I keep an eye out during the year for cool covers and flash-as book production. Here are my 2020 standouts.

EVERYTHING TO SEE

I have been low key obsessed with this book cover since I first laid eyes on it. The cover photo is by Russell Kleyn, a "South African-born, multidisciplinary photographer based in Wellington, with portraits in the New Zealand Portrait Gallery in Wellington and the National Portrait Gallery in London. He's on Instagram @russell_kleyn and the photograph and casting by Russell featuring @_francafranca
Yes, the cover is art - but it's the way it connects with the contents that fires this to Number One. This is a head twistingly fabulous book and Pip Adam is a flipping genius. 

It's published by Victoria University Press who really respect the art of a good cover.

Nothing to see Pip Adam, published by Victoria University Press, cover by Russell Kleyn

An experimental #BookfaceFriday. Nothing to see by @PipAdam published by @VUPBooks. #Bookface ^DR pic.twitter.com/cKBYifuw0W

— Ngā Kete Wānanga-o-Ōtautahi (@ChristchurchLib) August 13, 2020

Here are some more of the best book covers of 2020. Enjoy!

My beautiful dark twisted FONTasy

I do love a bit of typographical artistry and there were plenty of gems on that front. Albertus Alert - Far-flung by Rhian Gallagher deploying one of my faves (You might recognise it from the classic tv show The Prisoner). Font fans - Fonts in Use is a delight.

• Far-flung Rhian Gallagher
• A bathful of kawakawa and hot water Hana Pera Aoake
• I am a Human Being Jackson Nieuwland
• Bill and Shirley: A Memoir Keith Ovenden
• Not that I'd kiss a girl Lil O'Brien
• Moral sloth Nick Ascroft
• Funkhaus Hinemoana Baker 
• Crossing the Lines: The story of three homosexual solders in WWII Brent Coutts
• The General and the Nightingale: Dan Davin's War Stories edited by Janet Wilson
• Māori made easy Scotty Morrison
• Māori made fun Scotty and Stacey Morrison
• A Māori phrase a day Hēmi Kelly
• The Pōrangi Boy Shilo Kino
• Under the Covers Jenny Lynch
• You have a lot to lose: A Memoir C. K. Stead

NATURE LOVE

Artful deployment of the natural world - flora and fauna - make these covers super striking.

• Down South Bruce Ansley
• One minute crying time Barbara Ewing
• Tree of Strangers Barbara Sumner
• Shakti Rajorshi Chakraborti
• Magnolia Nina Mingya Powles (Features a gorgeous artwork by Kerry Ann Lee)
• Te Manu Huna A Tāne editor, Jenny Gillam ; co-editor, Eugene Hasen, Maniapoto ; photographs, Jenny Gillam
• An Exquisite Legacy: The life and work of New Zealand naturalist G. V. Hudson George W. GIbbs
• Hiakai Modern Māori Cuisine Monique Fiso

BOOKFACES

The face is to the body as the cover is to the book. Maybe. Anyway, a good strong bookface is a winner.

• Goddess Muscle Karlo Mila
• In the time of the Manaroans Miro Bilbrough
• Head girl Freya Daly Sadgrove
• Mophead: How your difference makes a difference Selina Tusitala Marsh
• Mophead Tu: The Queen's Poem Selina Tusitala Marsh
• The Dark is light enough: Ralph Hotere Vincent O'Sullivan
• Know your place Golriz Ghahraman
• My honest poem Jess Fiebig

CHRISTCHURCH

Kia ora to local authors and their beautiful books.

• Husna's Story Farid Ahmed
• No Man's Land A. J. Fitzwater
• The Voyages of Cinrak the Dapper A. J. Fitzwater
• Christchurch Architecture: A walking guide John Walsh
• The Ghosts on the Hill Bill Nagelkerke
• Te Wheke Pathways across Oceania Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū. Ken Hall, Felicity Milburn, Nathan Pohio, Lara Strongman and Peter Vangioni, with Stephanie Oberg ; Te Reo Māōri translations by Hemi Hoskins, Reimana Tūtengaehe and Te Marino Lenihan

MORE MORE MORE

Some more stunners.

• Te Hāhi Mihinare The Māori Anglican Church Hirini Kaa
• The Inkberg Enigma Jonathan King
• Monsters in the Garden: An anthology of Aotearoa and New Zealand Science Fiction and Fantasy edited by Elizabeth Knox and David Larsen
• Sado Mikaela Nyman
• New Transgender Blockbusters Oscar Upperton
• Afakasi Woman Lani Wendt Young
• Pins Natalie Morrison
• I am the Universe Vasanti Unka
• Ko Aotearoa Tātou We are New Zealand edited by Michelle Elvy, Paula Morris & James Norcliffe ; art editor, David Eggleton

More best book covers

• Literary Hub best book covers
• The Best book covers of 2020 Book Riot

Best book covers of previous years

• Best book covers of 2019 - My pick of New Zealand's finest
• Best book covers of 2018 - My pick of New Zealand's finest
• Best book covers of 2017 - My pick of New Zealand's finest
• Best book covers of 2016 – My pick of New Zealand’s finest
• Best book covers of 2015 - My pick of New Zealand's finest
• Best book covers of 2014 – My pick of New Zealand’s finest
• Best book covers of 2013 – My pick of New Zealand’s finest
• The colourful book covers of 2012
• Best book covers of 2012 - New Zealand's finest

For more on local book covers and design, see the PANZ Book Design Awards.