New authors and illustrators appear as finalists in every category of the 2012 Children's Book Awards.
The finalists were selected from a pool of more 130 entries.
Organisers say at least one emerging author or illustrator appears in each of the four categories - picture book, non-fiction, junior fiction and young adult fiction.
For the first time, a graphic novel has also been short-listed in the best picture book category - a genre normally associated with very young children.
The 2012 New Zealand Post Book Awards will be announced on 16 May.
The finalists are:
Picture Book
The Cat's Pyjamas by Catherine Foreman
Rahui (Maori version) by Chris Szekely and illustrated by Malcolm Ross
Rahui (English version) by Chris Szekely and illustrated by Malcolm Ross
Shaolin Burning by Ant Sang
Stomp! by Ruth Paul
Waiting for Later by Tina Matthews
Non-fiction
Digging Up The Past: Archaeology For The Young & Curious by David Veart
Kimble Bent: Malcontent by Chris Grosz
The Life Cycle of the Tuatara by Betty Brownlie
New Zealand Hall of Fame: 50 Remarkable Kiwis by Maria Gill and illustrated by Bruce Potter
Nice Day for a War: Adventures of a Kiwi Soldier in World War l by Chris Slane and illustrated by Matt Elliott
Junior Fiction
The Flytrap Snaps by Johanna Knox and illustrated by Sabrina Malcolm
Just Jack by Adele Broadbent
The Loblolly Boy & the Sorcerer by James Norcliffe
Super Finn by Leonie Agnew
The Travelling Restaurant by Barbara Else
Young Adult Fiction
The Bridge by Jane Higgins
Calling the Gods by Jack Lasenby
Dirt Bomb by Fleur Beale
Sacrifice by Joanna Orwin
Yes by Deborah Burnside
