• Signatures is an exciting series of 60 chapter books for Years 4–8. Joy Cowley has written 15 of the Signatures child-centred chapter books and selected and edited 45 more books from New Zealand and Australian authors.
　　•Signatures is divided into “mini-series” of 3–5 titles following the same quirky characters. Students are hooked into the first book and are provided with motivation to continue reading to follow the adventures of their favourite characters.
　　• Signatures is child-centred, with strong plots, distinctive characters, and highly believable child protagonists. The writing style is contemporary and highly appealing to students.
　　• Signatures covers a range of genres, including fantasy, action adventure, mystery, and realistic fiction. Teacher’s Notes discs containing lesson plans for every book in Set 1 and Set 2.

Titles in this series:
Reading Age 8–9 years:
The Big Hairy Author:Fairy Tale, Scary Story, Messy Adventure
The Gribbles: The Amazing Gribbles, The Brilliant Gribbles, The Clever Gribbles
Tales from a Small Town: Blackberry Patch, Swimming for Gold, Drum

Reading Age 9–10 years:
Madam Spry, The Very Sly Spry: Madam Spry and the Secret Plans, Madam Spry and the Blue Diamond, Madam Spry and Mr. Mustard
Sir Brian Flockart: Bumblefest, Dragon Hunt, The Battle of Burpington
Dan's Days: Dan's Days (aged 7)， Dan's Days (aged 9)，Dan's Days (aged 11½)

Reading Age 10–11 years:
The Mccorkles: Meddling Mansions, Basilisk Villa, Frivolity Theatre
Max Stone and Ruby Jones: Survival on the Brain, Survival of the Funkiest, Survival on Adventure Island, Survival in the City
Mike Cool-as-you-like: In Business, Around the World, In Action, Out and About, On Track

　　Fred, Asia, and Silas Gribble are very ingenious inventors. But with their parents away overseas, they’ll need all their ingenuity to stay out of trouble… with a little help from Mrs Munch the cook, Creep the python, and Birdie the parrot.

　　Joy Cowley is a prolific, widely-published, and muchcelebrated New Zealand writer of fiction for adults and children. Cowley began her career writing short stories and novels before moving into the realm of children’s literature. She has published numerous novels and short stories. She has written a remarkable range of children’s books – including over 1,000 educational books for children learning to read.
　　Cowley has won many awards for her writing. In　2005 she was made a Distinguished Companion of New Zealand Order of Merit for services to children’s literature, and she was awarded a Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement for Fiction in 2010. In 2018 she was awarded New Zealand’s top honour, becoming a Member of the Order of New Zealand. Also in 2018, Cowley was short-listed for the Hans Christian Anderson award, the top international award for children’s literature.
　　Cowley began writing for children to help her son Edward who, like her, was slow to learn reading skills. Her first picture book, which uses humour to carry a serious anti-war statement, was The Duck and the Gun, published in New York in 1969. It was republished in 1985 with new illustrations by award-winning illustrator Robyn Belton.
　　In 2007, Clean Slate Press became Cowley’s exclusive international educational publisher. Initially, Clean Slate Press republished some of the author’s older work that was out of print, including Mrs Wishy-Washy, Cowley’s most famous title that has sold more than 40 million copies. In 2008, Cowley began writing new titles for Clean Slate Press. There are now 200 Cowley titles available from Clean Slate Press.
　　Cowley’s work is characterized by being child-centred, high-quality literature for young readers. She says: “Children need to find affirmation in a story. The story should empower children in several ways: helping them to feel good about their ability to make cognitive connections and to solve problems; helping them to see their own worthiness in the characters.”
　　Cowley lives in Featherston, New Zealand, where she continues to write for children.