HELP US HONOUR THE VERY BEST CHILDREN’S BOOKS

By New Zealand Book Awards Trust | Posted:

Covid alert levels required the 2020 NZCYA judges to do things a little differently, but we’re hopeful our 2021 judges will be able to present their results in person at an awards ceremony in Wellington in August.

You may be a bookseller, a blogger, a teacher, a librarian or any other member of this treasured community with a strong knowledge of children’s literature. If you are willing to take on the commitment required to judge the 2021 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, we’d love to hear from you.

The New Zealand Book Awards Trust will shortly appoint a total of five judges for the English language categories of the 2021 NZCYA awards and applications to be considered as a judge are currently open to all those with suitable qualifications and experience.

“It’s a big commitment but over the years our judges have told us how rewarding they have found it,” says Trust chair Nicola Legat. “After all, what could be more satisfying than becoming deeply involved in assessing the best New Zealand books of the year for young readers and celebrating the importance of books and reading?”.

“Being a judge involves taking an intensive, deep dive into one full year of local children's literature, and coming up for air a few months later with sharpened skills in critiquing and articulating what makes the best books great – and why others might miss the mark. It's a truly terrific, enriching experience and I can't recommend it more.”
— 2020 convenor of judges Jane Arthur

If you know someone who would be ideal as a judge, or are keen to be involved yourself, you’ll find full details and expressions of interest forms on our website. Applications close on 30 October. Book submissions for the 2021 awards will open on 18 November.