The shortlist for the 2004 New Zealand Post Book Awards was announced in early February.
Finalists are:
Junior fiction – The Serpents Of Arakesh: Book One – The Karazan Quartet by V M Jones; My Story: Journey To Tangiwai – The Diary Of Peter Cotterill, Napier 1953 by David Hill; Evil Fred by Kylie Begg, illustrated by Jacob Leaf; Fred The (Quite) Brave Mouse by Murray Ball;
Non fiction – To The Max: A Teen Reader’s Version Of No Mean Feat by Mark Inglis; A Bird In The Hand: Keeping New Zealand Wildlife Safe by Janet Hunt; The Life-size Guide To New Zealand Wildflowers by Andrew Crowe; Pick Up A Pack: A Guide To Tramping And Camping The New Zealand Way by Keith Olsen; I Am An Insect by Dr Simon Pollard;
Picture book – Selafina by Catherine Hannken, illustrated by Trish Bowles; Cuthbert’s Babies by Pamela Allen; Grandpa And Thomas by Pamela Allen; Enough Is Enough! by Scott Willis, illustrated by Jenna Packer; Oh Hogwash, Sweet Pea! by Ngareta Gabel, illustrated by Ali Teo and Astrid Jensen;
Young adult fiction – Lin And The Red Stranger by Ken Catran; Watermark by Penelope Todd; Thunder Road by Ted Dawe; No Safe Harbour by David Hill; Tiggie Tompson’s Longest Journey by Tessa Duder.
Winners in each category, as well as Best First Book and New Zealand Post Book of the Year, will be announced 13 May. During the next three months children and young adults nationwide will also vote for the Children’s Choice Award.