New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults – Picture Book Award

Christchurch City Libraries lists literary prize winners and links to catalogue searches, but we may not hold copies of all titles mentioned.

The New Zealand Picture Book Award is organised and 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.

2024 

Paku Manu Ariki Whakatakapōkai, Michaela Keeble, illustrated by Tokerau Brown (Gecko Press) Winner - Read Justice's review of this title

• At the Bach, Joy Cowley, illustrated by Hilary Jean Tapper (Gecko Press) - Read our interview with illustrator of this title, Hilary Jean Tapper
• Dazzlehands, Sacha Cotter, illustrated by Josh Morgan (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Rongowhakaata, Te Whānau-a-Kai) (Huia Publishers)
• Hatch and Match, Ruth Paul (Walker Books Australia)
• Lucy and the Dark, Melinda Szymanik, illustrated by Vasanti Unka (Penguin Random House NZ)

2023 

Duck Goes Meow written by Juliette MacIver, illustrated by Carla Martell (Scholastic New Zealand) Winner

• Farewell, Anahera written by Vanessa Hatley-Owen, illustrated by Scott Irvine, translated by Kanapu Rangitauira (David Ling Publishing)
• How My Koro Became a Star written by Brianne Te Paa, illustrated by Story Hemi-Morehouse (Huia Publishers)
• Roo and Vladimir: An Unlikely Friendship written and illustrated by Minky Stapleton (Scholastic New Zealand)
• The Lighthouse Princess written by Susan Wardell, illustrated by Rose Northey (Penguin Random House NZ)

2022 

• Lion Guards the Cake written and illustrated by Ruth Paul Winner
• Bumblebee Grumblebee written and illustrated by David Elliot
• My Cat Can See Ghosts written and illustrated by Emily Joe
• The Eight Gifts of Te Wheke written by Steph Matuku and illustrated by Laya Mutton-Rogers
• The Greatest Haka Festival on Earth written by Pania Tahau-Hodges and illustrated by Story Hemi-Morehouse

2021

• Kōwhai and the Giants written and illustrated by Kate Parker Winner
• Hare & Ruru: A Quiet Moment written and illustrated by Laura Shallcrass
• Hound the Detective written and illustrated by Kimberly Andrews
• The Hug Blanket written by Chris Gurney and illustrated by Lael Chisholm
• This is where I stand written by Philippa Werry and illustrated by Kieran Rynhart

2020 

• Abigail and the Birth of the Sun, Matthew Cunningham, illustrated by Sarah Wilkins Winner
• How Māui Slowed the Sun, written and illustrated by Donovan Bixley (advised and translated by Dr Darryn Joseph and Keri Opai) 
• Mini Whinny: Goody Four Shoes, Stacy Gregg, illustrated by Ruth Paul
• Santa's Worst Christmas, Pania Tahau-Hodges and Bryony Walker, illustrated by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White
• The Gobbledegook Book, Joy Cowley illustrated by Giselle Clarkson

2019 

• The Bomb Sacha Cotter, illustrated by Josh Morgan, published by Huia Publishers Winner
• Mini Whinny: Happy Birthday to Me Stacy Gregg, illustrated by Ruth Paul, published by Scholastic New Zealand
• Puffin the Architect written and illustrated by Kimberly Andrews, published by Puffin, Penguin Random House
• Things in the Sea are Touching Me Linda Jane Keegan, illustrated by Minky Stapleton, published by Scholastic New Zealand
• Who Stole the Rainbow? Written and illustrated by Vasanti Unka, published by Puffin, Penguin Random House

2018

• I am Jellyfish written and illustrated by Ruth Paul, published by Puffin, Penguin Random House Winner
• Granny McFlitter the Champion Knitter Heather Haylock, illustrated by Lael Chisholm (Penguin Random House)
• That's Not the Monster We Ordered Richard Fairgray & Terry Jones (Penguin Random House)
• The Gift Horse Sophie Siers, illustrated by Katharine White (Millwood Press)
• The Longest Breakfast Jenny Bornholdt, illustrated by Sarah Wilkins (Gecko Press)

2017

• That's Not a Hippopotamus! Juliette MacIver, illustrated by Sarah Davis, published by Gecko Press Winner
• Fuzzy Doodle Melinda Szymanik, illustrated by Donovan Bixley, published by Scholastic NZ
• Gwendolyn! Juliette MacIver, illustrated by Terri Rose Baynton, published by HarperCollins Publishers (ABC)
• My Grandpa is a Dinosaur Terry Jones, illustrated by Richard Fairgray, published by Penguin Random House (Puffin)
• The Singing Dolphin/Te Aihe i Waiata, written and illustrated by Mere Whaanga, published by Scholastic NZ

