Author 'is writing out of her skin'

Author Mandy Hager with her winning book, 'Singing Home the Whale.' Photo / Mark Tantrum Photography

Top entry in children’s book awards a winner in any year, says judge.

A story about the bond between a teenage boy and a young orca whose mother has been killed by whalers won the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year in last night's New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

Singing Home the Whale, by Wellington writer Mandy Hager, also won the Best Young Adult Fiction Award, netting Hager, sister of journalist Nicky Hager, a prize total of $15,000.

"This novel would have won in any year it was entered," said panel convener Bob Docherty. "Mandy Hager is writing out of her skin at present."

Other winners at last night's Wellington ceremony were Jim's Letters by Glyn Harper, illustrated by Jenny Cooper. The tale of two brothers writing to each other during World War I took the Best Picture Book Award ($7500), while Monkey Boy by Donovan Bixley won the Best Junior Fiction Award ($7500).

'Singing Home the Whale.' Photo / Supplied

The Best Non-Fiction prize, also worth $7500, went to Motiti Blue and the Oil Spill by Debbie McCauley, translated by Tamati Waaka, which described the plight of the blue penguins trapped in the Rena oil spill.

Nga Ki by Sacha Cotter, translated by Kawata Teepa and illustrated by Josh Morgan, won the Maori Language Award ($1000), and Julie Noanoa took Best First Book Award ($2000) for Maori Art for Kids.

Almost 16,000 children cast their votes in the Children's Choice, which went to The Anzac Puppy, by Peter Millett, illustrated by Trish Bowles (Picture Book); The Letterbox Cat & Other Poems, by Paula Green, illustrated by Myles Lawford (Non-Fiction); Island of Lost Horses by Stacy Gregg (Junior Fiction Winner) and Night Vision by Ella West (Young Adult Fiction).