Kirawee library visit

The shelves at Kirrawee didn't quite look like this. 

There was a tiny board book selection on two lower box-shaped shelves and

not four shelves of front facing - there were two.

My friends and I have been visiting public libraries here in Sydney. Last week we ventured south to Kirrawee to see their new library which opened in June this year.  It is a lovely light filled space with several cafes right next door and in easy walking distance of the train station. We didn't venture far past the picture book and junior non fiction shelves but this library has plenty of non book related facilities. 

Located at 6 Kiln Road within the South Village Shopping Centre, this state-of-the-art facility is southern Sydney’s newest library and community venue, celebrating and uplifting the area’s love of entertainment and the arts.

• Brand new collections to borrow including musical instruments, recording kits, and high quality books for all ages.
• Recording studios and a live sound room to create and capture music, film, stories and podcasts.
• A media lab and creative’s space with tools including editing software.
• Beautiful spaces to meet, study and work.
• Bookable rooms for events, such as conferences and film screenings.

Here are a handful of picture books that I enjoyed reading:

Published in 2024

A sweet friendship begins between two young girls on the first day of school. Throughout the year, they fill their pockets with everything from cookies to wiggly worms, to wonders, memories, and more as their friendship blooms.

Published in 2018

Join a multicultural celebration of unity and diverse friendships all around the world as we read and sing along with joy, love and peace! From the rivers to the mountains to the oceans and to the seas-we’ve got the whole wide world in our hands. Award-winning creator Rafael López breathes new life with his adaptation of “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” as we join hands and salute all the great lands and people across all nations.

Kirkus review: This unconventional interpretation of the classic song finds a modern application with joyful illustrations that send a message of hope and power to today’s children. ... A beautiful vision of a global community. 

You could think about sharing this one when you explore our 2026 CBCA Book Week slogan Symphony of Stories. Take a look inside here. 

Published in 2025

As this quiet overture builds to a full symphony, Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander and singer-songwriter Randy Preston conduct a melody of a poem. Colorful notes are played by Caldecott Honoree Melissa Sweet’s distinctive artwork. Surrounded by nature’s chorus and guided by words that vibrate like thunder, let the groove lead you on, until you can’t help but sing out from your soul!

Kirkus Star review: A joyful ode to the manifold pleasures of musical expression.

You could think about sharing this one too when you explore our 2026 CBCA Book Week slogan Symphony of Stories.

Published in 2019

When Lawrence Fox’s teacher announces that students will be presenting their collections at show-and-tell, Lawrence realizes he doesn’t have anything to share. Luckily, Papa knows just what to do to help! Together, they venture into the woods. Lawrence is scared at first, but as he grows comfortable in the forest, he starts to recognize its magic, and how beautiful and unique each tree and leaf is, allowing him to gather a splendid, one-of-a-kind collection of his own.

Kirkus review: Readers will want to head out to discover a collection of their own.

This simple story about nature and finding joy in small things really touched my heart. This is a book to share with your class when you are talking about 'show and tell' and also it is one I would share with teachers in junior grades to give them an understanding that not every child can easily bring something to share with their class mates.

Published in 2024

Bookseller blurb: This gentle picture book is a celebration of a new baby's arrival, expressing all the hopes, joys, and dreams for a little one's future. The perfect gift to welcome a new baby to the world.

Very oddly this library or council area do not classify their picture books. There is no point in exploring their online catalogue to find the location of a picture book. Instead, the picture books are allocated an alphabet letter which matches the first letter of the title. This might not matter too much with a small collection such as the one at Kirrawee but in a larger library - if you have a favourite picture book author - it will be almost impossible to find the books you and your child want to read. When we asked about this the staff offered to help by identifying all the titles by an author on their online catalogue but how tedious to search for each one this way - for example think about the popular author Julia Donaldson her books would be assigned (assuming they hopefully disregard 'a, an, the') C S H G T R E W and more! It was good to see that the middle grade and junior novels were organised by author. In the adult books the library have used genre stickers - I am not a fan of this and one aspect of this that I really didn't like was the use of a sticker depicting a 'gun' as a way to show the genre of crime novels for adults. The labels came from the major library supplier Raceo. Surely there could be a better image?

