The judges were all equally captivated by the spell this book cast. It’s a summery, waterlogged story about a child growing in self-confidence while striving to perfect the perfect “bomb”, supported every step of the way by the reassuring presence of Nan. Every reread has you seeing something different in the illustrations, and there is still anticipation and concern for the protagonist even when the outcome is known. The joyful rhythm and perfect pacing of the text combined with risk-taking design and movement takes this book to the next level. It is magic, and in short it is most definitely THE BOMB.

This enthralling eco-drama transports us to a future without grasses, leaving the population starving and desperate. Siblings, Ella and Emery, flee the crumbling city with their magnificent doggos, in the hope of reaching their destination where family and indigenous knowledge are the key to a hopeful future. The unique voice and characterisation ensure the reader is emotionally invested, debating alternatives to the sometimes-violent measures taken to ensure survival. The action-packed storyline and convincing scenario will have you cheering on our young heroes and their mission.

The judges were unanimous in their appreciation for this book: the writing is assured, the story structure cleverly constructed (and a second reading rewards with clues hidden in plain sight). The hard and terrible truth of war is perfectly balanced with the hopes, dreams and antics of a young man who finds himself living in the world of his ancestor. Riki’s voice is authentic as he navigates this paradox of going back into his past. There is much to learn about life as a WW1 Māori soldier, but these gems of historical detail only enhance the adventures. The historical rendering is pitch perfect and this novel is definitely one that teens will love.

This is a rare book that makes art – in this case the iconic works in the Christchurch Art Gallery – accessible and fun for young readers and shows how it can touch all aspects of our lives. It has so many wonderful design features: generous format and layout, bold images, and funky graphics. And the writing is outstanding: instantly engaging, slyly educational, and peppered with a sense of humour that sometimes (to quote one of the judges) “just goes full dork”. It’s a wonderful hands-on book which will inspire self-expression for all ages. Art-tastic is a work of art.

Puffin the Architect combines cute animal characters, architecture and a nod to Renaissance composition. The remarkable rendering of the light means that the pictures appear to glow. These illustrations show a deep understanding of a number of crucial elements: scale and perspective, colour and characterisation, the print process, and the audience. The art in this exceptional picture book manages to be both classic and modern at the same time. Kimberly Andrews is an early-career treasure trove of talent, and New Zealand children are lucky to have the rest of her career to look forward to.

E tū a Tānerore i te tū. E haka a Tānerore i te haka. Kua tū a Tānerore i te haka.

Art-tastic makes learning about art effortless – and celebrates the creative potential in everyone, so that you are left feeling that you too can be an artist. Even in a less visually stunning setting, the writing here would shine. The author has an out-of-this-world talent for presenting information – both factual and abstract – in a digestible, hilarious, approachable way. She’s ticking all the boxes for non-fiction writing and breaking all the rules at the same time – there’s a rare instinct on show here for how children work. This writing is addictive and the judges can’t wait to read more work from this highly talented writer.