Young readers were the big winners on Wednesday night! The New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults were announced on the 14 of August at a ceremony at Pipitea Marae. Take a look at the seven winning titles, across eight categories, and click into the reading list below for some book inspiration for young readers of all ages and interests.

Margaret Mahy Book of the Year Award
Nine Girls, Stacy Gregg (Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Pūkeko, Ngāti Maru Hauraki) (Penguin Random House NZ)

Picture Book Award
Paku Manu Ariki Whakatakapōkai, Michaela Keeble with Kerehi Grace (Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Porou), illustrated by Tokerau Brown (Gecko Press)

Wright Family Foundation Esther Glen Award for Junior Fiction
Nine Girls, Stacy Gregg (Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Pūkeko, Ngāti Maru Hauraki) (Penguin Random House NZ)

Young Adult Fiction Award
Catch a Falling Star, Eileen Merriman (Penguin Random House NZ)

Elsie Locke Award for Non-Fiction
Ultrawild: An Audacious Plan to Rewild Every City on Earth, Steve Mushin (Allen & Unwin)

Russell Clark Award for Illustration
Patu: The New Zealand Wars, illustrated by Gavin Bishop (Tainui, Ngāti Awa) (Penguin Random House NZ)

Wright Family Foundation Te Kura Pounamu Award for te reo Māori
Nani Jo me ngā Mokopuna Porohīanga, Moira Wairama, illustrated by Margaret Tolland (Baggage Books)

NZSA Best First Book Award
Tsunami, Ned Wenlock (Earth's End Publishing)