Julie Noanoa wins Best First Book Award

We are absolutely delighted author Julie Noanoa won the Best First Book Award at the recent New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults for Maori Art for Kids.

What the judges said:

This year’s winner combines excellent production values, outstanding content and is a book that has enormous appeal to a very wide range of readers. It has a uniquely New Zealand perspective and gives the reader information that no other book currently provides. We look forward to more from the winner as the entire book is of a very high quality.

A collection of 15 projects involving a wide range of artists and artistic approaches, this book achieves an expansive blend by displaying and explaining authentic New Zealand art pieces alongside guidance on achievable activities within the same theme. The message delivered, then, is a resounding you-can-do-it-too, so give-it-a-go! The layout and instructions are clear and easy to follow, with an overall production that is unstintingly generous and engaging. Full marks for this quality production.