Storylines: Children's Literature Foundation of New Zealand Notable New Zealand Books
The list of Notable Books was established in 1999 to reflect the wide-ranging achievements of New Zealand authors and illustrators. It appears in February each year. The CLFNZ Notable Books list allows for the inclusion of picture books with offshore illustrators as well as anthologies.
2008
The list comprises 10 books in each of four categories picture books, junior and young adult fiction. In non-fiction this year, the judges named only nine books.
Picture books
Is Your Grandmother a Goanna?
Tahi: One Lucky Kiwi Junior fiction
The Mad Tadpole Adventure 
Yo, Shark Bait! Young adult fiction
Smashed Non-fiction
Weather Watch New Zealand 
What Is a … ? series The judging panel would like to make special mention of Illustrated Myths and Legends of the Pacific by AW Reed, illustrated by Jenny Cooper, published by Reed (now Raupo Publishing). The stories were first published in 1969 as Fairy Tales from the Pacific Islands. The panel considers this edition, with new illustrations, to be a treasure for New Zealand children.
2007
Ten books in four categories have been selected, from the more than 150 books published during 2006.
Picture books
- Share Said the Rooster
- Pamela Allen
- A Present from the Past
- Jennifer Beck, illustrated by Lindy Fisher
- Riding the Waves: Four Māori Myths
- Gavin Bishop [Also available in Te Re Whakaeke i ngā Ngaru: e Whā Tino Pūrākau translated by Kāterina Te Heikōkō Mataira]
- Greedy Cat and the Sneeze
- Joy Cowley, illustrated by Robyn Belton
Billy- Kate De Goldi, illustrated by Jacqui Colley
- Itiiti's Gift
- Melanie Drewery, illustrated by Fifi Colston
- The Three Fishing Brothers Gruff
- Ben Galbraith
- Matatuhi
- Robyn Kahukiwa [Also available in Te Re Matatuhi translated by Kiwa Hammond]
- Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck!
- Kyle Mewburn, illustrated by Ali Teo & John O'Reilly
- Barnaby Bennett
- Hannah Rainforth, illustrated by Ali Teo
The judging panel would like to make special mention of Down the Back of the Chair by Margaret Mahy, illustrated by Polly Dunbar (Frances Lincoln). Margaret’s poem has been in print in a poetry collection for many years and therefore not eligible for inclusion in the list. However, the panel considers Down the Back of the Chair to be a treasure for New Zealand children.
Junior fiction
- And Did Those Feet…
- Ted Dawe
Boyznbikes- Vince Ford
- Ocean Without End: Book One of the Swashbuckler Trilogy
- Kelly Gardiner
- Frog Whistle Mine
- Des Hunt
- Thor's Tale: Endurance and Adventure in the Southern Ocean
- Janice Marriott
- The Unquiet
- Carolyn McCurdie
- Mind Over Matter
- Heather McQuillan
- Old Bones
- Bill Nagelkerke
Castaway: the Diary of Samuel Abraham Clark, Disappointment Island, 1907- Bill O'Brien
2006
Ten books in four categories have been selected, from more than 120 books published during 2005.
Picture Book Category
- Where's the Gold?
- Pamela Allen
- Nobody's Dog
- Jennifer Beck, illustrated by Lindy Fisher
- Kiwi Moon
- Gavin Bishop
- A Booming in the Night
- Ben Brown, illustrated by Helen Taylor
- Zachary Quack Minimonster
- Lynley Dodd
- Nanny Mihi's Christmas
- Melanie Drewery, illustrated by Tracy Duncan
- The Whale Rider
- Witi Ihimaera, illustrated by Bruce Potter
- Marta and the Manger Straw
- Virginia Kroll, illustrated by Robyn Belton
- The Waka
- Jean Prior, illustrated by Gavin Bishop
- Te Waka
- Katerina Te Heikoko Mataira and Jean Prior, illustrated by Gavin Bishop
- Haere-Farewell, Jack, Farewell
- Tim Tipene, illustrated by Huhana Smith
Junior Fiction
- Janie Olive
- Fifi Colston
- Through Thick and Thin
- Shirley Corlett
- Hunter
- Joy Cowley
- Super Freak
- Brian Falkner
- Stella Star
- Brigid Feehan
- Sil
- Jill Harris
- The MoaCave
- Des Hunt
- Maddigan's Fantasia
- Margaret Mahy
- My Story: China town Girl The Diary of Silvey Chan, Auckland, 1942
- Eva Wong Ng
- What about Bo?
