HONORARY DOCTORATE FOR TESSA DUDER

Tessa says, "That year was a watershed year for me. I was wonderfully welcomed, and without a university background I found it stimulating having access to university life, the library and the general ambience of the place. I not only wrote every day but also appeared on stage in the university production of Twelfth Night. I relished that experience too because I hadn’t been on stage for about 30 years."

Kiwi Write4Kidz

This very active group is ideal for both established writers and those interested in getting children's books published. During 2007 they organised several seminars focusing on different areas of writing such as historical novels and picture books. 

In 2008 they will be focusing on helping published writers promote their books, particularly to schools. Their website at www.kiwiwrite4kidz.co.nz now includes information about local children's writers and their books. Schools who do not belong to the New Zealand Book Council's Writers in Schools scheme can organize an author's visit through Kiwi Write4Kidz.

As a member of both Kiwi Write4Kidz and Writers in Schools, I am keen to visit schools in the Rodney and Auckland areas. My eight books cover themes such as bullying, dealing with death and loss (primary level books); the effects of World War II on New Zealand, early European settlement in New Zealand (intermediate level books); conservation, Maori land issues, parental divorce, and child sexual abuse (secondary level books).

Lorraine Orman

BOOK AWARDS

AUSTRALIAN CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Go to the CBC website 

GUARDIAN AWARDS  

I can't find a comprehensive list on the Guardian website, but there is one at Wikipedia.

CARNEGIE AND GREENAWAY AWARDS

Go to the joint awards website

COSTA AWARDS (formerly the WHITBREAD AWARDS)

Visit the Costa Book Awards site.

NEWBERY MEDAL WINNERS

Visit the Newbery Medal homepage

Latest News from Storylines Children's Literature 

Charitable Trust of New Zealand

DID YOU KNOW...

...The 2008 Storylines Betty Gilderdale Award for outstanding community service to promote books and reading for children has been awarded to Lois Rout, of Tauranga. “As librarian and teacher for the Tauranga Public Library and Mount Maunganui Intermediate School, and founding member of Bookrapt, the Bay of Plenty Children’s Literature Association, Lois has worked tirelessly to support children's books and reading in the Bay of Plenty region,” says Storylines Trust chairperson Dr Libby Limbrick.  

...The 2008 Margaret Mahy Award Medal was presented to Wayne Mills (Quizmaster of the Kids Lit Quiz) at the Storylines AGM and Margaret Mahy Lecture function, held on Saturday 29 March at the Te Tuhi Centre for the Arts in Manukau. Congratulations, Wayne! 

... The 2008 Gaelyn Gordon Award for a Much-Loved Book was presented to Dorothy Butler and Elizabeth Fuller for My Brown Bear Barney (Reed Methuen, 1988). 

...The Storylines Trust has published two free - and very useful - booklists relating to children's New Zealand books. The first is Reading With Joy: Picture Books to Share With Children From Birth to Eight Years Old, 2007 revised edition. The second is Reading On Up: Books to Share With Children From Eight to Twelve Years Old. Both these booklets are available free from the Storylines Trust at www.storylines.org.nz 

...The 15th annual Storylines Festival of New Zealand Children's Authors and Illustrators 2008 was held from 8 -15 June 2008. Workshops, author tours, seminars and family days took place all over New Zealand, including the New Zealand Finals of the Kids Lit Quiz in Auckland. Information about the Festival is available on the Storylines website at www.storylines.org.nz . 

Notable New Zealand Children's Books 2008

The Storylines Children’s Literature Trust of New Zealand has announced its list of Notable Books 2008 (for books published in 2007). Books in four categories (picture books, non-fiction, junior fiction and young adult fiction) have been selected. 

Picture books

Is Your Grandmother a Goanna? by Pamela Allen. Penguin Australia.
The Bean’s Story by Tatiana Aslund; artwork by Vasanti Unka. Scholastic New Zealand.
Rats! by Gavin Bishop. Random House New Zealand.
Hairy Maclary’s Hat Tricks by Lynley Dodd. Mallinson Rendel.
Dad's Takeaways by Melanie Drewery; illustrated by Christopher White. Mallinson Rendel.
The Grumble Rumble Mumbler by Melanie Drewery, illustration and design by Loudmouth Productions. Huia Publishers.
Tahi: One Lucky Kiwi by Melanie Drewery, designed and illustrated by John O’Reilly and Ali Teo. Random House New Zealand.
Mere McKaskill's Boil-up by Tracy Duncan. Reed Children’s Books (now Raupo Publishing).
No Room for a Mouse by Kyle Mewburn, illustrated by Freya Blackwood. Scholastic Australia.
The Puppet Box by Moira Wairama, illustrated by Bruce Potter. Scholastic New Zealand.

