Māui — Sun Catcher chosen as Storylines Notable Book

The Storylines Children's Literature Trust of New Zealand has this morning named Māui — Sun Catcher as a Notable Book 2017.

Storylines selected 33 outstanding New Zealand children's and teen's books published in 2016 to make up the Notable Book list.

Māui — Sun Catcher, which Oratia published in November 2016, was one of 12 titles in the list of Picture Book Notables 2017.

"The awards, given since 2000, are a respected yardstick for the best children's book published in New Zealand each year," said Dr Libby Limbrick, Storylines Trust Chair.

Written by Tim Tipene and illustrated by Zak Waipara, Māui - Sun Catcher retells the myth of Māui catching the sun in a modern setting — where Māui is a young city boy struggling to make life better for his people.

Tim and Zak will receive award certificates at the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal Presentation and National Awards Days in Auckland on Sunday 2 April.

For more on the book, click here

IBBY Congress brings the world of children's books to Auckland

One of the world's major gatherings for children's books, reading and writing is barely two weeks away from New Zealand shores.

The 35th IBBY International Congress - and the first ever in Oceania - takes place at Auckland's Aotea Centre from 18 - 21 August.

IBBY, the International Board on Books for Young People, is a non-profit organisation that represents a global network of people committed to bringing books and children together.

The Congress features an impressive array of international speakers and over 500 delegates, including authors, illustrators, literacy specialists, academics and teachers.

Oratia is going to be there as an exhibitor alongside seven other New Zealand publishers, on the Publishers Association of New Zealand stand at the Aotea. 

We're looking forward to showing our children's books to the gathering, meeting with colleagues from around the world, and sharing in an exciting few days.

The Congress has been a major undertaking for the Storylines Children’s Literature Charitable Trust of New Zealand (the New Zealand section for IBBY), with organisation led by Libby Limbrick and Rosemary Tisdall.

More information is on the IBBY Congress 2016 website.

'The Children's Nobel'
A highlight of the Congress will be the awarding of the biennial Hans Christian Andersen Award, the children's literature equivalent of the Nobel Prize for Literature. 

This year, China's Cao Wenxuan is the winner of the Author Award, and Germany's Rotraut Susanne Berner receives the Illustrator Award.

Kura Toa stays the distance

The new Oratia Books edition of Tim Tipene's young adult novel Kura Toa Warrior School is out today.
The book was first published by Reed Books; in 2009 we reissued it under our Libro International imprint, and it has reprinted regularly ever since.

Tim's story of troubled high-school student Haki as he struggles to defend the rights of his tribe and grow into a warrior has really struck a chord with teenage readers. It's in demand as a set text in a number of high schools, as well as for general readers.

Long may Kura Toa remain available! For more detail, see the books page on the Oratia website.

Tim Tipene will be appearing the Storylines Northland Family Day in Kaitaia on Saturday 27 August; follow this link for more information.

Tim Tipene

Tim Tipene at TelstraClear Event Center

For the Storylines Special Author Event our author Tim Tipene spoke to a great audience about his books, his work and his passion for writing.

Storylines remembers Margaret Mahy