# New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults

The New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults are a series of literary awards presented annually to recognise excellence in children's and young adult's literature in New Zealand. The awards were founded in 1982, and have had several title changes until the present title was introduced in 2015. In 2016 the awards were merged with the LIANZA children's book awards. As of 2023 the awards are administered by the New Zealand Book Awards Trust and each category award carries prize money of NZ$7,500.

## History

The awards began in 1982, as the New Zealand Government Publishing Awards, with two categories, Children's Book of the Year and Picture Book of the Year. A non-fiction award was presented in 1986, but not in 1987 or 1988, the final years of this incarnation of the awards.
No awards were presented in 1989. In 1990, Unilever New Zealand (then the New Zealand manufacturer of Aim toothpaste) restarted the awards as the AIM Children's Book Awards. There were two categories at that time, Fiction and Picture Book. Second and third prizes were originally awarded, though these were replaced with honour awards in 1993, presented at the judges' discretion. More categories were added over time: Best First Book in 1992 (not presented 1994–5); Non-Fiction in 1993, when Fiction was split into two categories (Senior Fiction and Junior Fiction); and AIM Book of the Year in 1995.
In 1997, the awards became the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards, and another new category was added, the New Zealand Post Children's Choice award. In 2004, the Senior Fiction category was renamed to Young Adult Fiction and the name of the awards changed to New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.
In 2015 the title of the awards changed to the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. At this time the awards were administered by Booksellers New Zealand, an industry organisation, and were presented at the end of a 10-day festival organised by the New Zealand Book Council each May.
In 2016, the awards merged with the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa (LIANZA) Awards, and became administered by the New Zealand Book Awards Trust. As a consequence of the merge, the Junior Fiction category prize was combined with the LIANZA Esther Glen Award for junior fiction and the Non-Fiction award was combined with the LIANZA Elsie Locke Award for Non-Fiction]. In addition, two new categories were introduced via the LIANZA Russell Clark Award for Illustration and the LIANZA Te Kura Pounamu Award for works written in te reo Māori (the Māori language).

## Prizes

As of 2023, the winners of the category awards are awarded NZ$7,500, with the New Zealand Post Margaret Mahy Book of the Year winner receiving an additional $7,500. The Picture Book prize money is split evenly between the author and the illustrator of the book. Winners of the Best First Book and New Zealand Post Children's Choice awards receive $2,000 each, and any finalists presented an Honour Award receive $500 each.

