Tauranga author Sherryl Jordan is the winner of the junior fiction category award at the New Zealand Post Children's Book of the Year Awards.

She has won for her book ‘Finnigan and the Pirates: A Fine Fandango'.

Sherryl Jordan

The supreme award was won by Margaret Mahy and illustrator David Elliot for their book ‘The Moon & Farmer McPhee'.

'From its breathtakingly high production standards to its delightful message of taking time out to enjoy life, The Moon & Farmer McPhee is an absolute treasure,” says New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards convenor of judges Ruth McIntyre.

'The sheer poetry of the language and the gorgeous luminous illustrations each magnificently complements the other.

'Thoughtful details such as the artfully placed cut-outs and fold-out pages, the joyful expressions on the animals' faces, the lovely word-play and the positive message all add to the complete package.”

Award Winners

Picture Book Category Award and New Zealand Post Book of the Year

The Moon & Farmer McPhee by Margaret Mahy, illustrated by David Elliot (Random House New Zealand)

Non-fiction Category Award

Zero Hour: The Anzacs on the Western Front by Leon Davidson (Text Publishing)

Junior Fiction Category Award

Finnigan and the Pirates: A Fine Fandango by Sherryl Jordan (Scholastic New Zealand Limited)

Young Adult Fiction Category Award

Fierce September by Fleur Beale (Random House New Zealand)

Best First Book Award
Hollie Chips by Anna Gowan (Scholastic New Zealand Limited)

Children's Choice Award

Baa Baa Smart Sheep by Mark Sommerset, illustrated by Rowan Sommerset (Dreamboat Books Ltd)