Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand, Little Moa, and the Margaret Mahy Estate are delighted to announce the three shortlisted illustrators for the 2025 Margaret Mahy Illustration Prize.

Bridget Mahy of the Margaret Mahy Estate said: 'The story is about a sea of possibility and imagination. The illustrators put their best blue, teal and cyan on display, capturing the sea’s joy with exuberant skill.' She added: 'The Prize is vital for nurturing emerging illustrators in New Zealand, helping them build confidence and strong visual storytelling skills while supporting the creation of homegrown work.'

The Margaret Mahy Illustration Prize Shortlist 2025:

Emma Collicot

Judges comment: 'Engaging details, bright watercolour and deliciously Kiwi aspects – the imagery is absorbing with lots of little treasures to find on the pages.'

Emmie Wu

Judges comment: 'Emmie’s backgrounds and landscapes were beautifully handled, the ocean felt vast and awe inspiring. Excellent draftsmanship and pacing with a sophisticated, yet playful use of mark-making.'

Matthew Hock

Judges comment: 'Matthew translated the sparkle of Mahy’s words into illustration. The details in his visual storytelling brought joy to the page.'

The Margaret Mahy Illustration Prize has gone from strength to strength since its inception in 2019. Hachette has published all previous illustration prize winners and further projects from illustration prize entrants have been contracted.

For more information on these books, visit www.themargaretmahyillustrationprize.co.nz/browse.

The winner of the Margaret Mahy Illustration Prize 2024 will be announced Thursday 28th August.

The Margaret Mahy Illustration Prize was launched in 2019. Sarah Greig was awarded the inaugural prize for The Boy With Two Shadows.

Winner 2020 – Lily Emo The Boy Who Made Things Up
Winner 2021 – Minrui Yang for There’s a King in the Cupboard
Winner - 2022 - Jessica Twohill for The Witch in the Cherry Tree
Winner - 2023 - Alba Gil Celdran for 17 Kings and 42 Elephants
Winner - 2024 - Herb MacDonald for The Great White Man Eating Shark