6am, Wednesday 10 June

The shortlist for the 2026 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, announced today, recognises a generation of writers who are drawing confidently on culture, language and identity to tell stories and create books that feel unmistakably of current-day Aotearoa.

That’s evident in distinct ways across the shortlist, from a Tokelau teen’s diary steeped in hiva and 90s R&B to a time-travel adventure in te reo Māori, a Japanese yōkai graphic novel, and an intimate picture book about a kōhine’s first menstruation, grounded in tikanga Māori. These stories from first-time or emerging writers sit alongside books by established New Zealand creators such as Gavin Bishop, Rachael King, Graci Kim, Mat Tait, Al Brown, and Ned Barraud.

The 2026 awards’ judges have selected 30 finalist books from 159 entries. The two panels judging English and bilingual books and titles written in te reo Māori were struck by how deeply the shortlisted books moved, challenged and delighted their readers, as they explored themes such as connection, empathy, identity and grief. “They made us laugh, cry and stare off into space to think some more,” says convenor of judges Simie Simpson. “And they reflect the diversity of both the children reading these stories, and of Aotearoa in 2026.”

Supporting the expert judging panels, thousands of young readers from 50 schools across the motu – including kura kaupapa Māori, primary, intermediate and secondary schools – contributed more than 450 in-depth reviews ahead of deliberations, ensuring young readers’ voices were a meaningful part of the judging process.

The 2026 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults finalists are: BookHub Picture Book Award

Bold, playful, and rich in storytelling, the judges say these picture books shine in both visual and read-aloud appeal. They handle complex themes with a gentle touch, delivering stories that resonate well beyond the final page.

• A Guide to Rocks, Sacha Cotter, illustrated by Josh Morgan (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Rongowhakaata) (Huia Publishers)
• Koro Wētā, Heather Haylock, illustrated by Sarah Trolle, translated by Ngairo Eruera (Ngāti Ranginui, Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa) (Oratia Books)
• Left to Nowhere, Ian Chapman (One Tree House)
• Pūkeko Who-keko? Toby Morris (Penguin Random House)
• The Only Dinosaur in School, Leonie Agnew, illustrated by Julia Hegetusch (Muaūpoko) (Scholastic New Zealand)

Wright Family Foundation Esther Glen Award for Junior Fiction

The judges say this year’s junior fiction finalists – spanning genres and reading levels – deliver compelling stories full of intrigue, imagination, and emotional depth. At their core: friendship, identity, and the confidence to be yourself.

• Detective Stanley and the Mystery at the Museum, Hannah Tunnicliffe, illustrated by Erica Harrison (Flying Eye Books)
• Dreamslinger, Graci Kim (Penguin Random House New Zealand)
• Kimi the Kekeno’s Big Adventure, Shelley Burne-Field (Ngāti Mutanga, Ngāti Rārua) (Allen & Unwin Aotearoa)
• The Terrible Trio 1: The (not so) Superheroes, Swapna Haddow, illustrated by Minky Stapleton (Scholastic New Zealand)
• Violet and the Velvets 2: The Case of the Angry Ghost, Rachael King (Allen & Unwin Aotearoa)

Wheelers Books Award for Young Adult Fiction

High-calibre storytelling defines this young adult fiction shortlist, say the judges. From gritty realism to richly imagined worlds, these novels tackle complex themes with nuance, delivering emotionally honest stories with authentic, deeply relatable characters.

• Hiva & Heartbeats, Selina Alesana Alefosio (Mila’s Books)
• It’s a Bit More Complicated Than That, Hannah Marshall (Allen & Unwin Aotearoa)
• Spider Games: In the City of Spies, Brian Falkner (Bateman Books)
• The Lost Saint, Rachael Craw (Allen & Unwin Aotearoa)
• The Retreat, Helen Vivienne Fletcher (HVF Publishing Ltd)

Elsie Locke Award for Non-Fiction

The judges say these books are grounded in curiosity and a deep love for the land we live on. Their writers invite readers to look closely, explore, and ask questions. Inquisitive and adventurous, they also remind us that life is meant to be fun.

• Hooked: Learning to Fish, Al Brown, illustrated by Hope McConnell (Allen & Unwin Aotearoa)
• Omnibird: An Avian Investigator’s Handbook, Giselle Clarkson (Gecko Press, Lerner Publishing Group)
• Survive Aotearoa, Bronwen Wall and Jonathan Kennett, illustrated by Kimberly Andrews (Kennett Brothers Ltd)
• Taniwha, Gavin Bishop (Tainui, Ngāti Awa) (Penguin Random House)
• Whenua: Māori Pūrākau of Aotearoa, Isobel Joy Te Aho-White (Ngāti Kahungunu, Kāi Tahu) (Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand)

Russell Clark Award for Illustration

Illustration is a deeply personal process, say the judges, with each finalist carrying a singular vision from concept to completion. In a climate of creative shortcuts, these books reveal stunning craft, where observation, research and refinement translate what’s in the artist’s head onto the page.