## Awards
### Children's Book of the Year

Now called the New Zealand Post Margaret Mahy Book of the Year, this award is presented to a book "which, in the opinion of the judges, achieves outstanding excellence in all general judging criteria". As of 2013, winners receive $7,500 (in addition to the $7,500 prize for winning in their category). Currently called the New Zealand Post Children's Book of the Year award, this award was originally known as the New Zealand Children's Book of the Year Award, presented from 1982 to 1988. When the New Zealand Government Publishing Awards finished in 1988, the award ceased to exist until 1995, when the AIM Children's Book Awards established the AIM Book of the Year.
Winners of the Fiction category in 1990 to 1992, when there was no Book of the Year award and the only additional category was Picture Book (and Best First Book in 1992), have been considered Book of the Year winners.
| Year | Book | Author(s) | Category |
| 1982 | The Silent One | Joy Cowley; ill. by Sherryl Jordan | ZN/A |
| 1983 | The Halfmen of O | Maurice Gee | ZN/A |
| 1984 | Jacky Nobody | Anne de Roo | ZN/A |
| 1985 | Visitors | Caroline MacDonald; ill. by Garry Melson | ZN/A |
| 1986 | Guardian of the Land | Joanna Orwin | ZN/A |
| 1987 | The Keeper | Barry Faville | ZN/A |
| 1988 | Alex | Tessa Duder | ZN/A |
| 1995 | The Fat Man | Maurice Gee | Junior Fiction |
| 1996 | Crossroads | Janice Marriott | Senior Fiction |
| 1997 | The Bantam and the Soldier | Jennifer Beck; ill. by Robyn Belton | Picture Book |
| 1998 | Dare Truth or Promise | Paula Boock | Senior Fiction |
| 1999 | A Summery Saturday Morning | Margaret Mahy; ill. by Selina Young | Picture Book |
| 2000 | The House that Jack Built | Gavin Bishop | Picture Book |
| 2001 | Voyage with Jason | Ken Catran | Senior Fiction |
| 2002 | The Plight of the Penguin | Lloyd Spencer Davis | Non Fiction |
| 2003 | Weaving Earth and Sky: Myths and Legends of Aotearoa | Robert Sullivan; ill. by Gavin Bishop | Non Fiction |
| 2004 | Bird in the Hand: Keeping New Zealand Wildlife Safe | Janet Hunt | Non Fiction |
| 2005 | Clubs: A Lolly Leopold Story | Kate De Goldi; ill. by Jacqui Colley | Picture Book |
| 2006 | Hunter | Joy Cowley | Junior Fiction |
| 2007 | Illustrated History of the South Pacific | Marcia Stenson | Non Fiction |
| 2008 | Snake and Lizard | Joy Cowley; ill. by Gavin Bishop | Junior Fiction |
| 2009 | The 10pm Question | Kate de Goldi | Young Adult Fiction |
| 2010 | Old Hu-Hu Hū Hū Koroheke (Te Reo edition) | Kyle Mewburn and Rachel Driscoll Te Reo ed. trans. by Kāterina Mataira | Picture Book |
| 2011 | The Moon & Farmer McPhee | Margaret Mahy; ill. by David Elliot | Picture Book |
| 2012 | Nice Day for a War | Matt Elliot; ill. by Chris Sloane | Non Fiction |
| 2013 | Into the River | Ted Dawe | Young Adult Fiction |
| 2014 | The Boring Book | Vasanti Unka | Picture Book |
| 2015 | Singing Home the Whale | Mandy Hager | Young Adult Fiction |
| 2016 | Anzac Heroes | Maria Gill; ill. by Marco Ivancic | Non Fiction |
| 2017 | Snark | David Elliot (after Lewis Carroll) | |
| 2018 | Aotearoa: The New Zealand Story | Gavin Bishop | Non-Fiction |
| 2019 | The Bomb | Sacha Cotter, ill. by Josh Morgan | |
| 2020 | Mophead: How Your Difference Makes a Difference | Selina Tusitala Marsh | Non-Fiction |
| 2021 | Charlie Tangaroa and the Creature from the Sea | T. K. Roxborogh, ill. by Phoebe Morris | Fiction |
| 2022 | Atua: Māori gods and heroes | Gavin Bishop | Fiction |
| 2023 | Te Wehenga: The Separation of Ranginui and Papatūānuku | Mat Tait | Non-Fiction |

