Scholastic New Zealand Award
for Best Children’s Book 2026
Finalist
Designer: Vida Kelly with Gavin Bishop
Title: Twigs and Stones
Publisher: Gecko Press
Format: 254 x 216 mm, 32pp, hardback with sewn binding.
Typography: ITC Berkeley Oldstyle Std 17/25
A lovely clean font in keeping with the style of previous books with these characters, Snake and Lizard. It adds to the classic feel of the book and quietly completes the illustrations. It also contrasts nicely with the illustrated letters in the story.
Judges’ Comments:
“A beautifully considered design that uses typography as an integral part of the storytelling. The integration of hand-crafted ‘twig’ lettering within the illustrations is a beautifully considered storytelling device. A gorgeous colour palette and mixing up the images from full spreads to smaller sections on the page makes reading the story more engaging.”
