Allen & Unwin
Award for Best Commercial Book for Adults 2024
Finalist
Designer: Megan van Staden with illustrations by Huriana Kopeke-Te Aho
Title: Whakawhetai: Gratitude
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, New Zealand
Format: 213 x 160mm, 272pp. Sewn square backed hardback with emboss and matt lamination plus end papers, H&T bands and ribbon.
The text is printed on uncoated stock, FSC Golden Sun Woodfree, with a cream tint applied – a huge part of this title’s Kaupapa is journalling, so the stock needed to be uncoated so readers could write easily in it. The uncoated stock also added to its raw and authentic feeling.
Typography: Geograph by Kiwi Kris Sowersby. This contemporary, geometric sans serif reflects the graphic and balanced nature of whakairo (Māori carving). The illustrator incorporated whakairo patterns in the lettering for Whakawhetai on the cover.
“Whakawhetai: Gratitude is an inspirational, bilingual gratitude journal, based on the Māori holistic approach to health, hauora.
We wanted Whakawhetai to be a beautiful book that would reach a wide audience, and to be both interactive (i.e a book that people could write in) and a book you would be happy to have on your coffee table. We decided to publish it a full-colour illustrated hardback with stunning illustrations by Huriana Kopeke-Te Aho, a young Māori illustrator. Huriana helped elevate the layout through full page illustrations, introduction diagrams/illustrations and borders.”
Judges’ comments This book offers a tactile journey into gratitude with a design that feels both lush and evocative, almost like a taonga. The embossed title and use of illustrations by an emerging Māori illustrator elevate the experience, aligning with the subtitle: Hold onto what is good and good things will follow. The design focuses on the illustrations, allowing them to resonate deeply with readers. Its commercial success and widespread appeal demonstrate that it has effectively connected with its intended audience, offering a tool for reflection and gratitude.