Dawn by Marc Martin

Less a story and more a series of illustrations paired with poetic text, 

the book is a testament to Martin’s immense artistic talents.

Truly stunning. Kirkus Star review

The series of single words in this book feel like a visual poem:

dawn

dew

deer

sound

spring

still

conceal 

reveal

Other words resonate with richness and meaning such as glimmer; shimmer; forage; formation and chorus.

Blurb from author web page: As the sun slowly rises, many things happen in a small window of time. The world comes alive with the actions of animals, plants, clouds, and sky. A deer drinks, an owl wakes, a dandelion shimmers in the light. A ladybug climbs, a fish jumps, birds call in a chorus. Geese fly away in formation. A flower blooms. Beautifully illustrated with glowing imagery and written with a charming simplicity holding appeal for new readers, Marc Martin’s ode to the slow-blooming beauty of a sunrise and the life that unfolds in its radiance narrows the lens to show the wonder of time passing.

You can see inside Dawn here. See more of his work on Instagram.

The book’s thoughtful visual pacing echoes its rhythmic text. Martin mixes single-image scenes with combinations of vertical and horizontal panels to guide readers through small, quick happenings—for example, a series of four vertical panels depicting snapshots of a ladybug climbing a dew-laced blade of grass (“climb / quench / drip / drop”), and bigger events that demand pause, such as the panoramic final full-bleed, double-page spread of the rising sun. Horn Book Star review

When you share this book with your young reading companion you should slow down and take your time and then on subsequent readings notice the way the frames of the illustrations change and the way the light increases and also the link between the dewdrop and the ladybird from the title page with other images later in the book. Then get up early and watch the dawn - it usually takes about ten minutes - notice the light, but also listen for the dawn chorus and maybe do this more than once to see changes over different seasons. This idea reminds me of The Night Walk by Marie Dorléans. I also need to mention the beautiful book design and wonderful paper quality. This is a book to own, to cherish and of course to also add to your school library.

Image source: Marc Martin

You can see and hear Marc Martin sharing his book on Instagram.

One of the best parts of attending an author or illustrator talk is the discovery of the back-story about the writing of a book. Here are some things I learnt today at Gleebooks Kids about Marc Martin (this is my third post about him so you would think I know all of this, but I didn't. Click on his name in the labels for this post to read about other books and more):

• Trivia - his first job was at KMart and he likes eating coffee eclairs.
• Books - his new book due in October is about Antarctica - I should have asked "Have you been there?"
• A staff member from Candlewick posted some photos over a period of just seven minutes to show the dawn - this gave Marc Martin the idea for his book. (I would love to find those photos).
• The text came first then the illustrations and it took three years to make this book. (It is always good to tell this to your students - the craft of writing and illustrating takes time)
• This book is not a traditional narrative but Marc Martin hopes it will open up conversations between children and their parents.
• His own favourite page has the text treetops and tree trunks and beautifully shows two different perspectives of the forest with the deer from earlier in the book looking straight at the reader but also ready to run if startled. The page with the dandelion blowing in the breeze took the most time to create. He included a deer to give this book a universal feel and also because this book comes from a US publisher Candlewick.  (Here in Australia and the UK this publisher is called Walker Books). 
• As an illustrator he has a filmic perspective. His illustrations allow the viewer/reader to zoom in and out just like a camera. 
• His favourite films are from Studio Ghibli such as My Neighbor Totoro; Kiki’s Delivery Service and Spirited Away. He also mentioned The tree of life by Terrence Malick.
• The US copy of this book from Candlewick comes with a dust jacket - what a pity our Australia copies do not include this - and under the dust jacket is a different image - I should have taken a photo!
• The US edition also has a subtitle: Watch the World Awaken
• He writes and illustrates his books, but some have a text by another writers such as We are Starlings by Donna Jo Napoli and Every child a Song by Nicola Davies. 

As always the event at Gleebooks here in Sydney was so well organised by Rachel Robson. She had a display of the page layouts used by Marc Martin, a set of Marc's books with fairy lights, an art activity for the children (and adults) and really fun prompts to encourage participants to draw sequences like the ones Marc Martin used in Dawn. I liked the prompts - "Unwrapping a present"; "Blowing out a candle"; and "Playing in the rain".

