Storylines Children’s Literature Charitable Trust of New Zealand has announced its list of Notable New Zealand Books 2007.

Ten books in four categories have been selected, from the more than 150 books published during 2006.

Storylines’ first Notable Books list was in 2000, containing 40 notable books published in 1999. The list reflects the wide-ranging achievements of New Zealand authors and illustrators. It appears in February each year. 

Picture books

Books for children and/or young adults where the narrative is carried equally by pictures and story.

The Three Fishing Brothers Gruff by Ben Galbraith. Hodder Children's Books.
	This book was reviewed by Kids Friendly New Zealand in March 2007. Click here to view the book review of 'The Three Fishing Brothers Gruff' by Ben Galbraith >>> Read our interview with Ben Galbraith >>>

Share Said the Rooster by Pamela Allen. Viking.

A Present from the Past by Jennifer Beck, illustrated by Lindy Fisher. Scholastic New Zealand.

Riding the Waves: Four Māori Myths by Gavin Bishop. [Also available in Te Reo:  Whakaeke i ngā Ngaru: e Whā Tino Pūrākau translated by Kāterina Te Heikōkō Mataira.] Random House New Zealand.

Greedy Cat and the Sneeze by Joy Cowley, illustrated by Robyn Belton. Scholastic New Zealand.

Billy by Kate De Goldi, illustrated by Jacqui Colley. [A Lolly Leopold Story.] Trapeze.

Itiiti's Gift by Melanie Drewery, illustrated by Fifi Colston. Reed.

Matatuhi by Robyn Kahukiwa. [Also available in Te Reo: Matatuhi translated by Kiwa Hammond.] Puffin.

Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck! by Kyle Mewburn, illustrated by Ali Teo & John O'Reilly. Scholastic New Zealand.

Barnaby Bennett by Hannah Rainforth, illustrated by Ali Teo. Huia Publishers.

The judging panel would like to make special mention of Down the Back of the Chair by Margaret Mahy, illustrated by Polly Dunbar (Frances Lincoln). Margaret’s poem has been in print in a poetry collection for many years and is therefore not eligible for inclusion in the list. However, the panel considers Down the Back of the Chair to be a treasure for New Zealand children.

Junior fiction

Fiction suitable for primary and intermediate-age children. 

And Did Those Feet… by Ted Dawe. Longacre Press.         The Unquiet by Carolyn McCurdie. Longacre Press.
	And Did Those Feet ... by Ted Dawe was reviewed by Kids Friendly New Zealand in January 2007.   Read review here >>> The Unquiet by Carolyn McCurdie was reviewed by Kids Friendly New Zealand. Read the review >>>

Boyznbikes by Vince Ford. Scholastic New Zealand.  

Ocean Without End: Book One of the Swashbuckler Trilogy by Kelly Gardiner. HarperCollins.

Frog Whistle Mine by Des Hunt. HarperCollins.

Thor's Tale: Endurance and Adventure in the Southern Ocean by Janice Marriott. HarperCollins.

Mind Over Matter by Heather McQuillan. Scholastic New Zealand. 

Old Bones by Bill Nagelkerke. Scholastic New Zealand. 

Castaway: the Diary of Samuel Abraham Clark, Disappointment Island, 1907 by Bill O'Brien [My Story series]. Scholastic New Zealand. 

The Whizbanger that Emmental Built by Reuben Schwarz. Puffin. 

Young adult fiction

Fiction suitable for upper intermediate and secondary school students.

Thieves: a novel by Ella West. Longacre Press. 'Thieves: a novel' by Ella West was reviewed by Kids Friendly New Zealand in January 2007. Read the review >>>

A Respectable Girl by Fleur Beale. Random House New Zealand.

Spirit of the Deep by Margaret Beames. Lothian.

Genesis by Bernard Beckett. Longacre Press.

Paperchase by G. Brassi. Scholastic New Zealand.

Red Leader Down by Ken Catran. Random House New Zealand.

Aim High by David Hill. Mallinson Rendel Publishers.

Shooting the Moon by V.M. Jones. HarperCollins.

Face It by Denis Martin. Puffin.

Single Fin by Aaron Topp. Random House New Zealand.

Non-fiction

For authoritative, well-designed information books accessible to children and young adults.

Winging It: The Adventures of Tim Wallis by Neville Peat. Longacre Press. 'Winging It: The Adventures of Tim Wallis' by Neville Peat was reviewed by Kids Friendly New Zealand in October 2006. Read the review >>> Red Haze: Australians and New Zealanders in Vietnam by Leon Davidson. Black Dog Books.  Find out more about author Leon Davidson.  Read our interview >>>

Bird's-Eye View: Through the Eyes of New Zealand Birds by Maria Gill, photographs by Darryl Torckler and Geoff Moon. Penguin.

Flamingo Bendalingo: Poems from the Zoo by Paula Green and fifty children, illustrated by Michael Hight. Auckland University Press.

Celebrating Matariki by Libby Hakaraia. Reed.

It’s True! You Can Make Your Own Jokes by Sharon Holt, illustrated by Ross Kinnaird. Allen & Unwin.

Soldier in the Yellow Socks: Charles Upham – Our Finest Fighting Soldier by Janice Marriott, illustrated by Bruce Potter. HarperCollins Publishers.

What is on Top? by John Parker, photographs by Glenn Jowitt. [Also available in Te Reo: He aha kei Runga? translated by Kāterina Te Heikōkō Mataira.] Scholastic New Zealand.

The Illustrated History of the South Pacific by Marcia Stenson. Random House New Zealand. 

Fighting Past Each Other: The New Zealand Wars 1845-1875 by Matthew Wright, illustrated by Suzy Brown. Reed.