Australia’s best children’s picture book poll - vote now The Guardian Australia Part Three

Read about this here The Guardian Australia

This is my THIRD post about this, in my view, crazy project by The Guardian Australia. I talked about this on 28th November 2025 (some won't like my suggestions, but I didn't submit any as I totally forgot to do this) and I talked about it all again on 16th December 2025.

Yesterday I watched a video by one commentator filled with passion about the short comings of the book choices and this poll BUT once again I think everyone is missing a couple of crucial details. The post on Instagram has had 77 comments - this is a drop in the ocean of course in terms of people who might be interested enough to vote in this poll but many of the comments either amazed or enraged me. Who is this Instagrammer - her name is Shannon Wong-Nizic and she has 41.2K followers! 

Firstly, please go back and read the CRITERIA - again this is just my view - but the criteria are crazy and so many of the books suggested by readers of The Guardian Australia do not meet these stated 'rules'. One of the eliminated titles (as of today) has a famous UK illustrator - Helen Oxenbury.

To be eligible a book must be -

• Primarily intended to be read aloud to children who don’t yet read independently;
• Able to be read in a few minutes – we’re looking for a child’s picture book, rather than a graphic novel or illustrated chapter book;
• Written by an Australian (or someone we’ve claimed);
• Published in Australia.

Secondly - YES I am very happy to so any discussion about children's books and especially picture books but the notion of a winner fills me with despair and dread - in fact I think I am fairly sure I can predict the 'winner' quite easily.

Thirdly - barracking from the side lines. I guess this is okay - authors and illustrators begging people who follow them to vote for their book but only if the book does fit in with the criteria - especially the criteria able to be read in a few minutes to a child who does not yet read independently (which I have set as a child aged up to 6).

Fourthly - there were rules that should have been added but were left out - Should the book be in print? Should there be a date range so that older 'classics' that others are claiming are already famous (meaning those creators do not need book sales) might be eliminated or ineligible.

Fifth - should we talk about the sponsor of this 'competition'?  It is a bookshop and it is a bookshop I really like but is this okay? Also, I think it is possible to vote more than once each day - the ethics of this worry me too. 

My sixth point is WHY is this online newspaper doing this? I might be wrong but I am guessing this same poll idea was probably run in the UK and perhaps USA. I need a lot more transparency - who suggested the original books on the list? Did this 'paper' approach anyone with any level of authority about this important topic? Why haven't they reiterated their criteria? - Yes I am back on that hobby horse again.

Finally what will happen with this is over? I surmise nothing will happen. In a week or two it will all be forgotten or maybe an opportunistic publisher will make a bright book sticker that declares their book was the lucky winner. Will they ever run this again? Probably not because why bother? The book list of titles to vote for probably won't change very much and it will not surprise me if the same book wins again.

Here are some points made by Shannon on her Instagram video and my comments - under headings of positive and negative - but I still think she has missed a key issue - yes I am going to say it for the third time in this post - go back to the criteria.

GOOD

• The BEST thing about a poll like this, is that it gets us talking about books and reading.

BAD

• An inherent flaw in a list like this, is that obviously most of us haven’t read every book on the list.

(There were only two I hadn't read of the fifty)

• It’s absolutely fine to vote for a book published in 1983. But in my heart of hearts, I hope that you’ve also read a whole heap of new children’s releases and been regularly visiting bookshops and libraries and reading a diverse range of picture books to young readers since then.

(I agree but this is a fault of the silly way this has been set up not a fault of the audience)

• Also, I LOVE Pamela Allen books as much as the next Kindy teacher, but 3 books on the list feels like overkill. Also, isn’t she technically a Kiwi? Are we just claiming her as our own now? How very Australian of us.

(I agree about this point and I raised the issue of multiple titles by one author in my first blog post - also yes Pamela Allen in my view is from New Zealand)

• Feel the nostalgia but think about the modern Aussie kid.

(The nostalgia has arisen because there were no rules about this and also who suggested these titles - parents, grandparents etc).

Here are a few of the comments made to Shannon that resonated with me:

• I'm not sure the selection process for the starting list but I wish the list was not so narrow to begin with.
• Great to be talking books, but there are so many brilliant books and creators not getting the fanfare they deserve.
• Wow just checked out the list and there are far too many classics. I think we know the demographic of The Guardian's readers.

Here are the first twenty books that have been eliminated - each day five books with the lowest votes is removed from the voting list.

Am I upset about any of these? 

No - The Rabbits by John Marsden and Fox by Margaret Wild are both books for readers aged 10+ 

I love Whistle up the Chimney but it is way too old and of little appeal to modern children.

