Melbourne based author/illustrator Anna Walker has been shortlisted for this years CBCA Early Childhood category with Mr Huff.Mr Huff shows us what can happen when you let negative thoughts take over. We see how a bad day can get worse or better depending on how you think about it.As negative thoughts take hold of our … Continue reading Mr Huff by Anna Walker
Ollie and the Wind is such a sweet story and a marvellous achievement by a debut author/illustrator, Ronojoy Ghosh.Ghosh has worked as an art director in the advertising industry for the past 15 years.He was inspired to write Ollie and the Wind for his young son who loves bedtime stories every night.Many of us have … Continue reading Ollie and the Wind by Ronojoy Ghosh
There aren't many Alison Lester books that don't eventually charm me.In the case of My Dog Bigsy I was in love from the front cover!Such a joyful, happy pup bounding across the page. Bigsy looks ready for cuddles and snuggles and tummy rubs.My Dog Bigsy has been shortlisted for this years CBCA Early Childhood book … Continue reading My Dog Bigsy by Alison Lester
At the beginning of the CBCA shortlist period, I like to remind myself what the criteria are for the judges.I try to keep these in mind as I read and review the books on offer each year.The judging criteria were updated at the end of last year. Click here for the full information sheet.One Step … Continue reading One Step At A Time by Jane Jolly
When I see titles like this on the CBCA Eve Pownall list I always do a little inward groan.After all, why would I want to read a book about stick insects?But then I actually take the time to read them and I'm blown away by the amazing natural world around us and the people who … Continue reading Phasmid by Rohan Cleave and Coral Tulloch
One of the things I love about the CBCA shortlist is that, each year, it encourages me to read books that I may not have taken the time to get to otherwise.A Single Stone is one of those books that I'm delighted to have taken the time to discover.Every girl dreams of being part of … Continue reading A Single Stone by Meg McKinlay
Nominated for this year's CBCA Younger Readers shortlist, Sister Heart is a verse novel that highlights the plight of the Stolen Generation.Sally Morgan's autobiography, My Place was one of the publishing super stories of the late 1980's. Her story was fascinating but has since been surrounded by various controversies and academic debates.Morgan has also gone … Continue reading Sister Heart by Sally Morgan
I know I say this every year, but how can it be a whole year since the last CBCA Shortlist?My aim, as usual, is to read as many of them as possible before the winners are announced in August.Will you be joining me?Book of the Year - Picture BookOne Step At a Time by Jane … Continue reading CBCA Shortlist 2016
In the lead up to this week's CBCA shortlist announcement I have instigated my own personal mini-challenge to read as many of the previous CBCA winners as I can before Friday.Today I bring you a selection of classic Australian picture books all featuring the poetry of A.B. 'Banjo' Paterson.Some of them are award winning books … Continue reading Banjo Paterson Picture Books
The Bunyip of Berkeley's Creek won the CBCA award for Best Picture Book in 1974 for Jenny Wagner and illustrator Ron Brooks.When I first saw this book as a young child in our school library, the cover scared me so much I never opened the book.It wasn't until I started my teaching career, that I … Continue reading The Bunyip of Berkeley’s Creek by Jenny Wagner
Next week the CBCA will announce their shortlisted books for 2016 from amongst the 80-odd books currently selected as 'notables'.In preparation, I thought I'd like to revisit some of the older winners to get a better sense of where we've come from and how things have changed - not only for the CBCA and the … Continue reading The Australia Book by Eve Pownall
Coming of Age: Growing Up Muslim in Australia edited by Amra Pajalic and Demet Divaroren has been shortlisted for this year's CBCA Eve Pownall Information Book Award.Amra and Demet have brought together a diverse range of voices and experiences in this fascinating, challenging and sometimes surprising book.From football stars to female kickboxers, established authors, activists, … Continue reading Coming of Age: Growing Up Muslim in Australia
Shortlisted for this year's CBCA Picture Book of the Year, Rivertime is a gentle, meandering story that celebrates connections and nature.Balla spent ten days with her partner paddling 80km of the Glenelg River one summer. She kept a journal and sketched her experiences of the trip which then formed the basis for this story and … Continue reading Rivertime by Trace Balla
Lesley Gibbes is a Sydney based author who was discovered (according to her website bio) by Jane Covernton from Working Title Press when Covernton picked Scary Night "out of the slush pile in 2012." Gibbes was naturally delighted, and I was thrilled to read it too - we all dream of being discovered in a … Continue reading Scary Night by Lesley Gibbes and Stephen Michael King
For the first time in a very long time, two Christmas books have made this year's CBCA shortlist. Little Dog and the Christmas Wish by Corinne Fenton and Robin Cowcher is shortlisted for the Crichton Award for New Illustrators.Tea and Sugar Christmas by Jane Jolly and Robert Ingpen is shortlisted for the Eve Pownall Award … Continue reading Christmas comes to the CBCA
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