The Storylines Joy Cowley Award was established in 2002 when Storylines contacted Scholastic New Zealand, one of Joy’s publishers, asking them to join with Storylines in creating an award that would recognise the exceptional contribution Joy Cowley has made to children’s literature and literacy in New Zealand and internationally.

The Storylines Joy Cowley Award for an original picture book text, in partnership with Scholastic NZ, is open to all New Zealand writers who meet the eligibility criteria as stated on the entry form and is made annually, when merited.

There is a monetary prize of $1500 from Scholastic New Zealand, and an offer of publication.

The aim of the award is to foster the publication of excellent picture books by writers permanently resident in New Zealand.

The award is open to all New Zealand writers who meet the eligibility criteria as stated on the entry form.

Winning this award has launched the careers of some of New Zealand’s best-loved authors, including Kyle Mewburn and Lucy Davey. The most successful title to date is Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck! by Kyle Mewburn, published in New Zealand, Australia, the USA and South Korea (translated into Korean) and Elaine Bickell’s The Little Ghost who Lost her Boo!, published in New Zealand, Australia and the USA.

Closing date: 31 October

Find out more here: https://www.storylines.org.nz/…/Storylines+Joy+Cowley+Award…