Thursday, May 18, 2006

Hunter triumphs

Joy Cowley has won the New Zealand Post Book of the Year with her novel for young readers, Hunter. "This novel so impressed the judges with its power and originality that they singled it out as a tour de force of fiction writing with the potential to become a classic of fiction writing for young readers on the international stage."
The award was presented to Joy Cowley last night by the Prime Minister Helen Clark and New Zealand Post’s Chief Executive Officer, John Allen.
Mr Allen said: "The importance of nourishing children’s literature, and therefore encouraging our young people to read, cannot be overestimated. Books not only impart knowledge but more importantly they enrich the imagination, giving our children the ability to innovate and create."
The judging panel, chaired by Julie Harper of Jabberwocky Children’s Bookshop, read and debated the merits of 118 books published during 2005. "We were taken on many journeys – journeys that informed us or took us to imaginary, exciting worlds, journeys that made us laugh and cry and appreciate the experience of others," Julie said.
The category winners and honour award recipients are:
New Zealand Post Book of the Year:
Hunter by Joy Cowley (Puffin)
Junior Fiction Category:
Hunter by Joy Cowley (Puffin)
Honour Award:
Sil by Jill Harris (Longacre Press)
Young Adult Fiction Category:
With Lots of Love from Georgia by Brigid Lowry (Allen & Unwin)
Honour Award:
Kaitangata Twitch by Margaret Mahy (Allen & Unwin)
Picture Book Category:
A Booming in the Night by Ben Brown, illustrated by Helen Taylor (Reed Publishing)
Honour Award:
Haere – Farewell, Jack, Farewell by Tim Tipene, illustrated by Huhana Smith (Huia Publishers)
Non Fiction Category:
Scarecrow Army: The Anzacs at Gallipoli by Leon Davidson (Black Dog Books)
Honour Award:
Blue New Zealand: Plants, Animals, Environments – A Visual Guide by Glenys Stace (Puffin)
Best First Book Award:
The Unknown Zone by Phil Smith (Random House New Zealand)
Children’s Choice Award:
Nobody’s Dog written by Jennifer Beck and illustrated by Lindy Fisher.

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