Melanie Koster
Location: Christchurch
Preferred audience: Preschool and Years 0-8
Melanie Koster is a Christchurch-based author of picture books, short stories and poems for children.
Born on the wild West Coast of the South Island, Melanie was brought up in a book-loving, story-telling family. She lives in Ōtautahi Christchurch with her family of artists, inventors and tinkerers.
After being shortlisted for the Joy Cowley Award several times, Melanie was the winner of the award in 2022. She is the co-creator of six picture books and her stories and poems have been published in The School Magazine (Australia). Melanie works as a Kaiāwhina Kaiako (Learning Assistant) and creative writing tutor at a local primary school, where she enjoys helping young writers hone their craft.
Melanie's daughter, Monica Koster, is an illustrator and they have published some books together. They are available to visit schools and libraries together so tamariki can get a good insight of the process behind creating a picture book.
Selected Bibliography:
The Dragon at the Zoo, illustrated by Craig Phillips (Scholastic 2026)
The Wonderful Stranges, illustrated by Monica Koster (Bateman Books 2025)
Elephant Park, illustrated by Jenny Cooper (Scholastic 2024)
Tama and the Taniwha, illustrated by Monica Koster (Scholastic 2023)
Ko Tama me te Taniwha illustrated by Monica Koster, translated by Pānia Papa (Scholastic 2023)
Milly Maloo and the Miracle Glue, illustrated by Sarah Nelisiwe Anderson (Scholastic NZ 2011)
The Reluctant Little Flower Girl, illustrated by Jenny Cooper (Mallinson Rendel 2008)
Feeding the Eels (The School Magazine, Australia)
Boy in the Garden (The School Magazine, Australia)
The Rememberator (The School Magazine, Australia)
Awards:
Shortlisted, NZ Booklovers Award 2025 for Elephant Park, illustrated by Jenny Cooper (Scholastic);
Storylines Notable Book Award 2024, Picture Book, Elephant Park, illustrated by Jenny Cooper (Scholastic);
Shortlisted, NZ Booklovers Award 2024 for Tama and the Taniwha illustrated by Monica Koster (Scholastic);
Storylines Notable Book Award 2023, Picture Book, Tama and the Taniwha illustrated by Monica Koster (Scholastic);
Storylines Notable Book Award 2023, Te Reo Māori, Ko Tama me te Taniwha illustrated by Monica Koster, translated by Pānia Papa (Scholastic);
Storylines Joy Cowley Award 2022 for Tama and the Taniwha