Scholastic New Zealand Award
for Best Children’s Book 2026
Finalist
Designer: Vida Kelly, with Giselle Clarkson
Title: Omnibird: An Avian Investigator’s Handbook
Publisher: Gecko Press
Format: 290 x 250 mm, 96pp, Hardback with sewn binding, spot gloss and emboss on case.
Typography: Adelle 11/15 pt
Main text was chosen as it is clear, works well for factual text and contrasts nicely with Giselle’s light-hearted hand lettering.
As the book is very full and busy it was important to have a clear grid in the background. We worked with a two column grid along with colourful fact boxes. So, even though every spread was very varied in content, there was a background grid giving some consistent structure.
