Oh! Being asked again for the Storylines Book Awards filled me with pure joy! Did I have to think long and hard about my answer? Haha!

I’m in the six strong panel for junior non-fiction literature, like last year, with one person new (to me) and the others the same great bunch of reading/teaching/librarian enthusiasts from before. Since an initial introductory meeting online, we have buried our heads into the nominated books (12 submitted at this point, not all available yet, so spanking new are they), writing impressions/surprises/disappointments on a shared spreadsheet guided by several criteria, tentatively finalised in a score.

The latter is not the end though. Soon enough we’ll meet again for discussions about what and how we see, appreciate or question in each publication. Comfortable in our own skins, we do not need to agree, we can adjust our scores and our preferences, or we can stick with our opinion.

I miserably fail at not reading the others’ comments before I have formulated my own, but others’ experienced eyes help with a differently angled read of a book.

So far, I have read and explored six books bringing attention to an ugly insect duckling, Pasifika poetry, mental wellbeing, multi-day walking, fighter pilots and a historical story. Illustrations are an integral part of non-fiction books and can be a deal breaker in tandem with the overall design. I spy with my little eye …

Let’s delve into number 7, plenty of content to read!   

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.