Scholastic New Zealand Award
for Best Children’s Book 2024
Finalist
Designer: Vida Kelly
Title: At the Bach
Publisher: Gecko Press
Format: 242 x 250mm, 28pp, hardback with sewn binding, printed on 150gsm Yulong Pure 1.3 FSC
Typography: Administer Book 22/31pt.
Title type hand lettered using a watercolour style to tie in with the artwork.
"The aim was to create a beautiful modern classic using the warm and nostalgic poem by Joy Cowley. There aren’t many words and originally it was going to be a board book but I felt there was so much potential story-telling within those atmospheric words. So it was decided it could be a picture book. Hilary Jean Tapper was the perfect illustrator to bring to life this gentle New Zealand story about a holiday at the beach. I ensured the typography worked quietly, sitting comfortably alongside the images to allow them the space to take centre stage". – Vida Kelly
Judges' comments A big warm cuddle of a book! The design gently complements the soft, dreamy illustrations. Elegant and restrained, the nostalgic colour palette evokes a bygone era filled with summer holidays at the beach. The typography and picnic blanket endpapers, combined with the textured, creamy paper stock, make it a pleasure to hold and read. Reminiscent of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, At the Bach should become a timeless addition to the family bookshelf.