Hope I don't jinx Marc and his book but I am sure this will be a 2026 CBCA Picture Book Notable and surely also make the shortlist. Check out my previous post about picture books like Dawn that I called Poetry with Pictures. 

Dear Broccoli by Jo Dabrowski illustrated by Cate James

Dear Broccoli,

Last night at dinner you were on my plate. 

AGAIN. 

This is the third time this week.

Please don't come back.

From, 

Frank. 

Dear Frank, 

Thank you so much for writing me a letter.

No one has ever written to me before.

I must say I was touched. And then I was amused - since I am always left untouched on your plate!

I am sorry to hear that you do not want me to return, but

I am afraid I cannot grant your request. 

The matter is out of my florets. 

Your parents decide when I attend.

I suggest you raise your concerns with them.

Yours sincerely, 

Broccoli 

I love the way Broccoli writes - his tone is so serious and also cheeky. These two are the first of a series of letters. Broccoli takes every opportunity to explain his value to Frank but will he convince this young boy to change his mind. 

This book will be an absolutely perfect to read aloud to your group of younger students age 7+. After your reading everyone could write a letter to a vegetable and then the students could swap their letters and write a reply from that same vegetable. Here are some other ideas for using this book with your school group. 

I know we are all supposed to eat five serves of vegetables each day but I will confess I don't always do this. I have all my standard weekly vegetables - potatoes; onion; carrots; pumpkin; cabbage; cauliflower; green beans; peas; corn; mushrooms; spinach; brussels sprouts; celery; lettuce; and I do eat broccoli every week. I am sure, though, that there are other vegetables that I could add to my basket - broccolini (I am not really a fan); kale (I have never eaten this one); snow peas (often a bit too expensive); asparagus (I eat this in season); leeks; baby squash; capsicum; eggplant (not a fan); lentils (never never); fennel (no no no); sweet potato (no); and Swiss chard (I have never even eaten this one).

Of course, as Broccoli himself points out in Dear Broccoli - tomatoes are fruits as is pumpkin. I wonder if rhubarb counts as a vegetable?

Here is an official list of vegetable categories:

Root Vegetables: These are plants whose edible parts grow underground. Examples include carrots, potatoes, beets, radishes, and turnips.

Leafy Greens: Leafy vegetables are known for their tender leaves and high nutrient content. Spinach, kale, lettuce, and Swiss chard fall into this category.

Cruciferous Vegetables: These vegetables belong to the Brassicaceae family and are known for their cross-shaped flowers. Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage are cruciferous veggies.

Allium Vegetables: Alliums have a distinctive aroma and include garlic, onions, leeks, and shallots.

Podded Vegetables: These are vegetables enclosed in a pod or shell. Examples are peas, beans, and lentils.

Stem Vegetables: Stem vegetables are plants whose edible parts are stems or stalks. Asparagus and celery are common examples.

Jo Dabrowski is a children’s author and illustrator whose debut middle-grade novel, Get Your Act Together, Doris Kozlowski, was shortlisted for the 2024 Readings Children’s Prize. She lives in Melbourne, Australia.  Cate James is an award-winning illustrator and printmaker from Sydney and Edinburgh.

I am a fan of books that contain letters like this between characters. The official term is epistolary. You might find these examples in your school or public library:

A Hatful of Dreams by Bob Graham

From this warm and loving house at the end of the street, dreams take flight and light the way to a brighter tomorrow. A heartfelt tale of hope and love, perfect for children and grandparents to share together, written and illustrated by master storyteller Bob Graham. Walker Books

From the front cover with that large, pink comfy chair, reminiscent of Let's get a Pup, to the title page which links so beautifully with Rose meets Mr Wintergarten and of course the little family who have surely stepped off the pages of Oscar's First Birthday - all fans of Bob Graham will be filled with happiness that we can once again enter his story world. Oh, and you will surely recognise grandad - yes, I am sure this is Bob Graham himself. 

