NZ Book Awards for Children & Young Adults

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The winners of the 2021 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults were announced at a ceremony held at the National Library on Wednesday 11 August.

NZ Book Awards For Children & Young Adults

Margaret Mahy Book of the Year Award

Charlie Tangaroa and the Creature from the Sea, T K Roxborogh, published by Huia Publishers

Picture Book Award

Kōwhai and the Giants written and illustrated by Kate Parker, published by Little Love (an imprint of Mary Egan Publishing)

Wright Family Foundation Esther Glen Award for Junior Fiction

Charlie Tangaroa and the Creature from the Sea, T K Roxborogh, published by Huia Publishers

Young Adult Fiction Award

The Pōrangi Boy, Shilo Kino, published by Huia Publishers

Elsie Locke Award for Non-Fiction

Egg and Spoon: An Illustrated cookbook written by Alexandra Tylee and illustrated by Giselle Clarkson, published by Gecko Press

Russell Clark Award for Illustration

Hare & Ruru: A quiet moment, illustrated and written by Laura Shallcrass, published by Beatnik Publishing

Wright Family Foundation Te Kura Pounamu Award for te reo Māori

Ngake me Whātaitai written by Ben Ngaia and illustrated by Laya Mutton-Rogers, published by Huia Publishers

Best First Book Award

Kōwhai and the Giants written and illustrated by Kate Parker, published by Little Love (an imprint of Mary Egan Publishing)

2020 Winners

The winners of the 2020 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults were announced in a virtual presentation on Wednesday 12 August.

2020 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults winners

Margaret Mahy Book of the Year Award 

Mophead, Selina Tusitala Marsh (Auckland University Press)

Picture Book Award 

Abigail and the Birth of the Sun - Matthew Cunningham, illustrated by Sarah Wilkins (Penguin Random House)

Wright Family Foundation Esther Glen Award for Junior Fiction 

Lizard's Tale, Weng Wai Chan (Text Publishing)

Young Adult Fiction Award 

Aspiring, Damien Wilkins (Annual Ink/Massey University Press)

Elsie Locke Award for Non-Fiction 

Mophead, Selina Tusitala Marsh (Auckland University Press)

Russell Clark Award for Illustration 

The Adventures of Tupaia, Courtney Sina Meredith, illustrated by Mat Tait (Allen & Unwin, in partnership with Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum)

Wright Family Foundation Te Kura Pounamu Award for te reo Māori

Tio Tiamu, Kurahau, illustrated by Laya Mutton-Rogers (Huia Publishers)

Best First Book Award 

Michael Petherick for #Tumeke! (Annual Ink/Massey University Press)