Allen wins Margaret Mahy children's literature award

Auckland writer-illustrator Pamela Allen has won this year's Margaret Mahy Medal for children's literature, it was announced today.

The medal is given annually by Storylines: Children's Literature Foundation of New Zealand.

Over a 25-year career, Allen's books have been published in New Zealand, Australia, Britain, America, Japan, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, France, Spain and Korea.

Based for many years in Australia, she has now returned to New Zealand.

Allen's books include Who Sank the Boat?, My Cat Maisie, Bertie and the Bear, the Mr McGee series, Cuthbert's Babies and Grandpa and Thomas.

Allen's range of literary characters and settings had given children "immense intellectual delight", foundation chairman Wayne Mills said.

The award also carries a lecture, which Allen will present at the annual Margaret Mahy Day on March 13 at the Auckland College of Education.

Previous winners of the Margaret Mahy Medal include Joy Cowley, Maurice Gee and Lynley Dodd.

- NZPA