Illustration from Oscar's Half Birthday

I collect books by Bob Graham so I went back and looked at these three books plus a couple of others. Have you noticed the way Bob Graham often highlights a small family home and his illustration contrasts this against the surrounding neighborhood for example the lightning bolt house in Max or the new house in Rose meets Mr Wintergarten. 

Houses from Max; Grandad's Magic and Rose Meet Mr Wintergarten

The title page of A Hatful of Dreams

Bob Graham is also a master of the interiors of homes. You need to take your time to notice little details such as a discarded teddy bear, washing up on the sink, slippers, the art on the walls, and the really comfortable furniture. Bob Graham is also a master of warm hugs.

Illustration from Let's Get a Pup - a comfy lounge

Illustration from Grandad's Magic - another comfy lounge

Some other things to delight you in A Hatful of Dreams: 

• The end papers show Millie and Sonny playing tether tennis (I loved this game when I was young)
• Chickens, a dog and washing on the clothesline
• Look for the photo of Grandad with his wife - we can infer she has died but grandad still loves her deeply. I love that this is now an extended family and Gradad has moved in with his daughter and the three young grandchildren
• Grandad has a tattoo of a bluebird on his hand
• Here is a beautiful phrase "Maggie! Top of the pile, her tail wagging, with a puppy smell of fresh walnuts."
• You can link this book with the theme of urban renewal - we also saw this in the book A Bus Called Heaven
• "Wrappers off toffees" - go back and read Greetings from Sandy Beach - yes there are toffees there too

Blurb Penguin Random House Canada: The Mile End Road once sparkled in sunshine and children’s laughter, until hard times came and all the people left, taking with them the sun, moon, and stars. But one family stayed on this broken-down street: the Andersons, in their house with a warm little glow, where kids bounce happily on Dad’s back, and Grandad’s fingers squeak on guitar strings as he jokes about all the secrets and dreams he keeps under his hat. “Grandad, I’ve seen you without your hat,” insists Millie, “and nothing was there except your hair.” But what will the children see the next time he doffs his hat? As always with Bob Graham, the tenderness is in the details: strewn-about stuffies, tumbling children, a blue-jeaned grandad with one leg thrown over his chair arm. It’s a story where even a derelict neighborhood can spark back to life, and where the love of a playfully bantering grandad can conjure a whole universe of light.

By the tale’s end, something has changed, and the neighborhood becomes revitalized at last. The eclectic mix of realism and magic is what makes this tale work. Graham’s greatest talents lie in the day-to-day natural messiness of life in a family where Dad drops “pieces of tissue from a just-washed shirt like a soft fall of snow.” The author/illustrator’s signature spare watercolors bring to life the gloom of the abandoned street, the warmth of the home, and the magic that leaks from Grandad’s hat. ... True magic lies at the heart of this marvelous tale. Kirkus

Briony Stewart introduces the slogan here.

Today the CBCA announced the 2026 Book Week slogan or as some people call it the theme - A Symphony of Stories. There is plenty of time of course but I am sure you will want to gather a collection of picture books with musical references. In A Hatful of Dreams grandad has composed a little tune. He plays a fragment of it on his harmonica and mum joins in with her violin. Oh, I need to mention there is a harmonica (can you spy it) on the limited edition print Bob Graham did for IBBY Australia many years ago.

IBBY Australia limited edition print by Bob Graham

Notice the harmonica which links with his newest book A Hatful of Dreams

Red Clover Book Award Vermont US

The Red Clover Book Award is presented to the book selected by children in kindergarten through fourth grade. Each year thousands of Vermont school children read the 10 nominated picture books and cast their votes for their favorite in the spring. The award has been presented annually since 1997.

I have a children's book-loving friend in Vermont. She sent me a message that one of our Australian authors was a winner of their local children's choice award the Red Clover Award. I immediately thought Anna McGregor (Spiro) had flown to the US but then another friend corrected and reminded me that this was more likely to be a Zoom event - and she was right!

Here is the judge's report

Author page blurb: Fergus lives down in the deepest, darkest depths of the sea and is scared of just one thing … the light! Who’s Afraid of the Light? is a fresh and funny new narrative nonfiction picture book from the award-winning creator Anna McGregor. Come on a trip to the deepest, darkest depths of the ocean. There are many fascinating creatures that call it home. There’s nothing to be afraid or … is there?

