New Zealand Post Children’s Book Award Finalists

NZPBA LOGO medPheww, what a mouthful of a title but don’t let that put you off checking out some of the nominations for the 2012 Children’s Book Awards. With 4 categories: Picture Book, Junior Fiction, Young Adult Fiction and Non-fiction, there is a fine selection of books that showcase the talents of our New Zealand authors and illustrators.

You can be in to win as well by voting for your favourite book. Grab a voting form from your school or local library or vote online. This goes into the Children’s Choice Award and enters you into the draw to win $500 worth of books for yourself and your school!

We’ll be writing about the finalist books here. So check back to find out more.

Get reading and get voting! You could find a new favourite book, or pick the winner! The winning books will be announced on May 16th.

New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Finalists Perform their Stories

Diana Nield author, of Piggity Wiggity Jiggity-Jig Goes to Dad’s Cafe and Craig Smith, creator of the smash hit The Wonky Donkey will be performing a free show in the Mezzanine Room at Central Library on Sunday 16th May 1:30-2:30pm.

 

Bring your whole family along and join in celebrating New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards.

Drawing Competition

Wow!  There have been some wonderful entries for the drawing competition to celebrate the  New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards . You have such awesome imaginations!! 

 

Here are some of the cool entries we’ve received already:

Crab Footy Pinky Elephanty, Tounge firey snakey rattlezappo, Toddels, Snuffly Puffs, Paul the Irish dingdong doorbell ringer , Alphabetical Abe,  Kitetrofameler,  and Jiggy Jumpy Chocolate Jumpers.

 

 There’s still time to come on down to your library and enter before Sunday 16th of May.

Do you like Drawing?

NZPBA LOGO medAs part of the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards there is a drawing competition.

 

Some of the finalists feature animals with fantastic names like The Wonky Donkey and Piggity-Wiggity Jiggity Jig goes to Dad’s Cafe so we’d like you to draw us your favourite animal and give it your brainiest-zaniest name.

 

There are entry forms at all our libraries  and you can hand your completed entry forms in at the library too.

 

The winner will be announced on the 16th of May and will recieve book vouchers from the Children’s Bookshop.

 

 

Happy reading and drawing everyone!

The Loblolly Boy

The Loblolly Boy By James Norcliffe

 

Have you ever dreamed of flying?  What if the price of this fantastic gift is that you too become a fantastical creature, a creature called the Loblolly boy.  A boy who can fly, who never gets hungry, is invisible, doesn’t leave footprints on the sand, a boy who doesn’t exist.

 

For Red, an orphan boy who lives in fear of the “Keepers” and the dogs, becoming the Loblolly boy seems at first a ticket to freedom.  But being a Loblolly boy can bring its own terrors in the form of the “collectors” people who will stop at nothing to own a loblolly boy.

 

I was enchanted by this book.  It was one of those difficult to put down books.  It was by turns, a beautiful fantasy, and an exciting adventure, and touched of themes of family and friendship.  I particularly liked the character of Captain Bass who has a magical telescope through which you can see the future.

 

I really recommend this book.

 

Reviewed by Anna

Friends: Snake and Lizard

 

Friends: Snake and Lizard 

By Joy Cowley

Illustrations by Gavin Bishop

 

 

‘Friends’ is the follow up to the very popular Snake and Lizard, published in 2007. Snake and lizard live in the desert. Snake is red and Lizard is brown and they are the best of friends (even though they tend to argue quite a lot)

 

The two friends have lots of adventures together in the desert. In one story, Lizard makes up a rain dance to impress Snake; in another they encounter a Porcupine. They even go on withers together (Lizard walks and Snake slithers, so they invent a new word!)

 

I really enjoyed this book. I like that although Snake and Lizard often disagree about things, they always make up with one another in the end. This is a great book for reading aloud, or if you’re just starting to read chapter books.

 

Friends: Snake and Lizard has been nominated in the 2010 NZ Post Book Awards in the Junior Fiction category.

 

By Rowan

E3 Call Home

E3 Call Home is a true story about two godwits that were tagged by New Zealand scientists to track their flight by satellite transmitters in 2007. E3 is the male godwit and E7 is the female. The study showed that godwits are able to fly a distance of about 17,000 kilometres from New Zealand to Alaska and then all the way back to New Zealand!

 

The book has beautiful illustrations and photos, and fascinating facts about godwits. It’s portrayed in a very easy and fun filled way. Brilliant for kids and adults.

 

5 stars.

Would you like to be a published author?

If you are in Years 1-8 you could have your work illustrated professionally and published! How cool is that!

 

As part of the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards a collection of 50 pieces of children’s writing will be published; yours could be one of them!

 

You might have a story waiting for an audience or you might want to use some time these holidays to write a poem.  Even if you don’t get published you could still be in to win a copy of one of the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards finalists.

 

Check out this link to find out more.