The Children’s Books Council of Australia has announced its prize winning books for 2009 and as usual, the list has some interesting choices
Shaun Tan’s Tales from Outer Suburbia has won the Book of the Year for Older Readers. What is interesting about this book is that it is an illustrated book, rather than a novel. Tales from Outer Suburbia is much lauded however, having already picked up a host of gongs including the 2008 Aurealis Award for Best Illustrated Work/Graphic Novel, the 2009 Ditmar Award for Best Artwork and the ABIA 2009 Illustrated Book of the Year.
We have Tales from Outer Suburbia in stock now.
Glenda Millard was awarded the Book of the Year for Younger Readers with Perry Angel’s Suitcase, the third book in the multi award-winning Kingdom of Silk series. The Naming of Tishkin Silk, the first book in the series, was short-listed in the CBCA Book of the Year Awards and the for the NSW Premier′s Literary Awards. Layla Queen of Hearts was short- listed in the CBCA Book of the Year Awards and winner of the 2007 Queensland Premier′s Literary Award.
The Early Childhood Book of the Year is Bob Graham’s too, too divine How to Heal a Broken Wing, which is a gorgeous picture book, almost wordless, inviting conversation and discussion.
Picture Book of the Year is Collecting Colour by Kylie Dunstan. The Eve Pownall Award for Information Books goes to Lincoln Hall’s epic story of survival on Everest, Alive in the Death Zone.
And if you are wondering what the kids themselves voted for it was:
Kill the Possum by James Moloney (Older Readers)
Then by Morris Gleitzman (Younger Readers)
Puffling by Margaret Wild and Julie Vivas (Early Childhood)
The Word Spy by Ursula Dubosarsky and Tohby Riddle (Information Books)
Sunday Chutney by Aaron Blabey (Picture Book of the Year).
CBCA judges put an enormous effort into their decision making process and the awards are hugely influential. What is interesting to me is that the “people’s choice” awards are so different to those made by the experts in children’s literature.
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