Prizes · New Zealand

Gecko Press's Omnibird named best book at 2026 PANZ Book Design Awards

Giselle Clarkson's bird handbook, designed by Vida Kelly with the author, won the Gerard Reid Award and the children's category.

By The Book Source25 September 20261 minute read

Omnibird: An Avian Investigator's Handbook by Giselle Clarkson (Gecko Press) has won the Gerard Reid Award for Best Book at the 2026 PANZ Book Design Awards in Auckland. Vida Kelly designed the book with Clarkson. It also won the Scholastic New Zealand Award for Best Children's Book.

Convening judge Erica Harrison said it was the only entry to score perfect 10s.

Two books shared Best Illustrated Book: Atlas of the New Zealand Wars: Volume One 1834–1864 by Derek Leask (Auckland University Press) and Mr Ward's Map by Elizabeth Cox (Massey University Press). Auckland University Press also won Best Non-Illustrated Book with Mark Forman's Tony Fomison: Life of the Artist.

Ruth Shaw's Three Wee Bookshops at the End of the World (Allen & Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand) won Best General Cover, and Whenua from Christchurch Art Gallery took Best Cover. Victoria Wigzell was named Emerging Designer for The Floral Dream (Potton & Burton).

A new People's Choice Award, named for designer Keely O'Shannessey, who died in June, went to Sio fakaTonga 'ae 'Aati fakaTonga (Kula-ʻUli Publishing), which also won Best Typography.

Original source: Kete Books ↗

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