Neighbours scoop two major children's book awards

Jacqui Colley (left) and Kate De Goldi with a copy of 'Clubs'.

The story of a little girl who feels left out when a rash of club-joining spreads through her school is the winner of the 2005 New Zealand Post Awards for Children and Young Adults.

Wellington neighbours Kate De Goldi (writer) and Jacqui Colley (illustrator) last night received the award at a ceremony at Parliament for their picture book, Clubs: A Lolly Leopold Story, which also won best picture book.

De Goldi, a regular reviewer on Kim Hill's National Radio show, credited Colley for the idea.

"One day she said, 'Have you ever thought of doing a picture book?' In fact I had been thinking about doing a picture book for a long period, because of reviewing them on Kim Hill.

"I'd been thinking about stories set in the classroom, partly because I spent a lot of time visiting schools as part of the Book Council's writers in schools scheme."

Another Wellington writer, Greg O'Brien, won best non-fiction, for Welcome to the South Seas: Contemporary New Zealand Art for Young People.

O'Brien paid tribute to his young sons for letting him "test-drive" the text to see if it held their interest.

O'Brien has been travelling the country visiting schools, and said he found children's interest in television shows such as bro'Town was a way of leading them into the book, which features some cartoon-style artists like Dylan Horrocks and Dick Frizzell.

"It's a great book for a parent who's vaguely interested in art," he said. "Parents and kids can do it together, and when kids get a bit older they can read it on their own. It seems to work differently for different age groups."

The winners of each category receive $5000, with an extra $5000 for the top prize. The judges were Bob Kerr, Julie Harper and Jackie Clarke.

New Zealand Post Book Children & Young Adults Awards 2005

NZ Post Book of the Year: Clubs: A Lolly Leopold Story, by Kate De Goldi and Jacqui Colley, Trapeze.

Picture Book: Clubs: A Lolly Leopold Story, by Kate De Goldi and Jacqui Colley, Trapeze.

Non fiction: Welcome to the South Seas: Contemporary New Zealand Art for Young People, by Gregory O'Brien, Auckland University Press.

Junior Fiction: Aunt Effie and the Island That Sank, by Jack Lasenby; Longacre Press.

Young Adult Fiction: Malcolm and Juliet, by Bernard Beckett; Longacre Press.

Best First Book Award: Cross Tides, by Lorraine Orman, Longacre Press.

Children's Choice Award: The Other Ark, by Lynley Dodd, Mallinson Rendel.

* Tomorrow's canvas magazine in the Weekend Herald features interviews with De Goldi and O'Brien.