Lately many of you will have read or watched news items relating to Joy Cowley. Much-loved and prolific New Zealand children’s author Joy Cowley has two new books out, one a memoir and one a book on writing for children. She is therefore receiving much coverage in the press, especially with winning the fiction prize in the recently announced Prime Minister Awards for Literary Achievement.
To give you some idea of the volume of Cowley's work, a search on her name in the library catalogue retrieves more than 700 items. At Sylvia Ashton-Warner Library her work is of particular importance because of her fantastic contribution to literacy for children.
"Joy Cowley is internationally recognised for her more than 600 early readers, along with novels and poetry for children. She has worked as a teacher of creative writing for children in more than ten countries and also won critical acclaim for her adult novels and short stories. Among her many awards are the Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2005, the NZ Suffrage Medal, The NZ Commemoration Medal, The A.W. Reed Award for Contribution to New Zealand Literature and the Margaret Mahy Medal. The Storylines Joy Cowley Award for an unpublished picture book text was initiated by the Storylines Trust in 2002."
The Library has copies of both of the new Cowley titles - you will see them on the Sylvia Ashton-Warner Library's new book display next week and can place a hold on them.
Two of the characters that are especially close to the hearts of many New Zealand children are Greedy Cat and Mrs Wishy Washy. We'd be interested in hearing of other favourite characters or titles you'd like to share with our blog readers. For example, what titles have you used successfully in your classroom or with your own children?