Scholastic New Zealand Award
for Best Children’s Book 2019
Finalist
Designer: Vida Kelly
Title: Oink
Publisher: Gecko Press
Format: 180 x 240mm, 32pp, hardback.
Judges’ comments: “Design is the quiet partner in this wordless tale. The subtle “diminishing border” around the illustrations is used to great effect to add to the ramping up of the bath time drama. Contrasting David Elliott’s watercolour illustrations, is the blatant, no nonsense title set in solid red sans serif type, with the same red carried through to the bold endpapers.”
“A quiet and gentle wee book that uses visual storytelling to great effect with a satisfying punchline. Lovely subtle illustrations and nice format; a bit quirky in classic Gecko tradition.”
“Lovely, quiet illustrations – washy in tone. Pragmatic title lock-up, no text required throughout. The title and illustrations are drawn together with use of bright-punchy pink on endpapers too.”
“The qualities of the illustrations and sensitive ‘steamed up bathroom’ colour palette pair well with a charming story. The design is minimal, not too many tests for the designer, outside of production choices of paperstocks and format but all choices are well made and meet the brief, if perhaps just short of delivering any surprises.”
