2026 FINALISTS ACTIVITY BOOKLET
DISCOVER, CREATE AND EXPLORE WITH OUR FINALISTS!
Kia ora tamariki mā! The finalists in the 2026 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults are some of the very best books published in Aotearoa over the past year. Whether you love drawing, writing, solving puzzles, or getting creative, this booklet will help you discover more about the finalist books, create something amazing, and explore new ideas along the way!
We’ve left the page opposite open for you to use however you like. Collect author signatures at our NZCYA Books Alive events, keep a reading log, write mini reviews, or draw your favourite characters. Find out what is happening at your local library, and have fun reading!
Ngā mihi nunui to the Services to Schools team at the National Library of New Zealand for creating the fantastic activities in this booklet. Enjoy!
KIA ORA TO ALL OUR SPONSORS
SCAN THE QR CODE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT ALL THE FINALIST BOOKS, OR VISIT WWW.NZBOOKAWARDS.NZ # NZCYA #BOOKSALIVE
Use the space above for autographs, a reading log, your own book reviews, or to complete the activities that follow
PICTURE BOOK
BOOKHUB AWARD
ROCKY JOURNEYS, WĒTĀ WORRIES, BRASH BALLOON BURSTING, PLAYFUL PŪKEKO, AND CLASSROOM CREATURES
IN KORO WĒTĀ A WĒTĀ
WANTED TO LIVE IN THE CHILD’S GUMBOOT.
THE FAMILY BUILT A BUG HOTEL AS AN ALTERNATIVE.
Gather some natural materials or recycling to make a cosy hideout for bugs in your back yard or the local park. Who do you think will move in?
THE CHARACTERS IN LEFT TO NOWHERE ARE SHOWN AS SILHOUETTES ON ILLUSTRATED BACKGROUNDS.
Make your own character from black card and set it on your choice of background.
paint your own or find pages from magazines.
Add split pins to the joints of your character to make it moveable.
JUNIOR FICTION
WRIGHT FAMILY FOUNDATION
ESTHER GLEN AWARD
AN ART CRIME SOLVING ROMP, DREAM-FUElLED FANTASY, A SEA ADVENTURE, NOT SO SUPERHEROES, AND A SCHOOL BAND WITH A MYSTERY
A DREAMSLINGER USES THEIR DREAMS TOANOTHERACCESSWORLD.
What might you learn from your dreams?
Keep a notebook and pen by your bed to start your own dream journal.
start here
KIMI THE KEKENO’S BIG ADVENTURE INCLUDES ALL KINDS OF CREATURES IN THIS EXCITING JOURNEY THROUGH THE MOANA|OCEAN. HELP KIMI FIND HIS WAY TO THE ROCK CIRCLE.
YOUNG ADULT FICTION
WHEELERS BOOKS AWARD
DANCING BETWEEN WORLDS, MESSY ESPIONAGE,RELATIONSHIPS,TIME-SHIFTING ADVENTURES, AND THE COST OF SAFETY
FOR EPI IN HIVA & HEARTBEATS THERE IS A SONG EACH DAY THAT CAPTURES HER MOOD OR VIBE. My vibe playlist
CHOOSE A SONG OF THE DAY FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO CREATE A PLAYLIST. WHAT WILL YOU CALL IT? TEAM UP: DO THIS WITH YOUR FRIENDS, THEN SWAP YOUR PLAYLISTS WITH EACH OTHER.
IN THE LOST SAINT THE RETREAT AND SPIDER GAMES: IN THE CITY OF SPIES, THE MAIN CHARACTERS HAVE TO SURVIVE WITHOUT MODERN TECHNOLOGY. COULD YOU?
CHALLENGE YOURSELF (AND YOUR FRIENDS) TO GO DEVICEFREE FOR A DAY, OR A WEEKEND.
TANIWHA , WHENUA ME KUPE ME
TE WHEKE NUI A MUTURANGI — HE PUKAPUKA ĒNEI MŌ NGĀ PŪRĀKAU
ME NGĀ ATUA MĀORI.
ĀNEI HE MAHERE WHENUA O AOTEAROA NEI.
→ KA TAEA E KOE TE KIMI I TŌ WĀHI NOHO ME TŌ WHĀNAU?
→ E MŌHIO RĀNEI KOE I ĒTAHI PŪRĀKAU NŌ TŌ ROHE?
→ KUA WHAKAATURIA ĒTAHI I KONEI. HE AHA ATU NGĀ
PŪRĀKAU HEI TUHI MĀU KI
TĒNEI MAHERE WHENUA?
TANIWHA ,
WHENUA
AND
KUPE
AND THE GREAT OCTOPUS OF MUTURANGI TELL THE STORIES OF MANY LEGENDARY MĀORI FIGURES AND ATUA.
HERE IS A MAP OF AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND.
→ CAN YOU MARK WHERE YOU AND YOUR WHĀNAU LIVE?
→ DO YOU KNOW ANY PŪRĀKAU ABOUT YOUR AREA?
→ WE’VE SHOWN A FEW FROM THESE BOOKS. WHAT OTHERS CAN YOU LABEL AND ILLUSTRATE?
