catches are always so good, and the corrupt pact that makes this possible. This is an astonishing debut in a refreshing format, with homages to comic creators of the past and a compelling story that will draw in even those who are not usually fans of graphic novels.
The Tunnel of Dreams by Bernard Beckett
Two sets of twins and a magical, parallel world provide the foundation for an absorbing adventure. The twins find themselves on a dangerous and difficult quest that challenges their abilities and their sense of self. Readers will become immersed in a world where animals can talk and twins can levitate, and will find themselves getting carried along in this delightful fantasy adventure.
Young Adult Fiction Award
Fire's Caress by Lani Wendt Young
Lani Wendt Young brings her characteristic linguistic flair and talent for narrative pacing to this return to the Telesā world. Fire’s Caress is a novel of brilliant collision as the roiling, arcane powers of Sāmoa’s mythological past confront modern-day corporate hegemony. Global themes of environmentalism, neocolonial resistance, and the vitality of traditional stories are embodied in deftly written characters, who crackle with intensity and life.
The King's Nightingale by Sherryl Jordan
Elowen, enslaved and sold as a singer to the king of Al-Zafar, is the beating heart of this book. Readers will be drawn into Elowen’s world by her determination, bravery and honesty — and by Sherryl Jordan’s intricate, poetic world-building and evocative storytelling voice. From miserable depths, Elowen leads us to hope. The King’s Nightingale is a dynamic story of power, powerlessness, love and loyalty.
The voice of the small-town New Zealand teen is effortlessly captured in a hard-hitting story of what it is to be young and on the outside. Even though ‘pōrangi’ (‘crazy’) boy Niko’s life is touched by hardship at school and at home, he never stops fighting to uphold his ideals. Shilo Kino’s deft hand brings to life characters that the reader can easily recognise and love.
Non-Fiction Award
Egg and Spoon: An Illustrated Cookbook by Alexandra Tylee
Equally appealing to the gourmet and child chef alike, Egg and Spoon is full of tasty recipes, and even more palatable illustrations. Clear instructions are paired with intentionally ‘messy’ pictures in this playful cookbook that will have you wanting to dog-ear pages, spill batter, and most of all, cook. Including tips on foraging and kitchen basics, this is a delightful read, even out of the kitchen!
Mophead Tu: The Queen's Poem by Selina Tusitala Marsh
When you achieve a dream but people call you a ‘sell out’, what do you do? Can you serve the Queen and still stand with your people, who struggled against the Crown? Mophead showed us the journey, now Mophead Tu shows us that the destination sometimes comes with its own set of challenges. It’s an aspirational and inspirational tale, told in bold illustrations, and with even bolder words.
New Zealand Disasters by Maria Gill
Disasters will fascinate and inform in equal measure. Vivid illustrations bring to life some of the most sombre events in New Zealand’s history. From earthquakes and shipwrecks to plane crashes and pandemics, the focus is not just on the events themselves but also on how New Zealanders have responded to disasters and learned from them, and on resiliency and outcomes.
Illustration Award
Hare & Ruru by Laura Shallcrass
Hare needs to find quiet. Everywhere there is noise, and so Hare sets off on a journey to find peace and stillness. The theme of mindfulness is captured in a story that encourages readers to consider Hare’s feelings. With good pace, beautifully designed spreads, and stunning images that evoke emotion, this is a gentle book for children and adults who know what it is like to be anxious.
I Am the Universe by Vasanti Unka
Kaleidoscopic illustrations fill each page, as readers are guided through the galaxy and solar system to Earth, and all the way down to a family and eventually a single child, before drawing the reader’s attention back to the infinite space of the universe in the final spread. Judicious labelling of elements of the solar system, atmosphere and continents introduces non-fiction elements to this joyful journey through the universe.
Moon & Sun by Malene Laugesen
Moon envies her bright and beautiful sister Sun and feels dull next to her. Told from Moon’s perspective, deep blue skies and bright yellow sunshine are in counterpoint in this tale of their complex relationship. Multiple curved lines flow across each unframed watercolour spread, carrying readers along through the story, while the colours and facial expressions of the personified astral bodies convey the emotion of the text.
Te Reo Māori Award
Aroha Te Whai Ora by Craig Phillips and Rebekah Lipp
We are taken on a journey with Aroha as she deals with her worries and fears, and learns techniques to manage her emotions. Readers are encouraged to think about their feelings and find effective ways to lift their spirits. The flow of lines and colour in the illustrations draws readers in, while te reo Māori has an ebb and flow, with a rhythmic beat that would work well as a waiata.
Mihi by Gavin Bishop
Mihi introduces concepts of whānau and place in the world, the starting point for everyone learning te reo Māori. The simplicity of illustrations and reo make this board book both beautiful and accessible. Mihi shows the special places and people with whom readers can identify, both at home and in the community, providing a solid foundation for learning te reo Māori in the future.
Best first Book Award
Hare & Ruru by Laura Shallcrass
Hare needs to find quiet. Everywhere there is noise, and so Hare sets off on a journey to find peace and stillness. The theme of mindfulness is captured in a story that encourages readers to consider Hare’s feelings. With good pace, beautifully designed spreads, and stunning images that evoke emotion, this is a gentle book for children and adults who know what it is like to be anxious.
The Inkberg Enigma by Jonathan King
Book-loving Miro and camera-toting Zia stumble across a secret in the seaside town of Aurora. Together they discover why Aurora’s fishing catches are always so good, and the corrupt pact that makes this possible. This is an astonishing debut in a refreshing format, with homages to comic creators of the past and a compelling story that will draw in even those who are not usually fans of graphic novels.
The Midnight Adventures of Ruru and Kiwi
Textures, dots, patterns, swirls, smudges and intricate line work give characters personality and appeal in this tale of Ruru and Kiwi and their midnight feasts. The illustrations have energy and depth, with wispy feathery leaves and vibrant bright eyes among the dark forest backgrounds. This is a story of friendship, sharing and fun, captured in images that give movement and charisma to each New Zealand creature.
The Pōrangi Boy by Shilo Kino
The voice of the small-town New Zealand teen is effortlessly captured in a hard-hitting story of what it is to be young and on the outside. Even though ‘pōrangi’ (‘crazy’) boy Niko’s life is touched by hardship at school and at home, he never stops fighting to uphold his ideals. Shilo Kino’s deft hand brings to life characters that the reader can easily recognise and love.