Junior fiction

Snake and Lizard by Joy Cowley, illustrated by Gavin Bishop. Gecko Press.
The Mad Tadpole Adventure by Melanie Drewery, illustrated by Jenny Cooper. Scholastic New Zealand.
The Dumpster Saga by Craig Harrison. Scholastic New Zealand.
Shadows in the Ice by Des Hunt. HarperCollins New Zealand.
Dead Dan’s Dee by Phyllis Johnston. Longacre Press.
What Happened that Day by Marie Langley. Reed (now Raupo Publishing).
Taking Off by Janice Marriott. HarperCollins New Zealand.
Yo, Shark Bait! by Vicki Simpson. Scholastic New Zealand.
Archie’s Adventures by Leonie Jayne Thorpe. HarperCollins New Zealand.
The Great Chocolate Cake Bake-off by Philippa Werry. Scholastic New Zealand.   

Young adult fiction

The Transformation of Minna Hargreaves by Fleur Beale. Random House New Zealand.
Monsters of Blood and Honour by Ken Catran. Random House New Zealand.
Salt by Maurice Gee. Penguin Books.
In Too Deep by D.C. Grant. Scholastic New Zealand.
Smashed by Mandy Hager. Random House New Zealand.
Time of the Eagle by Sherryl Jordan. Simon & Schuster.
Losing It by Sandy McKay. Longacre Press.
The Sea-wreck Stranger by Anna Mackenzie. Longacre Press.
Hideout by Lorraine Orman. Longacre Press.
Zillah by Penelope Todd. Longacre Press.

Non-fiction

Draw New Zealand Birds by Heather Arnold; photographs by Geoff Moon and Rod Morris. Reed (now Raupo Publishing).
Weather Watch New Zealand by Sandra Carrod. Reed (now Raupo Publishing).
The Dalai Lama Story by Andrew Crowe. Longacre Press.
Which New Zealand Spider? by Andrew Crowe. Penguin Books.
Rubbish! by Rachael Goddard, photographs by Cheryl Reynolds, illustrated by Moira Corridan. Reed (now Raupo Publishing).
Reaching the Summit: Sir Edmund Hillary's Story by Alexa Johnston with David Larsen. Puffin Books.
Poetry Pudding: A Delicious Collection of Rhyme and Wit edited by Jenny Argante, illustrated by Debbie Tipuna. Reed (now Raupo Publishing).
Illustrated History of Antarctica by Marcia Stenson. Random House New Zealand.
What Is a … ? series by Feana Tu’akoi, designed by Vasanti Unka. Scholastic New Zealand.

The judging panel would like to make special mention of Illustrated Myths and Legends of the Pacific by AW Reed, illustrated by Jenny Cooper, published by Reed (now Raupo Publishing). The stories were first published in 1969 as Fairy Tales from the Pacific Islands. The panel considers this edition, with new illustrations, to be a treasure for New Zealand children.

25 More Stories For Kiwi Kidz

 Tauranga Writers for Children has just published its fifth collection of short stories for primary aged children. If you have primary aged children to buy for, for Christmas, please consider 25 More Stories for Kiwi Kidz. It is laminated for durability and has a bright cover illustration, drawn by artist Caren Glazer. (100pp, A5, professionally produced) The illustrations in the book have been drawn by children at Papamoa Primary School. 

You can check out 25 More Stories for Kiwi Kidz on http://www.bookrapt.org.nz/bookrapt/misc/misc.html.

You can buy a copy from: Tauranga Writers for Children, c/o Alison Murray, 15 Cathray Place, TAURANGA 3110. Enquiries to stual@clear.net.nz Phone Tauranga 07 576 1943

Please enclose a cheque for $14.00 per copy with your order and make your cheque out to Tauranga Writers for Children.

Proposed Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Conference

Wellington, September 2009

The Wellington Children's Book Association is proposing to host a conference for the children's literature community in 2009. This will be a two-day residential conference consisting of keynote speakers, panel discussions, workshops and a chance to meet others in the industry.

Email the Association at the.wcba@gmail.com or write to them: Conference, Wellington Children's Book Association, PO Box 1242, Wellington with your ideas for topics, your possible contribution (a presentation or sponsorship), and your proposed attendance, by the end of July 2008.