2016

• The Little Kiwi’s Matariki Nikki Slade Robinson Winner
• Allis the little tractor Sophie Siers, illustrated by Helen Kerridge
• Finding Monkey Moon Elizabeth Pulford, illustrated by Kate Wilkinson
• Haka Patricia Grace, illustrated by Andrew Burdan
• The House on the Hill Kyle Mewburn, illustrated by Sarah Davis

2015

• Jim’s letters Glyn Harper and Jenny Cooper Winner
• Keys Sacha Cotter and Joshua Morgan
• Little Red Riding Hood... not quite Yvonne Morrison and Donovan Bixley
• Construction Sally Sutton and Brian Lovelock
• I am not a worm Scott Tulloch

2014

• The boring book Vasanti Unka Winner and Margaret Mahy Book of the Year
• Machines and me: Boats Catherine Foreman
• The three bears, sort of Yvonne Morrison (Children’s Choice Award)
• Toucan can Juliette McIver, illustrated by Sarah Davis
• Watch out, Snail! Gay Hay, illustrated by Margaret Tolland

2013

• Mister Whistler Margaret Mahy and Gavin Bishop Winner
• A great cake Tina Matthews
• Melu Kyle Mewburn, Ali Teo & John O’Reilly (Children’s Choice Award)
• Mr Bear Branches and the cloud conundrum Terri Rose Baynton
• Remember that November / Maumahara ki tērā Nōema Jennifer Beck, Lindy Fisher and Kawata Teepa

2012

• Rāhui (Te reo Māori edition) Chris Szekely; nā Malcolm Ross ngā pikitia; nā Brian Morris i whakamāori Winner
• Rāhui (English edition) Chris Szekely; illustrated by Malcolm Ross
• The cat’s pyjamas Catherine Foreman
• Shaolin burning Ant Sang (Honour Award)
• Stomp Ruth Paul
• Waiting for later Tina Matthews

2011

• The moon and Farmer McPhee Margaret Mahy and David Elliot Winner
• Baa Baa smart sheep Mark and Rowan Sommerset
• A dog like that Janene Cooper; illustrated by Evie Kemp
• Hill & Hole Kyle Mewburn; illustrated by Vasanti Unka
• Marmaduke Duck and the marmalade jam Juliette MacIver; illustrated by Sarah Davis

2010

• Old Hu-Hu Kyle Mewburn; illustrated by Rachel Driscoll Winner
• Hū-Hū koroheke (Te reo Māori edition) translated by Kāterina Te Heikoko Mataira
• The word witch Margaret Mahy; illustrated by David Elliot; edited by Tessa Duder (Honour Award)
• Cowshed Christmas Joy Cowley; illustrated by Gavin Bishop
• Piggity-Wiggity Jiggity Jig goes to Dad’s cafe Diana Neild; illustrated by Philip Webb
• The wonky donkey Craig Smith; illustrated by Katz Cowley

2009

• Roadworks Sally Sutton; illustrated by Brian Lovelock Winner
• Piggity-Wiggity Jiggity Jig Diana Neild; illustrated by Philip Webb (Honour Award)
• Duck’s stuck! Kyle Mewburn; illustrated by Ali Teo and John O’Reilly
• Every second Friday Kiri Lightfoot; illustrated by Ben Galbraith
• The Were-Nana Melinda Szymanik and Sarah Nelisiwe Anderson

2008

• Tahi - one lucky kiwi Melanie Drewery; designed and illustrated by Ali Teo Winner
• The king’s bubbles Ruth Paul (Children’s Choice Award)
• Out of the egg Tina Matthews (Best First Book Award Winner)
• Rats! Gavin Bishop
• To the harbour Stanley Palmer (Honour Award)

2007

• Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck! Kyle Mewburn; illustrated by Ali Teo and John O’Reilly Winner
• Matatuhi Robyn Kahukiwa
• A present from the past Jennifer Beck; illustrated by Lindy Fisher(Honour Award)
• Riding the waves Gavin Bishop
• Whakaeke i ngā ngaru Gavin Bishop; translated by Kāterina Mataira
• The three fishing Brothers Gruff Ben Galbraith

2006

• A booming in the night Benjamin Brown; illustrated by Helen Taylor Winner
• Haere — farewell, Jack, farewell Tim Tipene; illustrated by Huhana Smith(Honour Award)
• Nobody’s dog Jennifer Beck and Lindy Fisher
• The waka Jean Prior; illustrated by Gavin Bishop / Te waka Jean Prior; illustrated by Gavin Bishop; translated by Kāterina Mataira
• Where’s the gold? Pamela Allen