This fiction/non-fiction mash-up from McGregor contains a factual guide to some of the creatures of the deep ocean at the end, and some fantastic illustration of some fascinating and mysterious fish. There’s an enjoyable anarchic feel here which will appeal to lots of children, and a big surprise reveal too. Great fun. Book Trust

I am so curious about how this Australian book reached the US market. The publisher in Australian and the US is Scribe.

The US bookshop Barnes and Noble said:

This book is ideal for:

• Educators and librarians looking for humorous stories to use as a launching pad for further non-fiction investigation into the ocean environment;
• Parents and carers looking to combine narrative and non-fiction to entertain and educate their children simultaneously;
• Kids who just want funny books!

Awards for Who's Afraid of the Light?

🌟 Yellowhammer Book Awards Picture Book of the Year (Alabama, USA)

🌟 Red Clover Book Award (Vermont, USA)

🌟 dPictus 100 outstanding picture books (Globally) 2024 selection

🌟 WIA World Illustration Awards 2024 Children’s Book Shortlist

🌟 Winner ABDA Book of the Year

🌟 Winner ABDA Best Designed Children’s Book

🌟 Winner of Best Children’s Reader in the Whitley Book Awards

🌟 Shortlisted ABIA Best Children’s Book (Small Publisher)

🌟 Shortlisted Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards 2024 Children’s Literature 2024

🌟 The Guardian: The best Australian children’s books of 2023

Who's afraid of the Light was also a 2024 White Raven selection.

Other books by Anna McGregor

Here is the 2024-2025 nominee page:

I have previously talked about Ancestory

Take a look at the 2025-2026 nominees.

Other winners of the Red Clover Book Award:

I was interested to see the 2022-23 nominees included Watercress by Andrea Wang. This book won the Caldecott medal BUT it has never arrived here in Australia.

If I had a Unicorn by Gabby Dawnay illustrated by Alex Barrow

Children will enjoy the experience of reading this book again and again, 

noticing something new each time. Kirkus

Publisher blurb: Have you ever imagined what it would be like to have a unicorn for a pet? Besides being much less angry than a troll and far more conveniently sized than a giant, unicorns only ever eat ice-cream for breakfast AND… every time you get upset they feed you candyfloss! In this humorous, energetically rhyming tale, a little girl experiences exactly what life would be like with a magical creature for a pet – from sprinkling stardust on grumpy parents to sliding into football practice on a rainbow. This book celebrates the magic of unicorns in a way that will appeal to children who are allergic to pink.

At the start of Children's Book Week here in Australia I walked along the road to our local Street Library and I found some picture book treasures. Someone must have cleared out their bookshelves over the weekend - winner winner!

One of the books I picked up was If I had a Unicorn published by Thames and Hudson and it is in almost mint condition. 

Why do I like and recommend this book?

• The end papers are based on the famous Unicorn Tapestries. 
• The seven individual hangings known as "The Unicorn Tapestries," are among the most beautiful and complex works of art from the late Middle Ages that survive. Luxuriously woven in fine wool and silk with silver and gilded threads, the tapestries vividly depict scenes associated with a hunt for the elusive, magical unicorn.
• This image is also referenced later in the story.
• The opening pages of this book are written as a rebus - what a fabulous way to begin this story.

• This book links perfectly with the CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) slogan 'Book an Adventure':  "My unicorn would check his hooves - we'd travel far and wide ... Each day a new adventure. Just imagine - what a ride!"
• I love that this is a unicorn book that can be enjoyed by boys and girls. So many unicorn books are very pink and have more appeal to girl readers. 
• Very young children will enjoy calling out the 'forbidden' word when that pile of rainbow *** appears.

Here is the website for Alex Barrow. 