Tomorrow I expect John Brown, Rose and the Midnight cat will be cut - and that is okay with me - I adore this book but it is not designed for very young readers.

Many, though not all, of the eliminated books you can see in the image above were never intended for  very young children.

The Magpie Riddle: A Goldfish Boy Mystery by Lisa Thompson

Melody and her mum live in a Chestnut Close. The houses form a semi circle and so naturally everyone knows everyone. Near the street there is a old graveyard and Melody likes to wander through with her dog Frankie. Melody has one friend in the street - a boy called Matthew. We met him in the first book. Jake also lives in Chestnut Close but he speaks very bluntly to Melody and he almost feels like a bully at times. He also seems to be taking Matthew away from Melody. Then Melody meets Hal. Hal is a boy with a strange story. He is living in an old abandoned house at the back of the graveyard. He tells Melody he works for a spy agency and that he is reporting on the activities of a jewelry thief. Some of his story seems quite impossible but Hal persuades Melody that he does work for MI8 and he enlists her help to decode mysterious riddles that are left in the graveyard.

Melody, herself, has her own life problems. Her father left the family some time ago in awful circumstances. Now mum is trying to sell their house. Melody misses Matthew too.

A neighbor decides everyone should help to clear up some weeds in the graveyard but Melody is worried the adults will find Hal. She needs to call on Matthew and also Jake to help her move Hal into an empty house in Chestnut Close. But Mr Charles has the only key and Mr Charles also seems to be holding onto a letter from Melody's dad. 

Blurb from author page: Melody Bird has discovered an old, abandoned house in the corner of the graveyard, and a mysterious boy called Hal who is hiding out there… Hal tells her that he’s a spy-in-training, using the house as a base for his undercover surveillance of a known local criminal. Her friends Matthew and Jake don’t believe that a teenager would be entrusted with this mission and turn the tables to spy on him, uncovering secrets and unravelling a mystery as they go.

In the US this book has a different cover and title:

Take a look at the Kirkus review

I confess I wrecked my own reading of this book by, early into the reading experience, jumping to the final pages to preview the ending. My reaction to this book is less positive than the first installment. There were a few too many 'issues' and the idea (spoiler alert) that a child could be totally hidden from the system seems a little too farfetched. If this was at all possible I needed Hal to be more confused about 'real life' and also I did worry that he was not getting enough food! My labels on this post will give you some idea of the 'issues' faced by the main characters.

When I spotted this book I recognised the series - The Goldfish Boy. Here is my previous post:

The Goldfish Boy

Kirkus Star review

Here is the third book in the series and I think Lisa Thompson has a plan for a fourth title:

Blurb: When a skeleton is found buried in an elderly neighbour’s garden, Matthew, Melody and Jake are determined to discover its identity and who was responsible for its death. At the same time, the long-lost son of the neighbour arrives, with his young son in tow. But are the pair really who they are claiming to be – or are they imposters? As the kids investigate, they uncover incredible secrets and a plot to stash some priceless jewels on the Close…

Here is the webpage for Lisa Thompson. I do think this series have very appealing covers. 

Ava's Poppy by Marcus Pfister

Ava's Poppy was published in 2012 but it is a new discovery for me - that is why I LOVE libraries. This is a simple story about a little girl who finds and loves a beautiful red poppy flower. She cares for it tenderly and carefully. Sadly, the flower does eventually die. But do not despair because the power of nature means that spring comes again and a new flower emerges. Make sure you take time to compare the front and back end papers. 

Bookseller blurb: Ava is delighted when she discovers a brilliant red poppy in the middle of her yard.

She sits with the little flower in the sunny days of summer and shields it from the rain, until one day the petals start to drop and the tiny flower fades away. But when spring comes again... Ava is surprised anew.

Though this could be a sad story, the author finds a way to end the tale on a high note that is full of hope. Through the Looking Glass

The art in this book really stands out. It is quite different from other books by the well-known illustrator Marcus Pfister (Rainbow Fish). The original title is Lisas Mohnblume.

Here is part of the Publisher's Weekly book review of Ava's Poppy:

"Employing a gentle tone, Pfister encapsulates the circle of life in this sweetly simple story about a girl’s fondness for a flower. When ginger-haired Ava spies a bright red poppy in the field near her home one summer day, she recognizes it as both a thing of beauty and a new friend. Weeks pass, and faithful Ava “looked after her friend with tender loving care,” protecting it from the wind, shielding it from rain, and watering it. The flower eventually turns brown and withers, and Ava marks the sad occasion by burying the plant and arranging a ring of memorial stones in the poppy’s special spot. The subsequent spring brings with it a welcome new friend where the old one used to be, as readers will likely guess."

