Kuwi's First Egg wins the Gaelyn Gordon Award for Most-Loved Book
- NZ Booklovers
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Kuwi's First Egg by Kat Quin wins the Gaelyn Gordon Award 2025, published by Illustrated Publishing for Most-Loved Book!
The Storylines Gaelyn Gordon Award was established in 1999 to honour the memory and contribution to children’s literature of the late Gaelyn Gordon. The award is made annually for a work of fiction which did not win an award at the time of publication, but which is seen by Storylines as one which has stood the test of time and which is generally recognised as a successful, enduring children’s or young adult book.
Kat Quin started her illustration career in 2002 with projects for Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. In 2014, from her award-winning educational design studio, she launched her own publishing imprint, Illustrated Publishing.
Since releasing her first book, Kuwi’s First Egg, she has published more than 26 titles.
Kat Quin’s passion for all things children’s books and illustration is apparent throughout all her works to date. Gaining inspiration and critique from her own six tamariki, her honest accounts from a birds eye view are endearing to readers of all ages. She is quintessentially Kiwi, which erupts through her quirky illustrations, on which she spends thirty plus hours for each spread.
During her visits to schools, Kat talks about her writing and illustration journey, illustration techniques, and her involvement in kiwi conservation.
To date, Kat has sold over 95,000 copies of the book — in paperback, board book, and te reo Māori, 'Te Hua Tuatahi a Kuwi. She is also very proud to have donated over $70,000 to Save the Kiwi, a portion of the sale of all Kuwi books over the past 10 years.
More information about the award: