V.R. (Vivienne) Joseph

Vivienne Joseph was born in Wellington and lived in her grandfather's house in Johnsonville. She has been a land-girl on a dairy farm, a journalist, a reviewer for children's books for the NZ Listener, a scriptwriter for the children's radio programme Grandpa's Place, and also written stories, plays and articles for the School Journal. The A.O.K. Project was awarded an Honourable Mention in the 2001 UNESCO Prize for Children and Young People’s Literature in the Service of Tolerance and Peace. It was the first time a New Zealand writer has received the award.

Selected bibliography:

• Worlds Apart (Mallinson Rendel 1996).
• Penguins' Day Out illustrated by Ruth Paul (Mallinson Rendel 1997).
• Raindancer (Mallinson Rendel 1998).
• The A.O.K. Project illustrated by Trevor Pye (Mallinson Rendel 1999).
• Baby Bumble & the Sock Pirates illustrated by Ruth Paul (Mallinson Rendel 2001).
• The Thin Line (Mallinson Rendel 2002).

Awards:

• UNESCO Prize for Children's and Young People's Literature Honours Award 2001.