This years Notable Books

"Since 2000 Storylines has produced a list of outstanding books for children and young people published in New Zealand by New Zealand authors and illustrators during the previous calendar year. 

Books are categorised as: Picture Book, Junior Fiction, Young Adult and Non Fiction. Allowing up to ten in each category, the Storylines list is seen as complementary to the NZ Post Awards and the LIANZA Awards. 

The decision to compile this annual list of Notable Books was based on a desire to ensure that children, parents/grandparents, teachers, librarians and the public were made aware of the range of high quality books being published, in addition to those (five in each category) receiving significant recognition through other awards. 

Storylines Notable Books are books selected by an expert panel from the Storylines community and includes librarians, teachers, teacher educators and academics and authors, as worthy of being recognised as ‘Notable’ in each year. Several members of the panel have served as judges for the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Award (and under its previous sponsor) and the LIANZA Book Awards."

www.storylines.org.nz/Awards/Notable+Books+Awards.html   

Here is the 2014 Notable Book List:

The 2014 list is for books published in 2013. 

Storylines Notable Picture Books 2014.

Books for children and / or young adults where the narrative is carried equally by pictures and story.

• A Book is a Book by Jenny Bornholdt, illustrated by Sarah Wilkins (Gecko Press and Whitireia Publishing)
• Alphabet Squabble by Isaac Drought, illustrated by Jenny Cooper (Scholastic)
• Bad Dog Flash by Ruth Paul (Scholastic)
• Henry's Map by David Elliot (Random House)
• Swim - the Story of Hinemoa & Tutanekai and its te reo Maori retelling Tahoe - He Pakiwaitara mo Hinemoa raua ko Tutanekai by Chris Szekely, illustrated by Andrew Burdan, translated into te reo Maori by Scotty Morrison (Huia)
• Teddy Bear's Promise by Diana Noonan, illustrated by Robyn Belton (Craig Potton Publishing)
• The Boring Book by Vasanti Unka (Penguin)
• The Boy and the Cherry Tree by Mark & Rowan Sommerset (Dreamboat)
• The Quiet Pirate by Stephanie Thatcher (Duck Creek Press)
• The Three Bears … Sort of by Yvonne Morrison, illustrated by Donovan Bixley (Scholastic)
• The Weather Machine by Donovan Bixley (Hachette)
• Toucan Can by Juliette MacIver, illustrated by Sarah Davis (Gecko Press)
• While You are Sleeping by Melinda Szymanik, illustrated by Greg Straight (Duck Creek Press)

Storylines Notable Junior Fiction 2014.

Fiction suitable for primary and intermediate-aged children.

• A Winter's day in 1939 by Melinda Szymanik (Scholastic)
• Dunger by Joy Cowley (Gecko Press)
• Felix and the Red Rats by James Norcliffe (Random House)
• New Zealand Girl: Rebecca & the Queen of Nations by Deborah Burnside (Penguin)
• New Zealand Story: Lighthouse Family by Philippa Werry (Scholastic)
• Project Huia by Des Hunt (Scholastic)
• Scrap: Tale of a Blond Puppy by Vince Ford (Scholastic)
• Shot Boom Score by Justin Brown (Allen & Unwin)
• Sinking by David Hill (Scholastic)
• The Phantom of Terawhiti by Des Hunt (HarperCollins)
• The Princess and the Foal by Stacy Gregg (HarperCollins)
• Where the Flag Floats by Dawn Grant (Standfast Publications)

Storylines Notable Young Adult Fiction 2014.

Fiction suitable for upper-intermediate and secondary school age.

• A Necklace of Souls by R.L. Stedman (HarperCollins)
• Birthright by Tania Roxborogh (Penguin)
• Bugs by Whiti Hereaka (Huia) [recommended for 14+]
• Cattra's Legacy by Anna Mackenzie (Random House)
• Dear Vincent by Mandy Hager (Random House)
• Mortal Fire by Elizabeth Knox (Gecko Press)
• Murder at Mykenai by Catherine Mayo (Walker Books)
• Recon Team Angel: Ice War by Brian Falkner (Walker Books)
• Speed Freak by Fleur Beale (Random House)
• The Freedom Merchants by Sherryl Jordan (Scholastic)
• When We Wake by Karen Healey (Allen & Unwin)

Storylines Notable Non-fiction 2014.

For authoritative, well-designed informational books accessible to children and young adults.

• An Extraordinary Land by Peter Hayden and Rod Morris (HarperCollins)
• Anzac Day: The New Zealand Story by Philippa Werry (New Holland)
• First Crossings by Kevin Biggar and Jamie Fitzgerald (Random House)
• In the Garden: Explore & Discover the New Zealand Backyard by Gillian Candler, illustrated by Ned Barraud (Craig Potton)
• Native Storybooks: Flight of the Honey Bee        by Raymond Huber, illustrated by Brian Lovelock (Walker Books)
• Nic's Lunchbox by Nicholas Brockelbank (Scholastic)
• Quarantine Inspected by Jaimie Baird (Primedia)
• Running the Country: A Look inside New Zealand's Government by Maria Gill (New Holland)
• The Beginner's Guide to Hunting & Fishing in New Zealand by Paul Adamson (Random House)
• Wearable Wonders by Fifi Colston (Scholastic)

Congratulations to everyone listed. It's a big year with Storylines exceeding their usual 10 book quota in several categories and it's time we recognized how strong children's publishing is in New Zealand. It's a terrific list to be on and I am thrilled to have two books on this year's list.