### Children's Choice

In 2015 for the first time, children chose the finalist list for the Children's Choice awards. With 6,000 students putting their votes in for all 149 of the titles submitted for the awards, the finalists were announced on 9 June. This began the second stage of voting, which saw just under 16,000 students post their votes for the Children's Choice winners.
Until 2014, the Children's Choice award was chosen from the finalists in all categories below by a public vote open to school aged children, and is considered one of the highest accolades in the awards. As of 2013 winners of the Children's Choice award receive a prize of $2,000.
The Children's Choice award was created at the first New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards in 1997, and has been presented every year since. Despite being open to finalists from all categories, as of 2013 all winners have been from the Picture Book category. From 2010 the winners of each category have also been announced.
| Year | Book | Author(s) | Category |
| 1997 | Mechanical Harry | Bob Kerr | Picture Book |
| 1998 | Alphabet Apartments | Lesley Moyes | Picture Book |
| 1999 | The Life-Size Inflatable Whale | Gaelyn Gordon; ill. by John Tarlton | Picture Book |
| 2000 | Hairy Maclary and Zachary Quack | Lynley Dodd | Picture Book |
| 2001 | Oliver in the Garden | Margaret Beames, ill. by Sue Hitchcock | Picture Book |
| 2002 | Grandpa's Shorts | Joy Watson, ill. by Wendy Hodder | Picture Book |
| 2003 | Why Do Dogs Sniff Bottoms? | Dawn McMillan & Bert Signal; ill. by Ross Kinnaird | Picture Book |
| 2004 | Oh Hogwash, Sweet Pea! | Ngāreta Gabel; ill. by Ali Teo & Astrid Jensen | Picture Book |
| 2005 | The Other Ark | Lynley Dodd | Picture Book |
| 2006 | Nobody's Dog | Jennifer Beck; ill. by Lindy Fisher | Picture Book |
| 2007 | Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck! | Kyle Mewburn; ill. by Ali Teo & John O'Reilly | Picture Book |
| 2008 | The King's Bubbles | Ruth Paul | Picture Book |
| 2009 | The Were-Nana | Melinda Szymanik & Sarah Nelisiwe Anderson | Picture Book |
| 2010 | The Wonky Donkey | Craig Smith; ill. by Katz Cowley | Picture Book |
| 2011 | Baa Baa Smart Sheep | Mark Sommerset; ill. by Rowan Sommerset | Picture Book |
| 2012 | The Cat's Pyjamas | Catherine Foreman | Picture Book |
| 2013 | Melu | Kyle Mewburn; ill. by Ali Teo & John O'Reilly. | Picture Book |
| 2014 | The Three Bears … Sort Of | Yvonne Morrison; ill. by Donovan Bixley | Picture Book |
| Where categories are bold these books also won the category award. |||||
| Year | Book | Author(s) | Category |
| 2010 | Dear Alison: A New Zealand Soldier's Story from Stalag 383 | Dudley Muff; ed. by Simon Pollard | Non-fiction |
| 2010 | Friends: Snake and Lizard | Joy Cowley; ill. by Gavin Bishop | Junior Fiction |
| 2010 | Brainjack | Brian Falkner | Young Adult Fiction |
| 2011 | Who's Cooking Tonight? | Claire Gourley & Glenda Gourley | Non-fiction |
| 2011 | Hollie Chips$^1$ | Anna Gowan | Junior Fiction |
| 2011 | Smiling Jack | Ken Catran | Young Adult Fiction |
| 2012 | New Zealand Hall of Fame: 50 Remarkable Kiwis | Maria Gill; ill. by Bruce Potter | Non-fiction |
| 2012 | Super Finn$^1$ | Leonie Agnew | Junior Fiction |
| 2012 | The Bridge$^H$ | Jane Higgins | Young Adult Fiction |
| 2013 | Kiwi: The Real Story | Annemarie Florian; ill. by Heather Hunt | Non-fiction |
| 2013 | My Brother's War | David Hill | Junior Fiction |
| 2013 | Snakes and Ladders | Mary-anne Scott | Young Adult Fiction |
| 2015 | The Letterbox Cat and other poems | Paula Green;ill. by Myles Lawford | Non-fiction |
| 2015 | The Anzac Puppy | Peter Millett;ill. by Trish Bowles | Picture Book |
| 2015 | Monkey Boy | Donovan Bixley | Junior Fiction |
| 2015 | Night Vision | Ella West | Young Adult Fiction |
| 2016 | First to the Top | David Hill;ill. by Phoebe Morris | Non-fiction |
| 2016 | Te Hua Tuatahi a Kuwi | Kat Merewether, translated by Pānia Papa | Te Reo Māori |
| 2016 | The House on the Hill | Kyle Mewburn;ill. by Sarah Davis | Picture Book |
| 2016 | The Girl Who Rode the Wind | Stacy Gregg | Junior Fiction |
| 2016 | Stray | Rachael Craw | Young Adult Fiction |
| Where categories are bold these books also won the category, $^1$ denotes a Best First Book award, and $^H$ denotes an Honour Award. |||||

### Best First Book

The Best First Book award is open to entrants in any of the categories below who are first‐time authors. As of 2012, winners in of the Best First Book award receive a prize of $2,000.
The Best First Book category was first included in the AIM Children's Book Awards in 1992, but was not awarded 1994–5. Since then, the award has been presented every year except 2001.
| Year | Book | Author(s) | Category |
| 1992 | Out Walked Mel | Paula Boock | Fiction |
| 1993 | The Optimist$^H$ | Bob Kerr | Junior Fiction |
| 1996 | Laura's Poems | Laura Ranger | Junior Fiction |
| 1997 | Reliable Friendly Girls | Jane Westaway | Senior Fiction |
| 1998 | Trapped | Judy Knox | Junior Fiction |
| 1999 | Footsteps of the Gods | Hana Hiraina Erlbeck; ill. by Manawa-Ote-Rangi | Junior Fiction |
| 2000 | 2MUCH4U | Vince Ford | Junior Fiction |
| 2002 | Brodie | Joy Cowley, ill. by Chris Mousdale | Picture Book |
| 2003 | Buddy | V. M. Jones | Junior Fiction |
| 2004 | Thunder Road | Ted Dawe | Young Adult Fiction |
| 2005 | Cross Tides | Lorraine Orman | Young Adult Fiction |
| 2006 | The Unknown Zone | Phil Smith | Young Adult Fiction |
| 2007 | The Three Fishing Brothers Gruff | Ben Galbraith | Picture Book |
| 2008 | Out of the Egg | Tina Matthews | Picture Book |
| 2009 | Violence 101 | Denis Wright | Young Adult Fiction |
| 2010 | The Bone Tiki | David Hair | Young Adult Fiction |
| 2011 | Hollie Chips$^{CC}$ | Anna Gowan | Junior Fiction |
| 2012 | Super Finn$^{CC}$ | Leonie Agnew | Junior Fiction |
| 2013 | Reach | Hugh Brown | Young Adult Fiction |
| 2014 | A Necklace of Souls | R. L. Stedman | Young Adult Fiction |
| 2015 | Māori Art for Kids | Julie Noanoa and Norm Heke | Non-Fiction |
| 2016 | Allis the Little Tractor | Sophie Siers; ill. by Helen Kerridge | Picture Book |
| 2017 | The Discombobulated Life of Summer Rain | Julie Lamb | Junior Fiction |
| 2018 | My New Zealand Story: Dawn Raid | Pauline (Vaeluaga) Smith | |
| 2019 | Art-tastic | Sarah Pepperle | Non-Fiction |
| 2020 | #Tumeke! | Michael Petherick | Junior Fiction |
| 2021 | Kōwhai and the Giants | Kate Parker | Picture Book |
| 2022 | Spark Hunter | Sonya Wilson | Fiction |
| 2023 | The Lighthouse Princess | Susan Wardell ill. by Rose Northey | Picture Book |
| Where more than one author is listed, the Best First Book award recipient is listed in bold. Where categories are bold these books also won in their category, $^H$ denotes an Honour Award, and $^{CC}$ denotes a Children's Choice category winner. |||||