• At Home on the Farm, Ned Barraud (Scholastic New Zealand)
• Folk Remedy 1: The Hidden World of the Yōkai, Jem Yoshioka (Andrews McMeel)
• Kupe and the Great Octopus of Muturangi, Mat Tait (Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, Ngāti Kuia, Rangitāne o Wairau) (Allen and Unwin Aotearoa)
• Taniwha, Gavin Bishop (Tainui, Ngāti Awa) (Penguin Random House)
• Whenua: Māori Pūrākau of Aotearoa, Isobel Joy Te Aho-White (Ngāti Kahungunu, Kāi Tahu) (Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand)

Wright Family Foundation Te Kura Pounamu Awards for Te Reo Māori

These books feature vivid illustration, engaging narratives, and the thoughtful integration of te reo Māori, say the judges. Rich in authenticity and meaning, they support learning and spark important conversations.

• He Taonga te Toka, Sacha Cotter, illustrated by Josh Morgan (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Rongowhakaata), translated by Kawata Teepa (Tūhoe, Te Whakatōhea ) (Huia Publishers)
• *Kupe me te Wheke nui a Muturangi, Mat Tait (Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, Ngāti Kuia, Rangitāne o Wairau) (Allen and Unwin Aotearoa)
• Matariki ki te Ao, Miriama Kamo (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Mutunga) and Rangi Matamua (Tūhoe), illustrated by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White (Ngāti Kahungunu, Kāi Tahu), translated by Pānia Papa (Ngāti Korokī-Kahukura, Ngāti Mahuta) and Leon Blake (Tūhoe, Tūhourangi, Ngāti Wāhiao, Waikato, Ngāti Whāwhākia, Ngāti Porou, Taranaki, Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Whānau a Apanui, Te Aitanga a Hauiti, Ngāi Tai) (Scholastic New Zealand)

• Taku Ikura Tuatahi, Qiane Matata-Sipu (Te Waiohua, Waikato, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Pikiao), illustrated by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White (Ngāti Kahungunu, Kāi Tahu), translated by Stacey Morrison (Ngāi Tahu, Te Arawa waka)
• *Te Onehaumako, Zeb Tamihana Nicklin (Pāhauwera, Ruapani, Tūhoe, Tāmanuhiri) (Huia Publishers)

* Indicates a finalist book originally written in te reo Māori

NZSA Best First Book Award

The judges say the finalists in this category are a diverse and accomplished group of debut works, which reflect the range of voices shaping contemporary New Zealand literature. Their distinctive storytelling and authentic characterisation are grounded in culture and place, with te reo Māori, Pacific and Asian heritage woven throughout.

• Folk Remedy 1: The Hidden World of the Yōkai, Jem Yoshioka (Andrews McMeel)
• Hiva & Heartbeats, Selina Alesana Alefosio (Mila’s Books)
• Hunt for Niu Tupu, Inangaro Vakaafi, illustrated by Maka Makatoa (Mila’s Books)
• Te Onehaumako, Zeb Tamihana Nicklin (Pāhauwera, Ruapani, Tūhoe, Tāmanuhiri) (Huia Publishers)
• The Lost Words, Kimberley Kearney (Ngāti Maniapoto, Tuhoe), illustrated by Taylor Terewai Tiave (Ngāpuhi) (Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand)

The winners of each of the six main categories – Picture Book, Junior Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, Non-Fiction, Illustration and Te Reo Māori – take home $8500 and are then in the running to be named the recipient of the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year, an award with an additional $8500 prize. The judges will also award a $2500 Best First Book prize to a previously unpublished author or illustrator.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony at Pipitea Marae in Wellington on the evening of Wednesday 19 August. Books Alive

At the heart of the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults is a commitment not only to celebrating outstanding books, but also to building a life-long love of reading among Aotearoa’s tamariki and rangatahi. This commitment is realised through a programme of Books Alive events, where finalist authors and illustrators bring stories to life in large-scale sessions with school children. In 2026, Books Alive events will take place in Otautahi (in partnership with WORD Christchurch) on 13 and 14 August, and in Pōneke (in collaboration with Wellington City Libraries, at Te Mataphihi) on the day of the awards ceremony, 19 August.

HELL Reading Challenge

Beyond celebrating the best books published each year for young readers, the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults also administer the hugely popular HELL Reading Challenge, now in its second decade. Last year, nearly 800 schools and libraries took part in the programme, and more than 312,000 pizza wheels were distributed, resulting in an estimated 2.2 million books read.

