Joe's Ruby

by Elsie Locke, Gary Hebley (Illustrator)

Tells the story of a pet rook, Ruby, that hatched in Joe's hand and stayed with him as his pet for its lifetime.

59 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

A writer, historian and leader in peace movements and women’s affairs, Elsie Violet Locke (née Farrelly) made a remarkable contribution to New Zealand society. She edited the 1930s feminist journal Woman Today and later served on the national executive of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. In 1959 she received the Katherine Mansfield Award for Non-Fiction and in 1992 published her major study, Peace People: Peace Activities in New Zealand. Locke is best known as a children’s writer, and her major contribution to children’s literature was acknowledged with the 1995 Margaret Mahy Medal.

The Elsie Locke Non-Fiction Award was established in 1986 to encourage the development of excellence in New Zealand non-fiction for young people. Originally the LIANZA Young People’s Non-Fiction Award, it was renamed the Elsie Locke Medal in 2002. This Award is given to the book that is considered to be the most distinguished contribution to non-fiction for young adults. The prize is awarded by the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa.

In 2016, the award merged with the NZ Post Award for Children's Non-fiction (later part of the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults) and is now known as the Non-fiction Elsie Locke Award.