Books for all ages, rich in story and illustration — NZCYA 2022

This post is one of a series of reviews

This blog post is one of a series reviewing books on the NZCYA shortlist in the run-up to the announcement of the award winners on 10 August.

Books for all ages

There’s a great selection to cater to all ages in the NZCYA 2022 Picture Book and Russell Clark Illustration Awards finalists.

Grumblebee Bumblebee

Our youngest babes-in-arms and toddlers will enjoy the quirky board book from the brush of David Elliot. Grumblebee Bumblebee (Gecko Press) has witty rhyming wordplay. It'll even have older readers giggling and trying out their own variations, while the gently sketched pencil and watercolour characters and curved corners welcome little fingers. A great book for older siblings to share with the baby of the family. Watch David reading the book to his granddaughter (YouTube video, 0:34).

Lion Guards the Cake

Ruth Paul’s Lion Guards the Cake (Scholastic New Zealand) is another picture book packed with rhyme and rhythm, perfect for reading aloud, along with a characterful protagonist. Brave Lion guards a magnificent multi-layered cake in the inky night. He regularly licks the icing from his paws as he ‘protects’ the cake from the attempts of other hungry critters. Ah, the mysterious things that go on in the night-time!

My Cat Can See Ghosts

Also set in what must be the twilight hours is My Cat Can See Ghosts by Emily Joe (Beatnik). The author's own cat Tokyo, who's a dedicated ghost hunter, is the inspiration behind the story. The artwork captures the physique and attitude of the slender feline as it leaps, twirls and pounces on every shadow or flicker of light. This is another title told in rhyme, ideal for reading aloud. The hand-drawn text echoes the actions of the cat. Do pay attention to the wonderful cat-patterned endpapers too.

Moose the Pilot

A whole community of animals populates the pages of Moose the Pilot by Kimberley Andrews (Puffin, Penguin Random House NZ). We're revisiting the community of Puffin the Architect (illustration award winner in 2019) and Hound the Detective. These animals live human lives. Moose, dressed in his flying helmet and bush shirt (but no pants!) flies a variety of planes, depending on the terrain, making deliveries and then going on a rescue mission.

The rich spreads capture the landscape of the author’s childhood home of Canada, along with the instrument panel of the plane and a map of the territory. There's so much to examine, and a text that cleverly accumulates with each new adventure, repeating but with new content each time. Fun to read and enjoy, but also very rewarding for older students to pick apart and perhaps use as a model for their own creations.

Mokopuna Matatini | The Greatest Haka Festival on Earth

Older students involved with kapa haka will delight in the dual-language editions (one in English, one in te reo Māori) that both feature as finalists. Mokopuna Matatini (illustration and best first book finalist) and The Greatest Haka Festival on Earth (picture book finalist) are written by Pania Tahau-Hodges (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāi Tūhoe), illustrated by Story Hemi-Morehouse (Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Toa Rangatira) and published by Huia Publishers. These vividly illustrated picture books celebrate the 50-year-old Te Matatini cultural festival, an annual competition and celebration of Māori performing arts.

This is a whānau story with Nan the star — both in her youth, as seen on the walls of the house, and as a respected elder — passing on her heritage to the family. The illustrations and friendly, informal text convey the excitement and fun of the festival, with lots of added extras to spot in the images. See the before and after views of the things the family take to the festival on the delightful endpapers.

Even if you’ve never attended Te Matatini, you’ll be able to feel like you've been there through the pages of this book.

The Eight Gifts of Te Wheke

Te ao Māori and whānau also shine in The Eight Gifts of Te Wheke written by Steph Matuku (Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Tama, Te Atiawa), with illustrations by Laya Mutton-Rogers (Huia Publishers).

The legendary Te Wheke is always the treasure-hunter. His undersea lair is strung with his many finds — it's worth spending some time lingering over pictures and spotting the wild array of things he’s collected. He hears young Aria on the beach, crying over her hurt knee. Te Wheke distracts big bro Tamati with treasures and whisks Aria away to his lair, demanding eight treasures before he’ll return her. Tamati is the hero, gathering wonderful gifts from home, including a parcel of smoked fish and a pounamu (the gifts also decorate the end-papers). He’s helped by their strong generously-proportioned mum. The showdown on the beach is magnificent and action-packed with a delicious, slightly gruesome end.

This is an exciting story that readers will want again and again.

Atua: Māori Gods and Heroes

The biggest of the bunch, and packed with te ao Māori myth and legend, is Gavin Bishop’s Atua: Māori Gods and Heroes (Puffin, Penguin Random House NZ). Beginning in matte velvet darkness with Te Kore – Nothing, of the time before everything began, Atua takes us from Creation to Migration. If you flick to the back endpapers, you’ll spy waka sailing and gods flying across the page.

The many stories are told with humour and emotion. Deeply researched (this is also a non-fiction finalist), each section has its own focus and visual identity. There are rich textured backgrounds, linework and variegated watercolour — images that provide both information and atmosphere. The gods bring their various aspects of the world into being, with many battles and alliances. There are familiar heroes like Māui, along with the not-so-well-known. There is always something new to discover and little spotlights that link these stories to our modern world. A publication for the whole family to share, explore and learn from.

These finalists are treasures

Each has its own focus, with a story to delight in.

Linger over the artwork and look for those special secrets not found in the text. Read them aloud, share them in classrooms, on laps, side-by-side or alone.

Take your time — as long as you like. And read them again and again. That's what good books are for!

The shortlists

Picture Book Award finalists

Bumblebee Grumblebee by David Elliot (Gecko Press)

Lion Guards the Cake by Ruth Paul (Scholastic New Zealand)

My Cat Can See Ghosts by Emily Joe (Beatnik)

The Eight Gifts of Te Wheke by Steph Matuku, illustrated by Laya Mutton-Rogers (Huia Publishers)

The Greatest Haka Festival on Earth by Pania Tahau-Hodges, illustrated by Story Hemi-Morehouse (Huia Publishers)

Russell Clark Illustration Award finalists

Atua: Māori Gods and Heroes by Gavin Bishop (Puffin, Penguin Random House)

Mokopuna Matatini illustrated by Story Hemi-Morehouse, written by Pania Tahau-Hodges (Huia Publishers)

Moose the Pilot by Kimberly Andrews (Puffin, Penguin Random House NZ)

My Cat Can See Ghosts by Emily Joe (Beatnik)

The Eight Gifts of Te Wheke illustrated by Laya Mutton-Rogers, written by Steph Matuku (Huia Publishers)

Read more

Picture books — how to use them to engage students with reading.

Lending service — borrow these NZCYA finalists and other great books from us.