## Categories
### Picture Book

The Picture Book category is for titles in which the illustrations "carry the impact of the story" along with the text. These can be titles for children or young adults, but illustrations have to make up at least half of the content, and these illustrations must be original, not compiled from other sources. As of 2012, winners receive a prize of $7,500, split evenly between the author and the illustrator.
"Picture Book" is the only category to be included in every awards ceremony, and was first presented in 1982 as "Picture Book of the Year" in the New Zealand Government Publishing Awards. There were no awards ceremonies in 1989, but the category was resurrected in the first AIM Children's Book Awards in 1990 as "Picture Book", and has retained the name to this day.
| Year | Book | Writer(s) | Illustrator(s) |
| 1982 | The Kuia and the Spider | Patricia Grace | Robyn Kahukiwa |
| 1983 | Mr Fox | Gavin Bishop (retold by) | Gavin Bishop |
| 1984 | Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy | Lynley Dodd | Lynley Dodd |
| 1985 | The Fish of Our Fathers | Ron Bacon | R. H. G. Jahnke |
| 1986 | Hairy Maclary Scattercat | Lynley Dodd | Lynley Dodd |
| 1987 | Taniwha | Robyn Kahukiwa | Robyn Kahukiwa |
| 1988 | Hairy Maclary's Caterwaul Caper | Lynley Dodd | Lynley Dodd |
| 1990 | Annie and Moon | Miriam Smith | Lesley Moyes |
| 1991 | My Cat Maisie | Pamela Allen | Pamela Allen |
| 1992 | Hairy Maclary's Showbusiness | Lynley Dodd | Lynley Dodd |
| 1993 | Lily and the Present | Christine Ross | Christine Ross |
| 1994 | Hinepau | Gavin Bishop | Gavin Bishop |
| 1995 | The Best-Loved Bear | Diana Noonan | Elizabeth Fuller |
| 1996 | The Cheese Trap | Joy Cowley | Linda McClelland |
| 1997 | The Bantam and the Soldier | Jennifer Beck | Robyn Belton |
| 1998 | Alphabet Apartments$^C$ | Lesley Moyes | Lesley Moyes |
| 1999 | A Summery Saturday Morning | Margaret Mahy | Selina Young |
| 2000 | The House that Jack Built | Gavin Bishop | Gavin Bishop |
| 2001 | Oliver in the Garden$^C$ | Margaret Beames | Sue Hitchcock |
| 2002 | Brodie$^1$ | Joy Cowley | Chris Mousdale |
| 2003 | Pigtails the Pirate | David Elliot | David Elliot |
| 2004 | Cuthbert's Babies | Pamela Allen | Pamela Allen |
| 2005 | Clubs: A Lolly Leopold Story | Kate De Goldi | Jacqui Colley |
| 2006 | A Booming in the Night | Benjamin Brown | Helen Taylor |
| 2007 | Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck!$^C$ | Kyle Mewburn | Ali Teo & John O'Reilly |
| 2008 | Tahi – One Lucky Kiwi | Melanie Drewery | John O'Reilly & Ali Teo |
| 2009 | Roadworks | Sally Sutton | Brian Lovelock |
| 2010 | Old Hu-Hu Hū Hū Koroheke (Te Reo edition) | Kyle Mewburn Te Reo ed. trans. by Kāterina Mataira | Rachel Driscoll |
| 2011 | The Moon & Farmer McPhee | Margaret Mahy | David Elliot |
| 2012 | Rāhui | Chris Szekely Te Reo ed. trans. by Brian Morris | Malcolm Ross |
| 2013 | Mister Whistler | Margaret Mahy | Gavin Bishop |
| 2014 | The Boring Book | Vasanti Unka | |
| 2015 | Jim's Letters | Glyn Harper | Jenny Cooper |
| 2016 | The Little Kiwi's Matariki | Nikki Slade Robinson | Nikki Slade Robinson |
| 2017 | That's Not a Hippopotamus! | Juliette MacIver | Sarah Davis |
| 2018 | I am Jellyfish | Ruth Paul | Ruth Paul |
| 2019 | The Bomb | Sacha Cotter | Josh Morgan |
| 2020 | Abigail and the Birth of the Sun | Matthew Cunningham | Sarah Wilkins |
| 2021 | Kōwhai and the Giants | Kate Parker | Kate Parker |
| 2022 | Lion Guards the Cake | Ruth Paul | Ruth Paul |
| 2023 | Duck Goes Meow | Juliette MacIver | Carla Martell |
| Titles in bold also won the Children's Book of the Year award, $^C$ denotes a Children's Choice award, and $^1$ denotes a Best First Book award. Full list of finalists at AIM Children's Book Awards – Picture Book & New Zealand Post Picture Book on the Christchurch City Libraries website. |||||