NZ Children’s Book Week – 15-21 August

Launching in 2026, NZ Children’s Book Week, led by Read NZ Te Pou Muramura, positions the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults at the heart of a wider, nationwide celebration of reading. Schools, libraries and communities across the motu will be encouraged to put books, authors and illustrators in the spotlight, building on the momentum created by the shortlist announcement, Books Alive events and the HELL Reading Challenge. With strong sector support, NZ Children’s Book Week will amplify the Awards’ impact, inviting communities across the motu to celebrate books and storytelling in joyful, highly visible ways.

Our NZCYA 2026 Judges

The significant responsibility of selecting this year’s finalists fell to a highly credentialed panel of literature experts.

English and bilingual entries were assessed by convenor of judges Simie Simpson (Te Āti Awa), Programmes Manager for Read NZ Te Pou Muramura in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington and a returning judge from 2019; alongside award-

winning author, editor, and mentor Cassie Hart (Kāi Tahu, Pākehā); Tāmaki Makaurau-based Head of English Chris Reed (Ngāti Porou, Pākehā); Mosgiel school librarian and SLANZA representative Lauryn Urquhart; and Pōneke school librarian Lucy Black, who brings over two decades of public and school library experience.

A specialist panel was appointed to assess te reo Māori submissions, with Te Wairere Puāwaitanga O Te Whakaaro Ngaia (Waikato-Maniapoto, Taranaki Tūturu, Te Ātiawa, Ngāruahinerangi, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaue), a Waikato-based te reo Māori kaiako and qualified translator, as convenor. The panel also includes Eva Mahara (Waikato, Ngāti Te Wehi), Content Editor for te reo Māori at the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, and Hona Black (Tūhoe, Te Whānau a Apanui, Tūwharetoa), a Māori language academic, writer, educator and Associate Professor at Te Pūtahi a Toi, Massey University.

Our Sponsors and Partners

The New Zealand Book Awards for Children & Young Adults and their associated programmes are made possible

through the generosity, commitment and vision of funders and partners: Creative New Zealand, HELL Pizza, the Wright Family Foundation, LIANZA Te Rau Herenga o Aotearoa, Wellington City Council and Libraries, BookHub presented by Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand, Wheelers Books, New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa, the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, and NielsenIQ BookData. The Awards are administered by the New Zealand Book Awards Trust Te Ohu Tiaki i Te Rau Hiringa.

Imagery

Social media assets and banners are available here Category visuals are available here

Book covers are available here Author photos are available here

Notes for Editors:

Key Date: The winners will be announced in Wellington on Wednesday 19 August.

The New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults are a unique celebration of the contribution New

Zealand’s children’s authors and illustrators make to building national identity and cultural heritage. Awards are made in seven categories: Picture Book (the BookHub Award), Junior Fiction (the Wright Family Foundation Esther Glen Award), Young Adult Fiction (the Wheelers Books Award), Non-Fiction (the Elsie Locke Award), Illustration (the Russell Clark Award), Te Reo Māori (the Wright Family Foundation Te Kura Pounamu Awards) and Best First Book (the NZSA Award).

The main category awards carry prize money of $8500 and the Best First Book winner receives $2500. The supreme winner of the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year Award receives a further prize of $,500.

The awards are governed by the New Zealand Book Awards Trust Te Ohu Tiaki i Te Rau Hiringa (a registered charity). Current members of the Trust are Nicola Legat (chair), Richard Pamatatau, Elizabeth Jones, Garth Biggs, Elena de Roo, Renée Rowland, Kim Tairi, and Suzy Maddox. The Trust also governs the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards and National Poetry Day. nzbookawards.nz

Creative New Zealand has been a sustaining partner of New Zealand’s book awards for decades. The national arts development agency of the New Zealand government encourages, promotes and supports the arts in New Zealand for the benefit of all New Zealanders through funding, capability building, an international programme, and advocacy. Creative New Zealand provides a wide range of support to New Zealand literature, including funding for writers and publishers, residencies, literary festivals and awards, and supports organisations which work to increase the readership and sales of New Zealand literature at home and internationally. creativenz.govt.nz

HELL Pizza was established in 1996 and now has 78 outlets throughout New Zealand. HELL has been proud to sponsor the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults for over a decade. Known for doing things a little differently, in 2014 the company initiated the awards-associated HELL Reading Challenge, which encourages kiwi kids to swap screen time for stories by rewarding a love of reading with pizza. The programme rewards students with a free 333 kids’ pizza once they have read seven books, because, HELL says, getting kids into reading ‘is worth going to Hell for’. In 2025, 779 schools and public libraries around New Zealand took part in the challenge and over 312,000 pizza wheels were distributed, which means that almost 2.2 million books were potentially read by Kiwi kids as a result. hellpizza.nz