Gabby Dawnay has several other books in this series. I also need to find her book The Library Book illustrated by Ian Morris and her series about the seasons called A Field Guide (Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter):

The Emperor's Egg by Rae Tan

It is my hope that little readers will learn that heroism isn’t just about grand gestures or having superpowers. A true hero is also someone who is honest and brave enough to stand by their values 

even in the face of challenges and temptations. Quiet heroism is also often found in our everyday efforts – whether it is standing up for a friend or sharing your toys and snacks, 

these little actions speak of bravery and kindness! Rae Tan Good Reading

Looking for a worthy successor to his throne, an ageing emperor gives all the children in his kingdom an egg. After thirty days, he will judge what each child delivers to him and choose his heir. Ren brings his egg home and takes the best care of it. He reads to it, sings to it, sleeps with it and keeps it warm. Ren waits and waits, but his egg never hatches, while all around him wondrous hatchlings are emerging from other children's eggs. In a hall full of magical creatures, how can Ren present his unhatched egg to the emperor? Teacher's Notes

Image source: Instagram Rae Tan

... a reimagining of an ancient Chinese folk tale about integrity, courage and patience. Queensland Reviewers Collective

The author Rae Tan, who was born in Singapore but now lives in Perth, is also the illustrator. Her particular art style, which is mainly in pastels and watercolours, displays the Asian culture and highlights moods and emotions through her figures. She holds a BA in international politics from King’s College London, and performance diplomas for both the piano and violin from Trinity College London. Currently, she is a music teacher working with young children. She is passionate about creating beloved characters and imaginative stories.

Here is an interview with Rae Tan where she talks about her book Pancakes for Plum.

My brain often thinks about book pairs and so as soon as I read this book a couple of months ago while browsing in a city bookstore I knew the perfect companion book. You could read the three books from this post as a part of a mini unit with your Grade One or Two students. And perhaps then add in another wonderful book by Julia Donaldson (that is not as well-known as her famous titles) The Magic Paintbrush. I also have a Pinterest of Picture Books with an Asian focus. 

The Empty Pot

You might also look for this one:

In a faithful retelling of an ancient Chinese folktale, Peng faces a dilemma. The emperor is old and childless, so he has decided to choose a successor from among the children. Calling them together, he gave each child a single seed and instructed them to nurture it for a year. After that time, they were to return to the palace and show what had grown. Despite careful and loving care, Peng’s seed has failed to even germinate. To avoid public humiliation, he tells his parents he doesn’t want to return to the palace. They tell Peng he should go and tell the emperor that he tried his best but failed. Each of the other children arrive carrying luxuriant plants with colorful flowers. The emperor inspects each one, but when he sees Peng’s vase and hears his report, he declares Peng his heir and discloses that the seeds he distributed could never sprout. Honesty and bravery are the qualities he sought in his successor. Only Peng had the courage to bring an empty vase and tell the truth. Source

The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks by Katherine Paterson illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon

The cruel lord captures the beautiful Mandarin Drake. His mate is back on the nest guarding their eggs. The drake is placed in a cage but over time his plumage fades as he is desperately missing his mate. The lord has no interest in the drake and so the bird is placed in a far corner of the grounds. A young servant girl cannot see this bird suffer and so late at night she sets him free. Another employee of the lord is accused of the crime but when they are discovered together, both are condemned to death. Luckily two mysterious strangers arrive with an edict from the Emperor that it now illegal to execute any prisoners. The pair begin the long march to see the Emperor in the city but who are these mysterious strangers? 

A beautiful fable about kindness and that expression 'one good turn deserves another'. 

This story contains such a rich vocabulary - brocade; brag; lustre; delicacies; radiantly; retainers; and plumage. 

Blurb from the author webpage: Brilliant watercolor and pastel paintings in the style of eighteenth-century Japanese woodcuts illuminate this engaging retelling of a popular Japanese folktale. Coveting a mandarin duck for his magnificent plumage, a greedy lord captures and cages him for all to admire. But the wild creature pines for his mate. When Yasuko, the kitchen maid, releases the bird against the lord’s command, she and the one-eyed servant, Shozo, are sentenced to death. How the grateful drake and his mate return the loving couple’s kindness and outsmart the capricious lord makes for a wondrous outcome.