### Non-fiction

The Non-fiction category is for titles in "which present well-authenticated data, with consideration given to imaginative presentation, interpretation and style". Titles for children or young adults can be included in this category, but not textbooks, resource kits, poetry, folklore, or retellings of myths and legends. As of 2012, winners in the Non-fiction category receive a prize of $7,500.
The Non Fiction category was added in 1986 to the New Zealand Government Publishing Awards, but removed again in 1987. The category was not resurrected until 1993, as part of the AIM Children's Book Awards. From 2008, the category's name has been hyphenated.
In 2016, when the awards merged with the LIANZA Awards, this category was merged with the Elsie Locke Award for Non-Fiction and renamed the Elsie Locke Non-Fiction Award.
| Year | Book | Author(s) |
| 1986 | The Story of New Zealand | Judith Bassett, Keith Sinclair and Marcia Stensen |
| 1993 | Picture Magic | Chris Gaskin |
| 1994 | Old Blue: The Rarest Bird in the World | Mary Taylor |
| 1995 | Which Native Forest Plant? | Andrew Crowe |
| 1996 | Aya's Story | Jenny Scown, photography by Trish Gribben |
| 1997 | Picture Book Magic | Chris Gaskin, photography by Denis Page |
| 1998 | The Know, Sow & Grow Kids' Book of Plants | Diana Noonan & Keith Olsen |
| 1999 | The Natural World of New Zealand | Gerard Hutching |
| 2000 | Te Wao Nui a Tāne | Hirini Melbourne; ill. by Te Maari Gardiner |
| 2001 | The Zoo: Meet the Locals | Colin Hogg |
| 2002 | The Plight of the Penguin | Lloyd Spencer Davis |
| 2003 | Weaving Earth and Sky: Myths and Legends of Aotearoa | Robert Sullivan; ill. by Gavin Bishop |
| 2004 | A Bird in the Hand | Janet Hunt |
| 2005 | Welcome to the South Seas | Gregory O'Brien |
| 2006 | Scarecrow Army: The Anzacs at Gallipoli | Leon Davidson |
| 2007 | Illustrated History of the South Pacific | Marcia Stenson |
| 2008 | Which New Zealand Spider? | Andrew Crowe |
| 2009 | Back & Beyond: New Zealand Painting for the Young & Curious | Gregory O'Brien |
| 2010 | E3 Call Home | Janet Hunt |
| 2011 | Zero Hour: The Anzacs on the Western Front | Leon Davidson |
| 2012 | Nice Day for a War | Matt Elliot; ill. by Chris Sloane |
| 2013 | 100 Amazing Tales from Aotearoa | Simon Morton & Riria Hotere |
| 2014 | The Beginner's Guide to Hunting and Fishing in New Zealand | Paula Adamson |
| 2015 | Mōtītī Blue and the Oil Spill | Debbie McCauley |
| 2016 | Anzac Heroes | Maria Gill; ill. by Marco Ivancic |
| 2017 | Jack and Charlie: Boys of the Bush | Jack Marcotte and Josh James Marcotte |
| 2018 | Aotearoa: The New Zealand Story | Gavin Bishop |
| 2019 | Art-tastic | Sarah Pepperle |
| 2020 | Mophead | Selina Tusitala Marsh |
| 2021 | Egg and Spoon: An illustrated cookbook | Alexandra Tylee, ill. by Giselle Clarkson |
| 2022 | Atua: Māori gods and heroes | Gavin Bishop |
| 2023 | Te Wehenga: The Separation of Ranginui and Papatūānuku | Mat Tait |
| Titles in bold also won the Children's Book of the Year award. Full list of finalists at AIM Children's Book Awards – Non-Fiction & New Zealand Post Non-Fiction on the Christchurch City Libraries website. ||||

