I am stoked! I am elated! I am excited! I am smiling! I have been accepted as a judge on the non-fiction panel of the Storylines Notable Book Awards! Five other people and our panel convenor join me on this exciting journey. To be honest, over the years I have applied many many times for different children’s books award panels and have been unsuccessful, until now.

From the Storylines Children’s Literature Charitable Trust of New Zealand | Te Whare Waituhi Tamariki o Aotearoa website about the Notable Book Awards:

“Since 1999 Storylines has produced an annual list of outstanding books for children and young people published by New Zealand authors and illustrators during the previous calendar year.

This annual list of Storylines Notable Books ensures that children, whānau, teachers, librarians and the public are aware of the large range of high quality New Zealand books being published.

Books are categorised as: Picture Book, Junior Fiction, Young Adult, Non-fiction and Te Reo Māori. There are up to ten awards in each category. 

Storylines Notable Books are selected by expert panels in each category. These panels include children’s and YA (young adult) librarians, authors, illustrators, teachers, academics and whānau; several members have served as judges for the previous New Zealand Book Trust, New Zealand Post and LIANZA Book Awards.

The Storylines Notable Book Awards are presented at Storylines’ annual event in November.” 

Follow my voyage into the sea of children’s non-fiction literature and navigating high winds, wild water and finding treasure with the rest of the crew.