Grab your tickets now to join in the celebration of the best books for young New Zealand readers at an exuberant awards ceremony in the Te Ahumairangi Foyer of The National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa.

The 37 finalists include many of the country’s finest children’s writers, illustrators and translators. Their talent will be acknowledged on the night by publishers, politicians, booksellers, librarians, media and supporters of the children’s literature community. Members of the public are welcome to purchase tickets, too.

Winners in the 2021 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults will be announced in six categories: Picture Book, Junior Fiction (the Wright Family Foundation Esther Glen award), Young Adult Fiction, Non-Fiction, Illustration (the Russell Clark Award) and Te Reo Māori (the Wright Family Foundation Te Kura Pounamu Award).

All category winners will compete to be named the night’s supreme winner of the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year. The judges will also present a Best First Book award to a previously unpublished author or illustrator from the shortlist of five titles.

All guests with tickets are also invited to join the post-ceremony reception, with refreshments from 8.15pm to 9.30pm.

This is a popular event, with a limited number of seats available, so buy your ticket today, and join in this unique celebration of the very best of children’s literature.