### Fiction

The Fiction category is for works of creative writing, in which the text constitutes the "heart of the book". The category was added with the creation of the AIM Children's Book Awards in 1990, but was split into Junior Fiction and Senior Fiction in 1993. The name of the Senior Fiction category was later to change to Young Adult Fiction in 2004.
As of 2012, winners in either Fiction category receive a prize of $7,500.
Winners of the Fiction category in 1990 to 1992, when there was no Book of the Year award and the only additional category was Picture Book (and Best First Book in 1992), have been considered Book of the Year winners.
| Year | Book | Author |
| 1990 | Alex in Winter | Tessa Duder |
| 1991 | Rocco | Sherryl Jordan |
| 1992 | Bow Down Shadrach | Joy Cowley |
| Full list of finalists at AIM Children's Book Awards – Fiction on the Christchurch City Libraries website. ||||

#### Junior fiction

Created in 1993, this award is for works in the Fiction category whose intended audience are in Years 1–8 (primary and intermediate school) (See Education in New Zealand § Years of schooling).
| Year | Book | Author(s) |
| 1993 | Underrunners | Margaret Mahy |
| 1994 | A Dolphin in the Bay | Diana Noonan |
| 1995 | The Fat Man | Maurice Gee |
| 1996 | The Waterfall | Jack Lasenby |
| 1997 | The Battle of Pook Island | Jack Lasenby |
| 1998 | Ticket to the Sky Dance | Joy Cowley |
| 1999 | Starbright and the Dream Eater | Joy Cowley |
| 2000 | 2MUCH4U$^1$ | Vince Ford |
| 2001 | Shadrach Girl | Joy Cowley |
| 2002 | Recycled | Sandy McKay |
| 2003 | Buddy$^1$ | V. M. Jones |
| 2004 | Juggling with Mandarins | V. M. Jones |
| 2005 | Aunt Effie and the Island that Sank | Jack Lasenby |
| 2006 | Hunter | Joy Cowley |
| 2007 | Thor's Tale: Endurance and Adventure in the Southern Ocean | Janice Marriott |
| 2008 | Snake and Lizard | Joy Cowley, ill. by Gavin Bishop |
| 2009 | Old Drumble | Jack Lasenby |
| 2010 | The Loblolly Boy | James Norcliffe |
| 2011 | Finnigan & the Pirates | Sherryl Jordan |
| 2012 | Super Finn$^1$$^{CC}$ | Leonie Agnew |
| 2013 | My Brother's War$^{CC}$ | David Hill |
| 2014 | Dunger | Joy Cowley |
| 2015 | Monkey Boy | Donovan Bixley |
| 2016 | From the Cutting Room of Barney Kettle | Kate De Goldi |
| 2017 | My New Zealand Story: Bastion Point | Tania Roxborogh |
| 2018 | How to Bee | Bren MacDibble |
| 2019 | The Dog Runner | Bren MacDibble |
| 2020 | Lizard's Tale | Weng Wai Chan |
| 2021 | Charlie Tangaroa and the Creature from the Sea | T. K. Roxborogh |
| 2022 | The Memory Thief | Leonie Agnew |
| 2023 | Below | David Hill |
| Titles in bold also won the Children's Book of the Year award, $^1$ denotes a Best First Book award, and $^{CC}$ denotes a Children's Choice category winner. Full list of finalists at AIM Children's Book Awards – Fiction & New Zealand Post Junior Fiction on the Christchurch City Libraries website. ||||

