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What's the story? is Storylines' newsletter. It includes news and information about children's literature around New Zealand as well as internationally.

Andrew Crowe

Andrew's non-fiction books about New Zealand's flora and fauna are popular and educational. Born in England, Andrew arrived in New Zealand in 1972. Andrew designs and takes the photographs for many of his books. He has written more than 40 books, establishing his reputation as one of the country's foremost writers of natural history for children and adults. In 2002/2003, he spent six months in north India and Tibet, interviewing the Dalai Lama for The Dalai Lama Story, photographing and delving into the Tibetan archives, getting to know the people, scenery, architecture, customs and religion of Tibet. Back home, his research continued. Along with rewriting, drafting maps and line drawings this took a further 18 months. His books have been finalists many times for various book awards. The Dalai Lama Story took the Ashton Wylie Unpublished Manuscript Award in 2005.

From Wayne Mills:

When you think about New Zealand non-fiction the name that is most synonymous with this genre is Andrew Crowe. His books sell to both kids and adults. I doubt whether there is a school library in New Zealand that does not stock titles by him. This is the first time that the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal has recognised an author’s non-fiction contribution to children’s literature.

No one in New Zealand rivals Andrew’s non-fiction output. He has consistently produced high quality non-fiction books of unique appropriateness for New Zealand kids and moreover he has single-handedly made natural history accessible to readers of all ages.

He has done more to shape the format and accessibility of information in children’s non-fiction in New Zealand than any other author and, in the opinion of the judging panel, was the deserved recipient of the 2009 Storylines Margaret Mahy Award.

Selected bibliography:

Field Guide to the Native Edible Plants of New Zealand: Including Those Plants eaten by the Maori (Collins 1981; Hodder & Stoughton 1990; Godwit 1997; Penguin 2004).
The Parks and Woodlands of London (Fourth Estate, London 1987).
A Kiwi Has No Wings illustrated by Julie Roil (Longman Paul 1988). Re-illustrated by Peter Campbell for Heinemann Primary 1997. [Wild Stories series]
Archey’s Frog illustrated by Julie Roil (Longman Paul 1988). Re-illustrated by Peter Campbell for Heinemann Primary 1997. [Wild Stories series]
Where Does the Tui Go? illustrated by Julie Roil (Longman Paul 1988). Re-illustrated by Peter Campbell for Heinemann Primary 1997. [Wild Stories series]
When the Tuatara Came illustrated by Julie Roil (Longman Paul 1988). Re-illustrated by Peter Campbell for Heinemann Primary 1997. [Wild Stories series]
A Weta has Six Legs illustrated by Trevor Pye (Longman Paul 1990). [Pattern in Nature series, published in te reo as Ngâ Tauira Taiao]
A Rainbow in the Forest illustrated by Trevor Pye (Longman Paul 1990). [Pattern in Nature series, published in te reo as Ngâ Tauira Taiao]
Native Edible Plants of New Zealand (Hodder & Stoughton 1990).
Some Leaves are Like Your Hands illustrated by Trevor Pye (Longman Paul 1990). [Pattern in Nature series, published in te reo as Ngâ Tauira Taiao]
How Long is the Huhu? illustrated by Trevor Pye (Longman Paul 1990). [Pattern in Nature series, published in te reo as Ngâ Tauira Taiao]
All Kinds of Animals illustrated by Trevor Pye (Longman Paul 1990). [Pattern in Nature series, published in te reo as Ngâ Tauira Taiao]
Which Plant? poster set (Longman Paul 1991).
Earthkids: New Zealand Conservation Stories, Activities and Games (Viking Pacific 1992).
Which Native Tree?: A Simple Guide to the Identification of New Zealand Native Trees illustrated by Geoffrey Cox (Viking Pacific 1992; new ecological edition Penguin 2009).
Which Native Forest Plant?: A Simple Guide to the Identification of New Zealand Native Forest Shrubs, Climbers and Flowers illustrated by Sandra Parkkali (Viking 1994; new ecological edition Penguin 2009).
Which Native Forest Fern? A Simple Guide to the Identification of New Zealand Native Ferns illustrated by Sandra Parkkali (Viking 1994; new ecological edition Penguin 2009).
Which Coastal Plant?: A Simple Guide to the Identification of New Zealand's Common Coastal Plants illustrated by Sandra Parkkali (Viking 1995).
Nature's Alphabet: A New Zealand Nature Trail illustrated by Dave Gunson (Puffin Books 1998).
A Guide to the Identification of New Zealand Coastal Plants (Viking 1997).
A Guide to the Identification of New Zealand Native Ferns (Viking 1997).
A Guide to the Identification of New Zealand Native Forest Shrubs, Climbers and Flowers (Viking 1997).
A Guide to the Identification of New Zealand Native Trees (Viking 1997).
The Life-Size Guide to Native Trees and Other Common Plants of New Zealand’s Native Forest (Viking 1997).
Saddleback Rescue: Saving New Zealand’s Tieke from Extinction illustrated by Peter Campbell (Heinemann Primary 1997). [Wild Stories series]
Takahe: Lost and Found: The Rediscovery of an ‘Extinct’ New Zealand Bird illustrated by Peter Campbell (Heinemann Primary 1997). [Wild Stories series]
When the Morepork Calls: The Night World of Ruru, New Zealand’s Native Owl illustrated by Peter Campbell (Heinemann Primary 1997). [Wild Stories series]
Kereru: New Zealand Pigeon: And the Many Trees that Need this Bird illustrated by Peter Campbell (Heinemann Primary 1997). [Wild Stories series]
Native Trees (Penguin 1998). [Nature Flip Guide series]
Seashells (Penguin 1998). [Nature Flip Guide series]
The Life-Size Guide to Insects & Other Land Invertebrates of New Zealand (Penguin 1999).
Which Seashell?: A Simple Guide to the Identification of New Zealand Seashells (Penguin 1999).
Insects (Penguin 2000). [Nature Flip Guide series]
New Zealand Birds (Penguin 2001). [Nature Flip Guide series]
Which New Zealand Bird?: A Simple Step-by-step Guide to the Identification of New Zealand's Native & Introduced Birds illustrated by Dave Gunson (Penguin 2001).
Which New Zealand Insect? (Penguin 2002).
The Life-Size Guide to New Zealand Wildflowers (Penguin Books 2003).
Wildflowers (Penguin 2004). [Nature Flip Guide series]
The Life-Size Guide to New Zealand Native Ferns: Featuring the Unique Caterpillars which Feed on Them (Penguin Books 2004).
The Life-Size Guide to the New Zealand Beach: Featuring the Odd Things that Get Washed Up on the Sand (Penguin Books 2004).
Which Native Plant Can I Grow Here? (Penguin 2004). [Previously published as The Quickfind Guide to Growing Native Plants (Penguin 1997)].
The Dalai Lama Story: The Making of a World Leader (Longacre 2007).
Which New Zealand Spider?: Including Their Eight-legged Cousins: The Harvestmen, False Scorpions, Mites, Ticks and Sea Spiders (Penguin 2007).
A Mini Guide to the Identification of New Zealand Land Birds illustrated by Dave Gunson (Penguin 2007).
A Mini Guide to the Identification of New Zealand Spiders (Penguin 2009).
A Mini Guide to the Identification of New Zealand Seashells (Penguin 2010).
A Mini Guide to the Identification of New Zealand Insects (Penguin 2010).

