Monica Koster is an artist and illustrator with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Hons) from the University of Canterbury.

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Her paintings have been exhibited in Christchurch and Ashburton and she has been a finalist in the ZONTA Female Art Awards. Monica loves sharing the behind-the-scenes work to some of the books she has illustrated, inspiring tamariki and rangatahi to create their own art. Besides art and illustration, Monica loves music, languages and communicating in Morse.

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Monica's mother, Melanie Koster​, is an author 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.​

 

https://monicakosterart.blogspot.com/

https://www.instagram.com/monicakoster.art/

https://www.facebook.com/MonicaKosterArt/

https://www.storylines.org.nz/search-profiles/mko90/profiles/

Selected Bibliography:

The Wonderful Stranges, written by Melanie Koster (Bateman Books 2025)

Tama and the Taniwha, written by Melanie Koster (Scholastic 2023)

Ko Tama me te Taniwha, written by Melanie Koster, translated by Pānia Papa (Scholastic 2023)

Journey Through the Cat Door, written by Belinda O’Keefe (Bateman Books)

 

Awards:

Storylines Notable Book Award 2023, Picture Book for Tama and the Taniwha written by Melanie Koster (Scholastic)

Storylines Notable Book Award 2023, Te Reo Māori for Ko Tama me te Taniwha written by Melanie Koster, translated by Pānia Papa (Scholastic)

Shortlisted, NZ Booklovers Award 2024 for Tama and the Taniwha written by Melanie Koster (Scholastic)