Book of the Year- some of the Children's Book Council of Australia prizewinners

The winners of the Children’s Book Council of Australia prizes were announced last Friday; just in time for Book Week; this week. The Library has most of the shortlisted and prize winning books, so please call in and borrow some of these great Australian books!

The winner of Older Reader’s Book of the Year was “Tales from outer suburbia” by Shaun Tan. Teacher Fran Knight reviewed this book on the Allen and Unwin website “A story and picture book for adults and children alike, Shaun Tan draws a mirror to the face of Australia, with lonely people, houses where constant bickering between parents causes the boy to sleep on the lawn, communities where people use the missiles in their yards for practical purposes and an exchange student who lives in a house where little exchange takes place. Each story provokes thought about how we live and entreats the reader to give more serious consideration to our lives and the lives of those around us”.

The winner of the Younger Readers Book of the Year was “Perry Angel’s suitcase” by Glenda Millard, illustrated by Stephen Michael King. This the third book in the Kingdom of Silk series, which began with “The naming of Tishkin Silk”. In the story, Perry arrives at the Kingdom of Silk one day on the 10.30 express, carrying only a small and shabby suitcase embossed with five golden letters. What do those letters mean? And why won t Perry let go of his case? This book has been described on the Allen and Unwin website as a gentle and moving story about finding your place in the world.

The prize for Early Childhood Book of the Year was won by Bob Graham, with his delightful book “How to heal a broken wing”. A pigeon flies into a skyscraper window, and in the busy grey city only one little child, with red jacket and golden hair, notices. He and his mother wrap the pigeon carefully in her scarf and carry it home, where with ‘rest, time and a little hope’ slowly, it heals. Bookseller + Publisher wrote about this book that "Children from as young as three will empathise with Will, while older children and adults can sharpen their visual literacy skills, noting the filmic techniques that inform and move readers of this perfectly designed and heart-warming book" (as cited by Walker Books website).

Picture Book of the Year was won by Kylie Dunstan, with “Collecting Colour” This is the story of best friends Rose and Olive, and the day they spend in the bush in the Top End, collecting pandanus leaves and “colour”; roots and berries to dye the pandanus. Later they see how the leaves are woven into beautiful baskets, and make their own mats. The author worked as an Arts project officer at a community in the Northern Territory. This book is illustrated in vibrant colour and is a pleasure to hold and read.

Happy Book Week!