Awards:

AIM Children’s Book Awards Non-fiction shortlist 1993 for Earthkids.
AIM Children’s Book Awards Non-fiction shortlist 1995 for Which Native Fern?
AIM Children’s Book Awards Non-fiction Winner 1995 for Which Native Forest Plant?
LIANZA Young People’s Non-fiction Award shortlist 1996 for Which Coastal Plant?
LIANZA Young People’s Non-fiction Award Winner1998 for The Life-size guide to Native Trees and Other Common Plants of New Zealand’s Native Forest.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Non-fiction shortlist 1998 for The Life-Size Guide to Native Trees and Other Common Plants of New Zealand’s Native Forest.
GP Print Book Design Awards finalist 1998 for The Life-Size Guide to Native Trees and Other Common Plants of New Zealand’s Native Forest.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Non-fiction shortlist 1999 for Nature’s Alphabet.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Non-fiction shortlist 2000 for The Life-Size Guide to Insects & Other Land Invertebrates of New Zealand.
Storylines Notable Books List 2000 Non-fiction List for The Life-Size Guide to Insects & Other Land Invertebrates of New Zealand.
Montana Book Awards 2002 shortlist for Which New Zealand Bird?
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Non-fiction shortlist 2002 for Which New Zealand Bird?
Storylines Notable Books List 2002 Non-fiction List for Which New Zealand Bird?
Montana Book Awards 2002 shortlist for Which New Zealand Insect?
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Non-fiction shortlist 2003 for Which New Zealand Insect?
Elsie Locke Award Winner 2003 for Which New Zealand Insect?
Storylines Notable Books List 2003 Non-fiction list for Which New Zealand Insect?
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Non-fiction shortlist 2004 for The Life-Size Guide to New Zealand Wildflowers.
Elsie Locke Award shortlist 2004 for The Life-Size Guide to New Zealand Wildflowers.
Storylines Notable Books List 2004 Non-fiction list for The Life-Size Guide to New Zealand Wildflowers.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Non-fiction shortlist 2005 for The Life-Size Guide to the New Zealand Beach.
Elsie Locke Award shortlist 2005 for The Life-Size Guide to the New Zealand Beach.
Storylines Notable Books List 2005 Non-fiction list for The Life-Size Guide to the New Zealand Beach.
Ashton Wylie Unpublished Manuscript Award 2005.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Non-fiction shortlist 2008 for A Mini Guide to the Identification of New Zealand Land Birds.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Non-fiction Winner 2008 for Which New Zealand Spider?
Storylines Notable Books List 2008 Non-fiction list for The Dalai Lama Story.
Storylines Notable Books List 2008 for Which New Zealand Spider?
Storylines Margaret Mahy Award 2009.