Eggleton wins Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal

15 July 2015 Books+Publishing

Literacy consultant, teacher and author Jill Eggleton has won the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal for ‘outstanding contribution to New Zealand children’s literature and literacy’.

As a teacher, Eggleton implemented literacy programs that are widely used in New Zealand schools. She is the author of several books on classroom practice, including Linking the Language Strands (republished as Lighting the Literacy Fire), which has sold over 80,000 copies worldwide; and co-author of more than 800 school readers in the ‘Sails’ reading program.

For the past 25 years Eggleton has worked as a literary consultant for schools around the world, and is currently adjunct professor at the University of Sioux Falls in South Dakota.

‘This Storylines award acknowledges Jill Eggleton’s outstanding contribution to children’s literacy development in New Zealand, and internationally,’ said Storylines chair Libby Limbrick in a statement. ‘Besides her own phenomenal output, her advocacy for high quality literature in literacy education has been inspirational for teachers, thus encouraging children to engage with and love reading.’

Eggleton will receive the Margaret Mahy Medal and present the Margaret Mahy Address in Auckland on 27 August during the Storylines Festival of New Zealand Children’s Writers and Illustrators.

Category: Local news