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Four talented rangatahi win with stunning bookmarks
By Piper Kilmister, IHC Library Community Engagement Librarian
The IHC Library has announced the winners of its very first bookmark competition held over the Easter school holidays. With over 100 incredible entries, the judges had a tough job selecting just four winners.
The competition was open to rangatahi (young people) with an intellectual disability and/or autism across Aotearoa, and invited participants to design a bookmark for the library.
This year’s theme was Nature. Illustrator and designer Josh Morgan joined IHC Media contributor Chardonnay Kyle and children’s book illustrator and author Kat Quin as judges.
Four winners were selected across four age categories:
Zoe Beckett from Invercargill (7 years and under) created a delightful bookmark featuring her favourite animal – a guinea pig. Zoe is very creative and loves animals; she hopes to become a vet one day.
James Brittain from Auckland (8–12 years) impressed the judges with his colourful design of Rangitoto. He climbed Rangitoto this year and has been learning all about volcanoes. His favourite is Mt Ruapehu, and he also loves reading and writing – especially about the Warriors series!
Lily Kuzma from Dunedin (13–17 years) won with her stunning nature-themed artwork. Her favourite things are singing in a choir, reading, building Lego and, of course, art!
Caleb Nathan from Wellington (18–21 years) created a striking whale design as part of his printmaking class. Caleb is a Year 14 student at Wellington High School, where his favourite subject is photography. He loves being in nature and exploring the outdoors, especially the bush and the beach.
The winning designs will be printed as the IHC Library’s official bookmarks. Library members can look forward to receiving one of these awesome creations each time they borrow from the library.
You can view the the winning and runner-up entries at www.ihc.org.nz/bookmarkcomp
The IHC Library would like to thank all participants for sharing their artwork – it has been incredibly special to experience everyone’s beautiful designs.
The bookmark competition will return in 2027.
First place winners, from left: Zoe Beckett 7 years and under, James Brittain 8-12 years, Lily Kuzma 13-17 years, Caleb Nathan 18-21 years.
This story was published in Strong Voices. The magazine is posted free to all IHC members.
