Awards

Storylines is known for its advocacy for children’s literature, and for the awards offered to writers and illustrators of, and advocates for, children’s books.

These include:

• the prestigious Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal and Lecture Award for a distinguished contribution to New Zealand children’s literature (also open to publishers and others involved in children’s literature or literacy).
• the Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award for a children's novel manuscript by an unpublished writer, in association with Scholastic New Zealand.  
• the Storylines Betty Gilderdale Award for outstanding service to New Zealand children’s literature.  
• the Storylines Gaelyn Gordon Award for a Much-Loved Book.
• the Storylines Joy Cowley Award for a picture book text, also in association with Scholastic New Zealand.
• the Storylines Gavin Bishop Award for a previously unpublished picture book illustrator, in association with Random House New Zealand.
• the Storylines Tessa Duder Award for a young adults' novel manuscript by an unpublished writer, in association with HarperCollins Publishers.
• the Storylines Notable Books List.

These awards are nationally and internationally recognised and bring the children’s literature world together to adjudicate for the highest quality and standards and also to promote and build opportunities for new and emerging talent. Most are presented to the winners at the annual Storylines Margaret Mahy Day in March/April each year, at which the winner of the Margaret Mahy Medal presents a lecture on a topic of their choice. The Storylines Betty Gilderdale Award recipient delivers the Storylines Spring Lecture as part of their award celebration.