Gabrielle Wang 2022-23 Australian Children's Laureate

Huge congratulations to Gabrielle Wang who will be our new Australian Children's Laureate. 

Appointed every two years to promote the importance and transformational power of reading, creativity and story in the lives of young Australians, the Children's Laureate spends time speaking directly with children, education specialists, government ministers and librarians, in both metropolitan and regional communities.

Gabrielle’s key messages to children, parents and librarians 

1. Exercise your imaginations as much as possible by reading, writing and drawing.

2. Read books by diverse authors about diverse cultures.

3. Make your local and school libraries your favourite go-to places.

4. Get inspiration for your own art or stories by visiting art galleries.

I have talked about two of her books in previous posts:

Wishbird

The Beast of Hushing Wood

In this video Gabrielle talks about her books and her thoughts about the Laureate. Here are some other books by Gabrielle including her newest book due for release in May

About Gabrielle from Penguin Australia: Gabrielle Wang is an author and illustrator born in Melbourne of Chinese heritage. Her maternal great-grandfather came to Victoria during the Gold Rush and her father is from Shanghai. Her stories are a blend of Chinese and Western culture with a touch of fantasy.Gabrielle’s first children’s novel, The Garden of Empress Cassia, won the 2002 Aurealis Award, was shortlisted for the Queensland Premier's Literary Awards and was a CBCA Notable Book. The Pearl of Tiger Bay was shortlisted for the 2004 Aurealis Award and The Lion Drummer was a Notable Book in the 2009 CBCA Book of the Year Awards. A Ghost in My Suitcase won the 2009 Aurealis Award, was a CBC Notable Book, was shortlisted for the 2011 Sakura Medal and received a Highly Commended in the 2010 Prime Minister's Literary Awards. Her first young adult novel, Little Paradise also received a Highly Commended in the 2011 Prime Minister's Awards. 

Gabrielle's picture book The Race for the Chinese Zodiac (2010) illustrated by Sally Rippin and Regine Abos was a Notable Book in the CBCA Awards for 2011 and shortlisted for the 2011 YABBA and WAYBRA awards. Gabrielle has created two popular characters Poppy and Pearlie for the highly successful 2011 Our Australian Girl series.The Wishbird was a CBCA 2014 Notable Book and was shortlisted for the 2014 Australian Book Design Awards, Yabba Awards, Kroc Awards, Koala Awards, Cool Awards and Crystal Kite Award.

Gabi’s latest books include the suspenseful The Beast of Hushing Wood for middle readers, and a sequel to the award-winning A Ghost in my Suitcase, called Ting Ting the Ghosthunter.

Meet past Laureates in this video series from Story Box Library:

Alison Lester and Boori Monty Pryor (2012–13)

Jackie French (2014–15)

Leigh Hobbs (2016–2017)

Morris Gleitzman (2018–2019)

Ursula Dubosarsky (2020-2021)

Children's Laureates are now active in Italy, Finland, The Netherlands, Ireland, Mexico, Sweden and Wales. There are Reading Ambassadors in New Zealand and the United States.