The Storylines Joy Cowley Award

Inaugurated in 2002 and sponsored by Scholastic New Zealand, the Joy Cowley Award is given annually, when merited, for a 32-page picture book manuscript of not more than 1000 words for either very young or older children. The Joy Cowley Award is open to all New Zealand residents, and offers a monetary award of $1500, along with an offer of publication of the edited manuscript by Scholastic NZ.

The Joy Cowley Award is given in recognition of the outstanding contribution Joy Cowley has made to children's literature, with the aim of fostering new and exciting picture books from New Zealand writers. Joy Cowley is one of New Zealand's most prolific and successful writers for children's books. She has written more than 600 titles for all ages and her books are available in most countries where English is a first or second language. Impressive.

Past Winners

2008: Michelle Osment

2007: no award

2006: Moira Wairama The Puppet Box

2005: Kyle Mewburn Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck!

2004: Jean Prior The Waka

2003: Julie Leibrich The Biggest Number in the Universe