Swings + Roundabouts Winter 2021

KNOW PICTURE BOOK AWARD This Is Where I Stand, Philippa Werry, illustrated by Kieran Rynhart (Scholastic New Zealand) Kōwhai and the Giants, Kate Parker (Mary Egan Publishing) Hound the Detective, Kimberly Andrews (Penguin Random House NZ) The Hug Blanket, Chris Gurney, illustrated by Lael Chisholm (Scholastic New Zealand) Hare & Ruru: A Quiet Moment, Laura Shallcrass (Beatnik Publishing) CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD SHORTLIST GIVES CREDIT TO YOUNG READERS’ EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE From a field of 166 entries, come the 28 finalists in the 2021 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. 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. “The diversity of ideas in this year’s entries really stood out,” says convenor of judges Alan Dingley. “It’s clear that our authors truly credit kids and young people with having the emotional intelligence to deal with complex themes, issues and feelings.” Whether that’s celebrating Māori culture or dealing to the injustices of inequality, seeing a reflection of their own small-town community or exploring issues around body image, disability and adversity, no topic is off-limits. But, says Dingley, big ideas are delivered in a way that also entertains. And while kids will find no shortage of reading material on the finalist list, Dingley thinks adults will discover plenty of treasures too. “It’s a really accessible selection. If a child brings any one of these books home, I guarantee an adult will enjoy reading it also.” In the Picture Book Award, the judges found meaningful and relatable themes of wellbeing and identity, and diverse family structures were communicated through fun, adventure, and laugh-out-loud humour. A ceremony to announce the winners will be held at the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa in Wellington on 11 August and streamed online via www.facebook.com / NewZealandCYABookAwards June 2021 { 19 }