Christchurch City Libraries lists literary prize winners and links to catalogue searches, but we may not hold copies of all titles mentioned.
The Best First Book Award is administered by the New Zealand Book Awards Trust. Until 2014 the awards were sponsored by NZ Post. Prior to 1997, the awards were known as the AIM Children’s Book Awards. In 2016, the awards merged with the LIANZA Book Awards.
See more New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults and other kids' literary prize winners.
2026 shortlist
- Folk Remedy 1: The Hidden World of the Yōkai written and illustrated by Jem Yoshioka (Andrews McMeel)
- Hiva & Heartbeats Selina Alesana Alefosio (Mila’s Books)
- Hunt for Niu Tupu Written by Inangaro Vakaafi and illustrated by Maka Makatoa (Mila’s Books)
- Te Onehaumako written by Zeb Tamihana Nicklin (Pāhauwera, Ruapani, Tūhoe, Tāmanuhiri) (Huia Publishers)
- The Lost Words written by Kimberley Kearney (Ngāti Maniapoto, Tūhoe) and illustrated by Taylor Terewai Tiave (Ngāpuhi) (Little Moa, Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand)
2025
The Raven’s Eye Runaways Claire Mabey (Allen & Unwin) Winner
- Brave Kāhu and the Pōrangi Magpie Shelley Burne-Field (Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Rārua, Te Ātiawa, Sāmoa) (Allen & Unwin)
- Play Wild Rachel Clare (Bateman Books)
- The Witch of Maketu and the Bleating Lambs Anika Moa (Ngāpuhi, Te Aupōuri), illustrated by Rebecca ter Borg
- The Writing Desk Written and illustrated by Di Morris (Bateman Books)
2024
Ned Wenlock, Tsunami (Earth's End Publishing) Winner
- A M Dixon, New Dawning (One Tree House)
- Tokerau Brown (illustrator), Paku Manu Ariki Whakatakapōkai (Gecko Press)
- Tangaroa Paul (Muriwhenua) (author), Rere Atu Taku Poi! Let My Poi Fly! (Oratia Books)
- Steve Mushin, Ultrawild: An Audacious Plan to Rewild Every City on Earth (Allen & Unwin)
2023
The Lighthouse Princess Susan Wardell, illustrated by Rose Northey (Penguin Random House NZ) Winner
- Echo Arlo Kelly (Sparrow Press)
- Holding the Horse J L Williams (Ocean Echo Books)
- He Raru ki Tai written by Jane Cooper, illustrated by Story Hemi-Morehouse (Huia Publishers)
- Kidnap at Mystery Island Carol Garden (Scholastic New Zealand)
2022
Spark Hunter Sonya Wilson Winner
- Hine and the Tohunga Portal Ataria Sharman
- I am Autistic written and illustrated by Chanelle Moriah
- Mokopuna Matatini illustrated by Story Hemi-Morehouse
- My Cat Can See Ghosts iIllustrated and written by Emily Joe
2021
Kōwhai and the Giants written and illustrated by Kate Parker Winner
- The Pōrangi Boy Shilo Kino
- Hare & Ruru: A Quiet Moment written and illustrated by Laura Shallcrass
- The Inkberg Enigma written and illustrated by Jonathan King
- The midnight adventures of Ruru and Kiwi illustrated by Amy Haarhoff
2020
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#Tumeke! Michael Petherick Winner
- Lizard's Tale Weng Wai Chan
- Santa's Worst Christmas Isobel Joy Te Aho-White (illustrator) for Santa's Worst Christmas, written by Pania Tahau-Hodges and Bryony Walker
- The Day the Plants Fought Back Belinda O'Keefe, illustrated by Richard Hoit
- The Smelly Giant Laya Mutton-Rogers (illustrator), written by Kurahau
2019
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Art-tastic Sarah Pepperle, published by Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu Winner
- Bullseye Bella James T Guthrie, published by Scholastic New Zealand
- Children of the Furnace Brin Murray, published by CP Books, The Copy Press
- Slice of Heaven Des O’Leary, published by Submarine, Makaro Press
- The Stolen Stars of Matariki Miriama Kamo, illustrated by Zak Waipara, published by Scholastic New Zealand
2018
-
My New Zealand Story: Dawn Raid written by Pauline (Vaeluaga) Smith, published by Scholastic New Zealand Winner
- Because Everything Is Right but Everything Is Wrong Erin Donohue (Escalator Press)
- Pieces of You Eileen Merriman (Penguin Random House)
- The Traitor and the Thief Gareth Ward (Walker Books Australia)
- Into the White Joanna Grochowicz (Allen & Unwin)
2017
-
The Discombobulated Life of Summer Rain Julie Lamb, Makaro Press (Submarine) Winner
- Awatea's Treasure Fraser Smith, Huia Publishers
- Like Nobody's Watching L.J. Ritchie, Escalator Press
- The Mouse and the Octopus Lisala Halapua, Talanoa Books
- Wars in the Whitecloud: Wairau, 1843 Matthew H. McKinley, Kin Publishing