The Wright Family Foundation’s goal of ‘growing the good’ in New Zealand Aotearoa means literacy features prominently in its aspirations for the country’s youth. Founder, the late Chloe Wright, was delighted to have the Foundation support the mahi of the New Zealand Books Awards for Children and Young Adults, believing that reading creates imagination, ultimately leading to the emergence of writers. “Books, whether read or written, bring centuries of people together. Through the written word we gain tolerance and understanding, enabling us to share in the cultures,histories, myths, and magical spaces in time,” she said. The Foundation also supports Kids’ Lit Quiz and the New Zealand Spelling Bee. wrightfamilyfoundation.org.nz

LIANZA Te Rau Herenga o Aotearoa, the association for library and information professionals in New Zealand, introduced the first award for children’s fiction in New Zealand, establishing the Esther Glen Junior Fiction Award in 1945. LIANZA added other awards over the years including the Russell Clark Award for Illustration in 1975 and the Elsie Locke Non-fiction Award in 1986. Te Kura Pounamu Award for literature written in te reo Māori was established in 1996, in partnership with Te Rōpū Whakahau. In 2016 the LIANZA Children and Young Adult Book Awards were merged with the Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, strengthening the long legacy of the LIANZA Awards. lianza.org.nz

Wellington City Council’s Aho Tini 2030 Arts, Culture and Creativity Strategy guides support for cultural wellbeing in the capital, in partnership with artists, creative industries, organisations, national institutions, training organisations, cultural groups, and communities. The name Aho Tini was gifted by mana whenua, combining aho (the cross threads of weaving) and tini (many), symbolising the strength created by weaving together the many strands of Wellington’s creative and cultural genius. The city’s artists and writers address some of its biggest challenges while fostering inclusive, connected communities. Through Aho Tini, the Council aims to nurture and celebrate writing and illustration, working with the sector to build a strong arts ecosystem where writers’ and illustrators’ careers can flourish and their organisations thrive. wellington.govt.nz

Wellington’s City Libraries have been changing lives since 1841. They offer Wellingtonians an equal opportunity to explore the world of knowledge, news and ideas. The network of 12 public libraries and a strong online presence directly support lifelong individual and community development, wellbeing and democratic engagement. They collectively provide a wide range of traditional and 21st century resources, collections, services, programmes and social connection opportunities. wcl.govt.nz Founded in 1921, Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand is the national association for bookshops that helps its members grow and succeed through education, information, advocacy, marketing campaigns – such as Bookshop Day – and services – such as BookHub. Launched in 2023, BookHub is an e-commerce platform that enables people to browse books, buy books and find local bookshops, directly connecting readers with independent bookstores across the motu. Local bookshops are essential community hubs, and champions of Aotearoa New Zealand books and of the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. bookhub.co.nz/

Wheelers Books is a trusted ally to 65 public library networks and more than 2,500 schools across Aotearoa and Australia. Championing New Zealand, Māori and Pasifika collections, Wheelers is dedicated to supporting libraries and schools to inspire communities through education, literacy and accessibility. Driven by the belief that every child deserves a story, Wheelers invests in equity through partnerships with Duffy Books in Homes, Storytime Foundation and The Values Trust (Little Libraries), and as a result the company has placed nearly one million books into the homes of children in lower socio-economic communities. Through Wheelers Insights, the company fosters practical, grounded conversations across libraries, schools and communities – growing readers and celebrating their stories across Aotearoa. Wheelers.co.nz

The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (NZSA) was established in 1934 as the New Zealand PEN Centre and remains the principal organisation for writers in Aotearoa today. Now representing over 1,800 writers, NZSA advocates for authors’ rights and incomes, acts as a communications hub, administers prizes and awards, and runs a raft of digital and in-person professional development programmes and assessment and mentoring opportunities that support writers at all stages of their writing journeys. The Society works closely with industry partners and collaborates widely across the sector to advance the visibility and readership of NZ writers and NZ writing. NZSA is a non-profit Incorporated Society and registered charity, governed by a Board, with 8 regional branches, Ngā Kaituhi Māori, a growing Youth Writers Network, and a national office. authors.org.nz

The National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa helps all New Zealanders access and use the collective knowledge of the nation. It’s their job to collect, connect, and co-create knowledge to power Aotearoa. The National Library has long supported literacy and learning, and recent reading initiatives related to its ‘Growing a Nation of Readers’ strategy include Communities of Readers and Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador. Award-winning author Kate De Goldi was appointed as the third Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador in 2025. Kate advocates for and champions the importance of reading in the lives of young New Zealanders, their whānau and communities. natlib.govt.nz/

NielsenIQ BookData provides a range of services to the book industry internationally, aiding the discovery and purchase, distribution and sales measurement of books. The company employs more than 100 staff and has offices in 17 countries, including New Zealand and Australia. NielsenIQ BookData is wholly owned by NIQ. niq.com/bookdata-newzealand