#### Young Adult Fiction

Created in 1993, and called Senior Fiction prior to 2004, this award is for works in the Fiction category whose intended audience are in Years 9–13 (secondary school).
| Year | Book | Author |
| 1993 | Songs for Alex | Tessa Duder |
| 1994 | The Value of X | Pat Quinn |
| 1995 | The Blue Lawn | William Taylor |
| 1996 | Crossroads | Janice Marriott |
| 1997 | Sanctuary | Kate De Goldi |
| 1998 | Dare Truth or Promise | Paula Boock |
| 1999 | Taur | Jack Lasenby |
| 2000 | The Tiggie Tompson Show | Tessa Duder |
| 2001 | Voyage with Jason | Ken Catran |
| 2002 | Owl | Joanna Orwin |
| 2003 | Alchemy | Margaret Mahy |
| 2004 | Thunder Road$^1$ | Ted Dawe |
| 2005 | Malcolm and Juliet | Bernard Beckett |
| 2006 | With Lots of Love from Georgia | Brigid Lowry |
| 2007 | Genesis | Bernard Beckett |
| 2008 | Salt | Maurice Gee |
| 2009 | The 10pm Question | Kate De Goldi |
| 2010 | Blood of the Lamb: The Crossing | Mandy Hager |
| 2011 | Fierce September | Fleur Beale |
| 2012 | Calling the Gods | Jack Lasenby |
| 2013 | Into the River | Ted Dawe |
| 2014 | Mortal Fire | Elizabeth Knox |
| 2015 | Singing Home the Whale | Mandy Hager |
| 2016 | Battlesaurus: Rampage at Waterloo | Brian Falkner |
| 2017 | The Severed Land | Maurice Gee |
| 2018 | In the Dark Spaces | Cally Black |
| 2019 | Legacy | Whiti Hereaka |
| 2020 | Aspiring | Damien Wilkins |
| 2021 | The Pōrangi Boy | Shilo Kino |
| 2022 | Learning to Love Blue | Saradha Koirala |
| 2023 | Iris and Me | Philippa Werry |
| Titles in bold also won the Children's Book of the Year award, and $^1$ denotes a Best First Book award. Full list of finalists at AIM Children's Book Awards – Fiction & New Zealand Post Young Adult Fiction on the Christchurch City Libraries website. Finalist entries missing at the above sites are available at the awards' official website. ||||

### Illustration

The illustration award was added in 2016, when the Awards merged with the LIANZA Awards. It is named the Russell Clark award in honour of the New Zealand illustrator of that name.
| Year | Book | Author | Illustrator |
| 2016 | Much Ado About Shakespeare | Donovan Bixley | Donovan Bixley |
| 2017 | Snark | David Elliott | David Elliott |
| 2018 | Giants, Trolls, Witches, Beasts | Craig Phillips | Craig Phillips |
| 2019 | Puffin the Architect | Kimberley Andrews | Kimberley Andrews |
| 2020 | The Adventures of Tupaia | Courtney Sina Meredith | Mat Tait |
| 2021 | Hare & Ruru: A Quiet Moment | Laura Shallcrass | Laura Shallcrass |
| 2022 | Atua: Māori Gods and Heroes | Gavin Bishop | Gavin Bishop |
| 2023 | A Portrait of Leonardo | Donovan Bixley | Donovan Bixley |
| Full list of finalists at New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults – Russell Clark Award for Illustration and (for awards pre-2016) LIANZA Russell Clark Award on the Christchurch City Libraries website. |||||

### Te reo Māori

This award is currently called the Wright Family Foundation Te Kura Pounamu Award and is awarded to a book written entirely in (or translated entirely into) te reo Māori (the Māori language). It was introduced in 2016 when the Awards merged with the LIANZA Awards, and is judged separately by Te Rōpū Whakahau.
| Year | Book | Author | Illustrator | Translator |
| 2016 | Whiti te Ra! | Patricia Grace | Andrew Burdan | Kawata Teepa |
| 2017 | Te Kaihanga Māpere | Sacha Cotter | Josh Morgan | Kawata Teepa |
| 2018 | Tu Meke Tūī! | Malcolm Clarke | Hayley King | Evelyn Tobin |
| 2019 | Te Haka a Tānerore | Reina Kahukiwa | Robyn Kahukiwa | Kiwa Hammond |
| 2020 | Tio Tiamu | Kurahau | Laya Mutton-Rogers | |
| 2021 | Ngake me Whātaitai | Ben Ngaia | Laya Mutton-Rogers | |
| 2022 | I Waho, i te Moana | Yvonne Morrison | Jenny Cooper | Pānia Papa |
| 2023 | Kua Whetūrangitia a Koro | Brianne Te Paa | Story Hemi-Morehouse | |
| Full list of finalists at New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults – Wright Family Foundation Te Kura Pounamu Award for Te Reo Māori and (for awards pre-2016) LIANZA Te Kura Pounamu Award on the Christchurch City Libraries website. |||||

