Tom Fitzgibbon Award
The Tom Fitzgibbon Award is administered by the Children's Literature Foundation of New Zealand and sponsored by Scholastic New Zealand Ltd, recognises the outstanding contribution made by the late Tom Fitzgibbon to the growth and status of children's literature in New Zealand.
The award is made annually, when merited. It carries a monetary prize of $1500 and includes an offer of publication by Scholastic New Zealand Ltd.
The manuscript, which must not be a picture book, must be a work of fiction for children aged 7-13 and of at least 10,000 words. The author must not have had a book published previously, under consideration for publication, or in the process of publication at the time of submission.
Entries close on the 31st of October each year.
The award commemorates the outstanding contribution made to New Zealand children's literature by Tom Fitzgibbon.
Tom Fitzgibbon trained as a teacher and was for many years head of the English department at North Shore Teacher's College and Auckland College of Education.
He founded the Children's Literature Association and was its first chairman, and was also founder chairman of the New Zealand Children's Book Foundation. These two organisations are now merged into the Children's Literature Foundation of New Zealand.
2006 Winner
The 2006 Tom Fitzgibbon Award, for a children's novel by a previously unpublished writer, went to Vicky Simpson.
Entry Conditions
The author must be a permanent resident of New Zealand.
The manuscript, which must not be a picture book, must be a work of fiction appropriate for children aged 7 - 13 of least 10,000 words.
The author must not have had a book for children published previously.
The author must not have a book for children under consideration for publication or in the process of publication at the time of submission.
Manuscripts must be typed in double spacing on one side only of A4 paper and accompanied by a cover sheet bearing the entrant's name and address. The entrant's name must not appear on any part of the manuscript itself.
Four copies of the manuscript must be provided.
Should the entrant require his/her submission to be returned if unsuccessful, a stamped, self-addressed envelope of suitable size should be included with the entry.
Contact Details
More information and the official entry form are available at the Storylines CLFNZ website: www.storylines.org.nz
