‘Snark’ makes NZ Book Awards shortlist

Southern author and illustrator David Elliot has been named as a finalist for this year’s New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

He has been shortlisted for the Russell Clark award – the illustrated section of the awards –  for Snark: Being a true history of the expedition that discovered the Snark and the Jabberwock … and its tragic aftermath, which was published by Otago University Press.

“It’s a real honour to be shortlisted for The Russell Clark award, an award that celebrates the important role illustration plays in Children’s literature,” Elliot said after the announcement on June 7.

Snark is described as a tumultuous romp through worlds created by Lewis Carroll, brought to life through the vivid imaginings and fabulous art of its award-winning author and illustrator.

Port Chalmers-based Elliot has won many awards and accolades, including New Zealand Post Children’s Book of the Year in 2011 (with Margaret Mahy) for The Moon & Farmer McPhee, while Pigtails the Pirate won Best Picture Book in the 2003 awards.

He has written and illustrated his own books, along with illustrating books for other well known authors, including Kiwis Joy Cowley and Margaret Mahy, and international authors Brian Jacques (the Redwall series),  T.A. Barron (Great Tree of Avalon series) and John Flanagan (Ranger’s Apprentice and The Brotherband Chronicles).

Henry’s Map was selected by the School Library Journal in the United States for its Best Books list in 2013 and in 2011 David received the inaugural Mallinson Rendel Illustrators Award, and in 2014 the Storylines Margaret Mahy Award.

The winners of the 2017 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults will be announced at a ceremony on Monday 14 August in Wellington.

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