| Melanie Drewery | |
| Birth Place: | Palmerston North, New Zealand |
| Genre: | Children's picture books |
| Notable Works: | Nanny Mihi series |
| Spouse: | Henk Vermeer |
| Children: | 2 |
| Awards: | 2008 Best Picture Book at the New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults |
Melanie Jane Drewery (born 1970) is a New Zealand children's writer, illustrator and potter, best-known for her Nanny Mihi series of children's picture books. Her books feature Māori language and culture. She has said she believes it is important for New Zealand children to see their culture reflected in books. In 2008 her book Tahi: One Lucky Kiwi won the award for Best Picture Book at the New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.
Drewery was born in Palmerston North in 1970.[1] She is of Māori descent, affiliated with the iwi of Ngāti Māhanga,[1] and is also of Italian and English descent.[2] She attended Queen Charlotte College in Picton,[3] and obtained a certificate in craft and design from Nelson Polytechnic.[4] She has been based in Nelson for many years.[1] In addition to writing children's books she is also a potter and painter.[2] [5] [6] She has said it took her 13 years of sending manuscripts to publishers before her first children's book was published.[7]
Her best-known books are the Nanny Mihi picture book series, first published in 2001 and usually illustrated by Tracy Duncan.[1] Her books have been described by reviewer Peter Gibbs as introducing te reo Māori "in an engaging and non-threatening way, so her books are sprinkled with Maori tradition, language and culture".[8] Many of her books are available in both English and Māori editions, with the English versions using key Māori language words and phrases.[1] [9] She has explained that she believes "it's important for children to have their culture reflected for them".[10] The character of Nanny Mihi was adapted for children's television show Tau Kē on Māori Television in 2007, played by Robynleigh Emery. Emery also produced a CD collection of original songs as Nanny Mihi during Māori Language Week.[11]
In 2004 she received a Creative New Zealand grant of 6000 towards her writing.[12] In 2005 her book Koro's Medicine was a finalist for best picture book at the New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. The Māori translation, Nga Rongoa a Koro (translated by Kararaina Uatuku) won the Te Kuru Pounamu Award at the 2005 LIANZA Children's Book Awards.[1] Drewery has described the book as being an introduction to Maori: rongoā Māori (traditional Māori medicine), in which a grandfather teaches his grandson about the use of traditional remedies like mānuka.[2] In October 2007 her book The Grumble Rumble Mumbler was selected as the official book for New Zealand's Biggest Storytime In Library Week.[8] In 2008 The Mad Tadpole Adventure was nominated for the best junior fiction award at the New Zealand Post Book Awards.[1] A number of her books have been listed as Storylines Notable Books, including Matariki (2004), Koro's Medicine (2005), Nanny Mihi's Christmas (2006), Itiiti's Gift (2007), The Mad Tadpole Adventure (2008), The Grumble Rumble Mumbler (2008), Dad's Takeaways (2008), Tahi: One Lucky Kiwi (2008), and Big Fish, Little Fish (2009).[1]
In 2008 her book Tahi: One Lucky Kiwi, illustrated by Ali Teo and John O'Reilly, won Best Picture Book at the New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.[1] It featured the one-legged kiwi Tahi based at Wellington Zoo.[13] [14] Also in 2008, the Wellington Children's Book Association distributed free copies of her book Papa's Island, about an Italian father held prisoner on Matiu / Somes Island during World War II, to mark Anzac Day.[15]