Two Otago writers have been selected as finalists in the prestigious New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.
Dunedin author Penelope Todd is a finalist in the young adult category with Zillah and Sandra Carrod, of Cromwell, in the nonfiction category with Weather Watch New Zealand.
The nomination completes a hat trick for Todd, whose previous books, Watermark (2003) and Dark (2004), were also also finalists in the New Zealand Post Book Awards.
‘‘It's nice to finish the trilogy with a flourish,'' she said yesterday.
Carrod lived on a boat with her family of five for nine years before writing Weather Watch New Zealand.
‘‘It's a handbook about New Zealand weather. It looks at all the different weather patterns in the different parts of the country,'' she said yesterday.
Carrod has previously published children's books The Vineyard (1999) and Pet Day (2000).
A profile of the late Sir Edmund Hillary is also a finalist in this year's awards.
Reaching the Summit, by Alexa Johnston and David Larsen, was selected as a finalist before Sir Edmund's death last month.
Three of this year's finalists - Andrew Crowe, Gavin Bishop and Melanie Drewery - have books shortlisted in more than one category. The finalists were announced this week by judging panel convener Dylan Owen and the winners will be revealed on May 29.
The finalists are. -
Picture book: The King's Bubbles, by Ruth Paul; Out of the Egg, written and illustrated by Tina Matthews; Rats!, written and illustrated by Gavin Bishop; Tahi - One Lucky Kiwi by Melanie Drewery, illustrated by Ali Teo and John O'Reilly; To the Harbour, written and illustrated by Stanley Palmer.
Nonfiction: A Mini Guide to the Identification of New Zealand Land Birds, by Andrew Crowe, illustrated by Dave Gunson; Reaching the Summit, by Alexa Johnston with David
Larsen; Weather Watch New Zealand, by Sandra Carrod, illustrated by Karsten Schneider and Richard Gunther; What is a Fish?, by Feana Tu'akoi, designed by Vasanti Unka; Which New Zealand Spider?, by Andrew Crowe.
Junior fiction: Dead Dan's Dee, by Phyllis Johnston; The Dumpster Saga, by Craig Harrison; The Mad Tadpole Adventure, by Melanie Drewery, illustrated by Jenny Cooper; My Story Sitting on the Fence: The Diary of Martin Daly, Christchurch 1981, by Bill Nagelkerke; Snake and Lizard, by Joy Cowley, illustrated by Gavin Bishop.
Young adult fiction: Salt, by Maurice Gee; The Sea-wreck Stranger, by Anna Mackenzie; Tomorrow All Will Be Beautiful, by Brigid Lowry; The Transformation of Minna Hargreaves, by Fleur Beale; Zillah, by Penelope Todd.
