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Independent education and publishing consultant, Gillian Candler will convene this year’s New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards judging panel.

The former secondary school teacher, editor and chief executive of state-owned education publishing company, Learning Media says she is looking forward to a long, enjoyable summer of reading great kiwi books.

“I’m a passionate believer that good books change lives. It is therefore an honour and a pleasure to convene this year’s New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards judging panel.

”I’ll be on the lookout for books that capture my imagination; books that entice and teach, books with characters that draw me in and leave me wanting more.”

Two other children’s literature experts join Ms Candler on the judging panel: school curriculum advisor, librarian and bookseller Annemarie Florian and award-winning writer and illustrator Bob Kerr.

Together they will read more than 130 books in the search for the best of this country’s children’s books - across all age groups - published in 2011.

They will be choosing finalists, and ultimately winners across five categories: picture book, non-fiction, junior fiction, young adult fiction and best first book.

Each Category Award winner receives $7,500. The winner of the New Zealand Post Children’s Book of the Year Award takes home an additional $7,500. The winner of the Best First Book Award and the Children’s Choice Award receive prize money of $2,000 each.

New Zealand Post is proud to be principle sponsor of the New Zealand Book Awards and the Children’s Book Awards. New Zealand Post is committed to promoting and assisting literacy in our communities and supporting excellence in literature. Working closely with Booksellers NZ, New Zealand Post and other dedicated segments of the community actively encourage New Zealanders to read and enjoy books.

The New Zealand Post Book Awards 2012 are also funded by Creative New Zealand. The Awards are overseen by the New Zealand Post Book Awards Governance Group, administered by Booksellers NZ and supported by the New Zealand Society of Authors and Book Tokens (NZ) Ltd.

ENDS

For further information about the Awards, and biographical information about the judges please go to http://www.booksellers.co.nz/awards

Publishers put their best educational books forward for the CLL Educational Publishing Awards presented on 17 November in Auckland.

Topics covered everything from HR, accounting, foodservice, English, mathematics, science, and history – one presented as a graphic novel – over the three book awards for Higher Education, Secondary and Primary sectors. In keeping with the growing importance of the area, a Digital Publishing award was also made.

This is the second year of the Copyright Licensing Ltd sponsored awards for which the winning publishers in each section received a $5,000 cheque.

Gillian Candler, convener of the CLL Educational Awards judging panel, said that the judges were impressed with the wide range of topics provided by New Zealand publishers to schools and tertiary education institutes and the high standard of design and content of books and resources. Candler, an education and publishing consultant was joined on the panel by Libby Limbrick, Faculty of Education, University of Auckland and David Greeney, former academic textbook manager at Lexis Nexis.

“The x factors that helped titles make the shortlist included exemplary pedagogical approaches and important New Zealand content presented in accessible and inspiring ways,” said Gillian Candler. “The winners combined these factors with excellent instructional design, illustrative flair, and ease of use.”

Best Book in Higher Education Winner
Contested Ground Te Whenua I Tohea: The Taranaki Wars 1860–1881 ed. Kelvin Day, published by Huia Publishers. “A valuable text that makes good use of original material, draws together experts, presents fresh insight,” said the judges.

Best Book or Series in Secondary Education Winner
Gamma Mathematics: NCEA Level 1 by David Barton, published by Pearson. “A good use of colour and layout along with clear explanations and New Zealand examples make this text appealing to students.”

Best Book or Series in Primary Education Winner
School Journal Part 4 Number 3 2010 and Part 3 Number 3 2010 ed. Susan Paris, published by Learning Media. “These two issues of the School Journal are dedicated to the Moriori people… a significant contribution to our knowledge and understanding of an important group of New Zealanders.”

Best Digital Publishing Solution
Sails Shared Interactive published by Pearson. “Engaging and easy to use, a product which will be loved by both students and teachers.”

The judges also gave Highly Commended Awards in three categories:

Higher Education Highly Commended: Teaching Primary School Mathematics and Statistics: Evidence-Based Practice ed. Robin Averill and Roger Harvey, published by NZCER Press

Secondary Education Highly Commended: Ngarimu: Te Tohu Toa by Kawata Teepa, published by Huia Publishers

Primary Education Highly Commended: Hina ed. Hana Pomare, published by Hana Limited

The CLL Educational Publishing Awards acknowledge excellence in presentation, content and appropriateness for New Zealand schools and tertiary institutions.

The judges further commented, “There is a good range of publications which have not just a New Zealand flavour but strong New Zealand content that helps students and teachers develop deeper knowledge and understanding of important topics for our nation.”