Paterson tells (this story) with subtlety, grace, and her characteristic sensitivity to such troths as that "trouble can always be borne when it is shared." The Dillons, who have twice won the Caldecott Medal, have outdone themselves in these elegant, deftly limned illustrations in a Japanese style. In mellow, grayed hues and crisp black, each double spread appears in two borderless panels that allow the eye to make them one without catching in the gutter; the blocks of text are expertly incorporated in the handsome design. An outstanding contribution. Kirkus Star review

Image source

If you do have a copy of this book it would be good to share it with a group of Grade 3-5 students and then take some time to discuss the role of folktales to impart important wisdom. This video is not perfect but it is a way for you to hear the whole story and see the very special art by Leo and Diane Dillon. I think this book might still be available and in paperback for a good price. You can see more books by Katherine Paterson here. 

I think this book may have come from a charity book sale. I found it on the processing shelves of a library where I am working as a volunteer. Unfortunately, someone has torn out the front-end paper. I guess I will place this copy in a local street library rather than add it to my own bulging shelves. 

CBCA Book of the Year 2025 Awards

How did I go with my predictions?
Image source (you can see all the winners here)

Younger Readers - YES I did pick the winner BUT NO I did not pick the honour titles (see below)

Early Childhood Picture book - I picked ALL three but in the wrong order

Picture Book of the Year - I picked ONE of the three but not the winner

All up it as been quite controversial year for me. I did not like three of the Younger Readers shortlisted titles but the judges awarded honours to two of them!  I was absolutely certain Afloat would win the Picture book category - at least it did get an honour. But what happened to A Leaf Called Greaf - this is a book that should travel beyond our shores to other English speaking countries such as US, Canada, and UK. It can stand up with the very best books about life and grief and sadness and healing - a spectacular book. I do hope it reaches an international audience. 

For the first time I attended a 'live' event where the winners were announced along with a celebration of another initiative run by the CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) called shadow judging. I have mixed feelings about this program. These awards are designed to reward literary excellence. YES we do want our young readers to read and enjoy them and this might seem strange but this is not the main focus of the judging. The shadow judges (small teams of readers in a range of schools) read the six short listed books and then select their 'winner' based on criteria.

In contrast the 15 adult judges read hundreds of books and spend around 8 months reading, thinking, writing reports, and meeting to talk about the books. I worry that the hoopla over the shadow judging 'winners' detracts from the importance, and dare I say gravity, of the real awards. On the other hand I was impressed by the short reviews given by students at this event today - all of these students, who judged either Older Readers and Younger Readers, had very clearly thought deeply about the books and the themes and story structures. There were 12 Shadow Judges at the event today who each spoke for 3 minutes. There were 380 school teams - I am not sure if this is in NSW or across Australia. 

There was a loud cheer for Laughter is the best Ending and for The Truck Cat which I am sure every child there had enjoyed this year as the selected book for National Simultaneous Stort time. That means this book did have an extra special amount of exposure with our students in their schools and school libraries. I previously talked about Birdy, Spiro and South with the Seabirds.

Here are a few snippets of comments from the twelve students. I worked with some students from one of my local schools and I was thrilled to see the way her speech had incorporated ideas from every member of their Shadow Judging team.

Some comments by students:

• Narrative tension
• Another masterpiece
• Messy complicated relationships
• A book not just to be read - it is to be felt!
• Intriguing whirl-wind
• Relevant social commentary
• Evocative and realistic
• Cheeky humour
• Rich life lessons
• Real life situations
• Vivid portrayal of change
• Clever cover and word play in the title
• Resilience to cope with failure
• Easy to read and easy to follow the plot

Here are the 2025 honour titles:

One Dung Beetle

How to Move a Zoo

Afloat

These long-loved things

Some thoughts about the CBCA event today at the State Library of New South Wales:

• The lovely new auditorium holds 144 people. Unfortunately there were slightly too many people/students at the event and so adult visitors had to stand at the back. 
• Craig Silvey was one of the guest presenters but his contribution was via video. He did share the first chapter of his forthcoming sequel to Runt (CBCA Younger Readers winner in 2023). The new book is Runt and the Diabolical Dognapping.

• This does not matter at all but I did observe that of the twelve shadow judging student presenters most were from independent schools and only one was a boy. AND yippee it was the boy who bravely said his allocated book was not his favourite of the six Younger Readers short listed titles - his honesty was fabulous. (His choice was Laughter is the best Ending).

Here are the full details of the winners in the six categories (Source CBCA):