2005

• Clubs: a Lolly Leopold story Kate De Goldi; illustrated by Jacqui Colley Winner
• Taming the sun Gavin Bishop
• Koro’s medicine Melanie Drewery; illustrated by Sabrina Malcolm
• The night kite Peter Bland; illustrated by Carl Bland
• The other ark Lynley Dodd

2004

• Cuthbert’s babies Pamela Allen Winner
• Napoleon and the chicken farmer Lloyd Jones; illustrated by Graeme Gash (Honour Award)
• Enough is enough! Scott Willis; illustrated by Jenna Packer
• Grandpa and Thomas Pamela Allen
• Oh hogwash, Sweet Pea! Ngareta Gabel; translated and adapted from te reo Māori by Hannah Rainforth; illustrated by Ali Teo and Astrid Jensen (Children’s Choice Award) (Published in te reo Māori as:Tekiteora, kei hea ō hū?)
• Selafina Catherine Hannken; illustrated by Trish Bowles

2003

• Pigtails the pirate David Elliot Winner
• Auntie Rosie and the rabbit Diana Noonan; illustrated by Christine Ross
• The Christmas caravan Jennifer Beck; illustrated by Robyn Belton
• The immigrants Alan Bagnall; illustrated by Sarah Wilkins
• Why do dogs sniff bottoms? Dawn McMillan and Bert Signal; illustrated by Ross Kinnaird (Children’s Choice Award)

2002

• Brodie Joy Cowley; illustrated by Chris Mousdale Winner
• Grandpa’s shorts Joy Watson; illustrated by Wendy Hodder (Children’s Choice Award)
• The last whale Reneé Hapimarika van de Weert; illustrated by Anton Petrov (Published in te reo Māori as Te tohorā whakamutunga)
• Te tohorā whakamutunga na Reneé Hapimarika van de Weert; nā Anton Petrov ngā whakaahua (Published in English as The last whale)
• Scarface Claw Lynley Dodd
• Tom Thumb: the true history of Sir Thomas Thumb retold and illustrated by Gavin Bishop

2001

• Oliver in the garden Margaret Beames; illustrated by Sue Hitchcock Winner
• After the war Bob Kerr
• Dragor, or, How a dragon suffering from prickly heat saved the world from perpetual winter and established a well-known weed Pat Quinn; illustrated by Philip Webb (Honour Award)
• Stay awake, Bear! Gavin Bishop
• Timo and the kingfish Mokena Potae Reedy; illustrated by Elton Gregory

2000

• The house that Jack built Gavin Bishop Winner
• Hairy Maclary and Zachary Quack Lynley Dodd (Children’s Choice Award)
• Mouse opera Richard Wolfe; illustrated by Pamela Wolfe
• Sydney and the sea monster David Elliot (Honour Award)
• The video shop sparrow Joy Cowley; illustrated by Gavin Bishop

1999

• A summery Saturday morning Margaret Mahy; illustrated by Selina Young Winner
• Hinepūkohurangi: he pūrākau nō roto o Tūhoe Hirini Melbourne; nā Manu Smith ngā pikitia
• The life-sized inflatable whale Gaelyn Gordon; illustrated by John Tarlton (Children’s Choice Award)
• Slinky Malinki catflaps Lynley Dodd (Honour Award) (Variant title Catflaps)
• Te tautoko 35 Kāterina Te Heikoko; nā Gus Hunter ngā pikitia

1998

• Alphabet apartments Lesley Moyes Winner
• Hairy Maclary, sit Lynley Dodd (Variant title Sit).
• Midnight at the museum Richard Wolfe; illustrated by Pamela Wolfe
• The sandman Esther Tamehana; illustrated by Kerry Gemmill (Published in te reo Māori as He tangata kirikiri)
• He tangata kirikiri Esther Tamehana; nā Kerry Gemmill ngā pikitia (Published in English as The sandman)
• Tane steals the show Lino Nelisi; illustrated by Gus Hunter (Published in te reo Māori as Tāne te whetū o te rā)
• Tāne te whetū o te rā, manata korero Lino Nelisi; manata whakaahua Gus Hunter; nā Katerina Te Heikoko Mataira i whakamaori (Published in English as Tane steals the show)

1997

• The bantam and soldier Jennifer Beck; illustrated by Rosie Belton Winner
• Maui and the sun: a Māori tale retold and illustrated by Gavin Bishop
• Mechanical Harry Bob Kerr
• Nicketty-nacketty, noo-noo-noo Joy Cowley; illustrated by Tracey Moroney
• Schnitzel von Krumm forget-me-not Lynley Dodd

For awards before 1997 see Aim Picture Book.