The themes and key events in each title cross-reference within the series, providing a continuum of colonial New Zealand history. Each book contains double-page spreads with multiple historic and contemporary photographs to corroborate the text. The Liberals, The Forests, Roads and Railways and Development of Farming are the four latest volumes in a series of twenty general knowledge resources recommended for children aged eight to fifteen years old. It is an enormously impressive achievement.' A thematic approach to history, rather than a strictly chronological one, requires careful synthesis of the material, and Boon does this particularly well, moving through each topic in a way that to the reader is convincing and logical. The judging panel said, 'Without the work of Kevin Boon, New Zealand’s non-fiction resources for children would be infinitely poorer. The Elsie Locke Award celebrates a distinguished contribution to non-fiction for young people. In 2006 Kevin Boon won The Elsie Locke Award (previously LIANZA Young People's Non-fiction Award) for his series Developments in New Zealand History. Recent titles in the People in New Zealand History series include Norman Kirk, Maui Pomare and Jon Trimmer (Kotuku Publishing, 2005) and Janet Frame, Yvette Williams and Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan (Kotuku Publishing, 2006).
In 2008 he wrote Meeting George Nepia for the School Journal, Part 4 2008. He has also written plays, and scripts for the television series If Y'Can't Beat 'Em, and scripts including 'A Step in the Right Direction' (2007) for National Radio's Ears programme.īoon's picture books include Lost (2002), Lorna and the Ladybird (2002), and Moonbiter (2002), which is the retelling of an Aboriginal story. Series titles include People in NZ History, Famous New Zealanders, The Story of the All Blacks, New Zealand Disasters, and Developments in New Zealand History.īoon's first book was a novel, The Great Marlin Mystery (1988). Many of Boon's books are parts of various series. His subjects include individuals from Edmund Hillary to Malvina Major historical events from the Tongawera eruption to the Wahine Disaster and aspects of colonial history from whalers and sealers to the Treaty of Waitangi. He is a registered teacher and school principal with many years of experience. BOON, Kevin (1940 - ) has written television drama and comedy, stage plays, radio stories, novels, short stories, picture books and over one hundred non-fiction titles.