New Zealand Post Book of the Year

The chance discovery of diaries depicting the horrors of war through the eyes of a boy soldier inspired the book that has won this year's highest honour for children's literature. Matt Elliott, a comedian and author, wrote Nice Day for a War after finding his grandfather Cyril's diaries from World War I. The book, part graphic novel, part historical novel, was illustrated by Chris Slane, and won the New Zealand Post Book of the Year at a ceremony held in Wellington