## Honour Award and runners-up

Honour Awards are given at the judge's discretion to outstanding finalists that don't win in their category. As of 2012, finalists presented an Honour Award receive a prize of $500.
Honour Awards were first presented in 1993, while in 1990 to 1992 runners-up were awarded second and third prizes.
| Year | Book | Author(s) | Category |
| 1990 | The Champion | Maurice Gee | Fiction |
| 1990 | The Story of the Kakapo, Parrot of the Night | Philip Temple; ill. by Chris Gaskin | Picture Book |
| 1991 | Secrets | Ruth Corrin | Fiction |
| 1991 | Lily and the Bears | Christine Ross | Picture Book |
| 1992 | The Juniper Game | Sherryl Jordan | Fiction |
| 1992 | My Aunt Mary Went Shopping | Roger Hall; ill. by Trevor Pye | Picture Book |
| 1993 | The Optimist$^1$ | Bob Kerr | Junior Fiction |
| 1993 | The Conjuror | Jack Lasenby | Senior Fiction |
| 1993 | Grandma McGarvey Paints the Shed | Jenny Hessell; ill. by Trevor Pye | Picture Book |
| 1994 | The Ace of Diamonds Gang | Owen Marshall | Senior Fiction |
| 1994 | Stretch, Bend and Boggle | Brian Stokes; ill. by Carolyn Smith | Non Fiction |
| 1995 | The Emerald Encyclopedia | James Norcliffe | Senior Fiction |
| 1995 | The Life Cycle of the Praying Mantis | Betty Brownlie | Non Fiction |
| 1995 | Kotuku: The Flight of the White Heron | Philip Temple; ill. by Chris Gaskin | Picture Book |
| 1996 | Take it Easy | David Hill | Junior Fiction |
| 1996 | Joe's Ruby | Elsie Locke; ill. by Gary Hebley | Non Fiction |
| 1996 | Tom's Story | Mandy Hager; ill. by Ruth Paul | Picture Book |
| 1998 | Because We Were the Travellers | Jack Lasenby | Senior Fiction |
| 1999 | Killer Moves | Denis Edwards | Junior Fiction |
| 1999 | I Am Not Esther | Fleur Beale | Senior Fiction |
| 1999 | Slinky Malinki Catflaps | Lynley Dodd | Picture Book |
| 2000 | A Villain's Night Out | Margaret Mahy; ill. by Harry Horse | Junior Fiction |
| 2000 | Closed, Stranger | Kate De Goldi | Senior Fiction |
| 2000 | Sydney and the Sea Monster | David Elliot | Picture Book |
| 2001 | The Lies of Harry Wakatipu | Jack Lasenby | Junior Fiction |
| 2001 | 24 Hours | Margaret Mahy | Senior Fiction |
| 2001 | Dragor, Or, How a Dragon Suffering from Prickly Heat Saved the World from Perpetual Winter and Established a Well-known Weed | Pat Quinn; ill. by Philip Webb | Picture Book |
| 2004 | Napoleon and the Chicken Farmer | Lloyd Jones; ill. by Graeme Gash | Picture Book |
| 2006 | Sil | Jill Harris | Junior Fiction |
| 2006 | Kaitangata Twitch | Margaret Mahy | Young Adult Fiction |
| 2006 | Blue New Zealand | Glenys Stace | Non Fiction |
| 2006 | Haere – Farewell, Jack, Farewell | Tim Tipene; ill. by Huhana Smith | Picture Book |
| 2007 | A Present from the Past | Jennifer Beck; ill. by Lindy Fisher | Picture Book |
| 2008 | The Sea-wreck Stranger | Anna Mackenzie | Young Adult Fiction |
| 2008 | Reaching the Summit | Alexa Johnston & David Larsen | Non-fiction |
| 2008 | To the Harbour | Stanley Palmer | Picture Book |
| 2009 | Piggity-Wiggity Jiggity Jig | Diana Neild; ill. by Philip Webb | Picture Book |
| 2010 | The Word Witch | Margaret Mahy; ill. by David Elliot; ed. by Tessa Duder | Picture Book |
| 2012 | The Travelling Restaurant | Barbara Else | Junior Fiction |
| 2012 | The Bridge | Jane Higgins | Young Adult Fiction |
| 2012 | Digging Up The Past: Archaeology for the Young & Curious | David Veart | Non-fiction |
| 2012 | Shaolin Burning | Ant Sang | Picture Book |
| 2013 | The Queen and the Nobody Boy: A Tale of Fontania | Barbara Else | Junior Fiction |
| 2014 | Bugs | Whiti Hereaka | Young Adult Fiction |
| $^1$ denotes a Best First Book award. Third Prize winners (1990–2) can be found at AIM Children's Book Awards 1990 – 1996 on the Christchurch City Libraries website. |||||