- Jillian Sullivan
Young Adult
- Deep Fried
- Bernard Beckett and Clare Knighton
- Sea of Mutiny
- Ken Catran
- Talking to Adam
- Sarah Ell
- Like Wallpaper. New Zealand Short Stories for Teenagers
- edited by Barbara Else
- Bodies and Soul
- David Hill
- Running Hot
- David Hill
- With Lots of Love from Georgia
- Brigid Lowry
- Kaitangata Twitch
- Margaret Mahy
- The Unknown Zone
- Phil Smith
- Land of Milk and Honey
- William Taylor
Non Fiction
- Cameras in Narnia: How the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe came to life
- Ian Brodie
- Incredible Science
- edited by Alison Brook
- Don't Just Sit There
- Tony Christiansen with Liz Dobson
- Chameleon, Chameleon
- Joy Cowley, photographs by Nic Bishop
- Scarecrow Army: The Anzacs at Gallipoli
- Leon Davison
- Filthy Flies and other Bad Bugs
- Rachael Goddard, photographs by Rod Morris
- Even more things you need to know about the world by Simon Eliot
- Lloyd Jones, illustrated by Timon Maxey
- Frontier of Dreams: The Story of New Zealand (Four volume set)
- John Parker
- Peter Blake Sailor, Adventurer: The Story of a New Zealand Hero
- Alan Sefton
- Blue New Zealand: Plants, Animals, Environments A Visual Guide
- Glenys Stace
2005
Ten books in four categories have been selected, from more than 120 books published during 2004.
Picture book category
Books for very young up to intermediate-age children where the narrative is carried equally by pictures and story
- Mr McGee and the Big Bag of Bread Pamela Allen
- The Princess and the White Bear King retold by Tanya Robyn Batt, illustrated by Nicoletta Ceccoli
- Taming the Sun: Four Maori Myths Gavin Bishop
- The Night Kite: Poems for Children Peter Bland, illustrated by Carl Bland
- The Wishing of Biddy Malone Joy Cowley, illustrated by Christopher Denise
- The Other Ark Lynley Dodd
- Koro's Medicine Melanie Drewery, illustrated by Sabrina Malcolm
- Clubs: A Lolly Leopold Story Kate De Goldi, illustrated by Jacqui Colley
- The Biggest Number in the Universe Julie Leibrich, illustrated by Ross Kinnard
- Godwit's Journey Sandra Morris
Non Fiction Category
For authoritative, well-designed information books accessible to young people
- Antarctica: the Unfolding Story Margaret Andrew
- Bats (Nature Kids series) Alina Arkins, photographs by Len Doel
- Shorebirds (Nature Kids series) Alina Arkins, photographs by Len Doel
- John Britten: The Boy who did do Better Jennifer Beck
- The Life-Size Guide to the New Zealand Beach Andrew Crowe
- The Silver Ferns' Way to Play Netball Jane Hunt
- From Weta to Kauri: A Guide to the New Zealand Forest Janet Hunt, photography by Rob Lucas
- Everything You Need to Know About the World Simon Eliot and Lloyd Jones, illustrated by Timon Maxey
- Welcome to the South Seas: Contemporary New Zealand Art for Young People Gregory O'Brien
- Boating Fun Mike and Dee Pigneguy
Junior Fiction Category
Fiction suitable for primary or lower intermediate level students
- My Story: A New Song in the Land - The Writings of Atapo, Paihia, c.1840 Fleur Beale
- Walking Lightly Fleur Beale, illustrations by Michaela Sangl
- You've Got Guts, Kenny Melrose Shirley Corlett
- Wild West Hullabaloo Joy Cowley
- Claws and Jaws, 30 New Zealand Animal Stories edited by Barbara Else, illustrated by Philip Webb
- The Real Thing Brian Falkner
- Beyond the Shroud (Book Two - The Karazan Quartet) V. M. Jones
- Prince of the Wind (Book Three - The Karazan Quartet) V.M. Jones
- Aunt Effie and the Island that Sank Jack Lasenby
- The Stonekeeper's Daughter Linda McNabb
Young Adult Fiction category
Fiction suitable for upper intermediate and secondary school students
- Malcolm and Juliet Bernard Beckett
- On a Good Day Deborah Burnside
- Robert Moran - Private Ken Catran
- Seal Boy Ken Catran
- The Swap Wendy Catran
- Coming Back David Hill
- The Hunting of the Last Dragon Sherryl Jordan
- Cross Tides Lorraine Orman
- Out of Tune Joanna Orwin
- Dark Penelope Todd