Snake and Lizard by Joy Cowley is the winner of this year's New Zealand Post Book of the Year prize.

The title, which is illustrated by Gavin Bishop, ‘impressed the judges with its assured writing, humour and gentle, unforced observations on the nature of friendship,' said 2008 judges convenor Dylan Owen. Also on the judging panel were author and illustrator Fifi Colston and novelist Vince Ford.

The category winners and honour awards recipients in the 2008 awards are listed below.

Picture Book (NZ$75000/A$6150): Tahi: One Lucky Kiwi (Melanie Drewery, illustrated by Ali Teo & John O'Reilly, Random House New Zealand); Honour Award (NZ$500/A$410): To The Harbour (Stanley Palmer, Lopdell House Gallery).

Non Fiction (NZ$75000/A$6150): Which New Zealand Spider? (Andrew Crowe, Penguin New Zealand); Honour Award (NZ$500/A$410): Reaching The Summit (Alexa Johnston with David Larsen, Penguin New Zealand).

Junior Fiction (NZ$75000/A$6150) and New Zealand Post Book of the Year (NZ$75000/A$6150): Snake and Lizard (Joy Cowley, illustrated by Gavin Bishop, Gecko Press).

Young Adult (NZ$75000/A$6150): Salt ( Maurice Gee, Penguin New Zealand); Honour Award (NZ$500/A$410): The Sea-Wreck Stranger (Anna Mackenzie, Longacre Press).

Best First Book Award (NZ$2000/A$1650): Out of The Egg (Tina Matthews, Walker Books).

Children's Choice Award (NZ$2000/A$1650): The King's Bubbles (Ruth Paul, Scholastic).

The New Zealand Post Book Awards are supported by The New Zealand Post, Creative New Zealand and Book Tokens (NZ) Ltd and are administered by Booksellers New Zealand.

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