Illustration © gavin bishop
TUHIRANGI
TANIWHA OFKAIPARA MANGŌNUI
HOTUPUKU
MOREMORE
HINEKŌRAKO
NON-FICTION
ELSIE LOCKE AWARD
FUN WITH FISH, BEAUTIFUL BIRDS, SURVIVING THE WILD, TERRIFYING TANIWHA, AND STORIES THAT SHAPED OUR LAND
EXPLORING THE OUTDOORS, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO DO IT SAFELY, AS THE STORIES IN SURVIVE AOTEAROA AND THE TIPS IN HOOKED TELL US.
IF YOU ARE GOING ON AN ADVENTURE (E.G. FISHING OR TRAMPING), WHAT THINGS WOULD BE IN YOUR SAFETY KIT, OR SHOULD YOU DO BEFORE YOU LEAVE?
YOU CAN FIND OUT ALL ABOUT DIFFERENT KINDS OF BIRDS IN OMNIBIRD.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE BIRD? DRAW YOUR BIRD OR CREATE YOUR OWN OMNIBIRD AND LABEL THEIR PARTS.
ILLUSTRATION
RUSSELL CLARK AWARD
FARM LIFE, CHEEKY YŌKAI, A GIANT OCTOPUS, MYTHICAL CREATURES, AND FASCINATING PŪRĀKAU
AT
HOME
ON THE FARM
INTRODUCES LOTS OF ANIMALS AS THEY GO ABOUT THEIR DAY.
kingfisherh oyrodkgrqzu rfdakajkāhu gmktlĒreopn pwejtqgrlcm magpieeewob rzxmkkprQwn uhorsewūtpj rdwanxighya dogqtadpole
CAN YOU FIND THESE ANIMALS AND BIRDS FROM THE FARM IN THIS WORDFIND?
FOLK REMEDY 1: THE HIDDEN WORLD OF THE Y Ō KAI IS DRAWN USING JAPANESE MANGA-INSPIRED COMIC ILLUSTRATIONS. TRACE THIS FACE SHAPE ONTO A PIECE OF PAPER A FEW TIMES AND DRAW SOME DIFFERENT FACIAL EXPRESSIONS IN THIS STYLE. TRY ANGRY, DELIGHTED, SURPRISED OR CONFUSED.
TE REO MĀORI
WRIGHT FAMILY FOUNDATION
TE KURA POUNAMU AWARDS
ROCK WISDOM, A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY, MARVELS OF MATARIKI, WOMANHOOD,SACRED AND A TIME TRAVEL TWIST
HE TAONGA TE TOKA E WHAKAATU ANA KI A TĀTOU I TE TAUMAHA O ĒTAHI O NGĀ WHEAKO O IA RĀ, PĒRĀ I TE TOKA!
HE TAONGA TE TOKA SHOWS US THAT WE CAN EXPERIENCE EMOTIONS THAT CAN BE HEAVY, LIKE A ROCK!
I TE TAU KUA HORI IN THE LAST YEAR
He aha tētahi whāinga kua tutuki i a koe?
What is a goal you have achieved?
He aha tētahi mea e whakamānawatia ana e koe i tēnei wā?
What is something you are grateful for now?
He aha tētahi wawata, moemoeā rānei mō te tau e heke mai nei?
What is a dream or aspiration you have for the year ahead?
ĀNEI ĒTAHI TOKA KI RARO IHO NEI.
KARAKARAHIA KI ĒTAHI TAE REREKĒ
MŌ NGĀ KARE Ā-ROTO PĒRĀ I TE WHERO MŌ TE RIRI , TE KŌWHAI
MŌ TE HARIKOA .
COLOUR THE ROCKS BELOW IN DIFFERENT COLOURS THAT ALIGN WITH VARIOUS EMOTIONS LIKE RED FOR ANGRY, YELLOW FOR HAPPINESS .
MATARIKI KI TE AO
E AKIAKI ANA I A TĀTOU KIA ARO KI TE TAU O MUA.
MATARIKI KI TE AO ENCOURAGES US TO REFLECT ON THE YEAR BEFORE AT MATARIKI.
BEST FIRST BOOK
NZSA AWARD
YŌKAI ADVENTURES, SLOW JAMS, HUNTING FOR MEETINGCOCONUTS,ANCESTORS, AND DISCOVERING LOST WORDS
IN HUNT FOR NIU TUPU ANA IS TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT COCONUT FOR HER MOTHER.
FOLLOW THE SQUIGGLY LINE FROM THE PICTURE TO FIND WHAT KIND OF COCONUT IT IS.
WORD
FOR
COCONUT?———. THERE ARE LOTS OF USEFUL KUPU | WORDS IN THE LOST WORDS.
CAN YOU MATCH TE REO MĀORI TO THESE IMAGES FROM THE BOOK?
DRAW A LINE, OR CUT THEM OUT AND FIT TOGETHER.
www.nzbookawards.nz/hell-reading-challenge/ www.facebook.com/HELLReadingChallenge/