If you want to read a different perspective on this book take a look at the Kirkus review.

Marcus Pfister was born in Bern, Switzerland. After studying at the Art School of Bern, he apprenticed as a graphic designer and worked in an advertising agency before becoming self-employed in 1984. His debut picture book, The Sleepy Owl, was published by North South in 1986, but his big breakthrough came 6 years later with The Rainbow Fish. Marcus illustrated over 50 books, which have been translated into more than 50 languages and received countless international awards.

Koala Lou by Mem Fox illustrated by Pamela Lofts

"There was once a baby koala so soft and round that all her saw her loved her. 

Her name was Koala Lou."

One hundred times a day her mother would say 'Koala Lou, I DO love you!'. But over time more babies arrive and Koala Lou's mother becomes very busy. She no longer stops to say 'I do love you' although of course she did. Koala Lou wants her mother to hug her again so she decides to enter the Bush Olympics. If she can win then her mother will surely say 'I do love you' once again. 

"It was Koala Klaws who went first. Her climb was a record-breaking twenty-two metres in seventy seconds flat. The spectators whistled and cheered and wildly waved their holiday hats."

Now it is time for Koala Lou. 

"But she wasn't fast enough. In spite of all her training and all her hoping, it was Koala Klaws who won the gum-tree climbing. Koala Lou came second. Koala Lou went off and hid. She heard the shouts of the Bush Olympics and cried her heart out."

I think you will be able to guess how this story ends - with those all important words - Koala Lou I DO love you. Yes - that is the illustration on the cover - it comes right at the end of the book.

This book is a perfect ambassador for Australia - on this page you can see our Flannel Flowers and Kangaroo Paws (flowers) and animals in the story include the platypus, emu and in the illustrations you will spy a quoll, bilby, numbat, possum, Tasmania devil, and a galah.

Bookseller blurb: There was once a baby koala, so soft and round that all who saw her loved her. Her name was Koala Lou. Koala Lou is the first born in a large family. She feels sad because her mother seems too busy to pay her any attention. Perhaps if she wins the tree-climbing at the Bush Olympics her mother might notice her again . . . Koala Lou starts her training right away!

Mem Fox talks about writing this book here. She says: A grueling two years and 49 drafts later, the final 585 words of Koala Lou were published ...  You can see a full set of books by Mem Fox here. 

There are quite a few videos of Koala Lou - if you need to 'read' the book this way try to find one with an Australian voice. The toy of Koala Lou is no longer available.

A few days ago, I listed some books you could share with your child or in your library about Australia perhaps for Australia Day (26th January) and one I mentioned was Koala Lou. This means I discovered I had not talked about this book which is such fun to read aloud.

In 2023 Koala Lou (1988) was 35 years old and a special anniversary edition was released:

And here is the US cover:

Pamela Lofts (1949-2012) is also famous for Wombat Stew, Hunwick's Egg and Sail Away: The Ballad of Skip and Nell.

Blurb: The dingo pair set out to sea - their hearts were beating fast. Their boat was but a redgum log with neither sail nor mast. Follow intrepid adventurers, Skip and Nell, as they travel round Australia 

on their way to that boat race way out west.

Oscar's Half Birthday by Bob Graham

"Today is Oscar's birthday. Well, not really his birthday - he is six months old. The truth is no one can wait for his whole birthday."

I have been reading and re-reading all of my Bob Graham books for a secret project. I have talked about or at least mentioned Oscar's Half Birthday here on this blog many times but I didn't have a post exclusively about this wonderful story. 

You might like to begin by stretching the cover out to see front and back. Oscar is sitting with his cake  and half a candle on the cover while his sister Millie heads over to him with her trademark dinosaur glove and fairy wings. By the way we later discover it is a chocolate cake - yum. 

The title page also stretches over two spreads and as it often the way with city scenes by Bob Graham there are so many tiny details to explore such as the lady sunbaking on her roof; the shops such as Guitar city which has a huge guitar on the roof, the donut on the donut shop and the burger on the top of Burgerland; you will also see several washing lines on the top of high city buildings and flocks of pigeons (Bob Graham puts pigeons in so many of his scenes).

Now zoom in on the same page and you will see a small hill with a park on the top - this is where we are heading for the birthday - up to Bellevue Hill - but first we need to meet the family so turn the page. Dad is wrapping the tuna sandwiches for their picnic and mum is sitting with Oscar and his big sister Millie on their comfy couch. 

The walk across the city involves crossing a pedestrian bridge. You can also see one of these in Queenie the Bantam and Spirit of Hope. They set out their picnic and everyone admires young Oscar and also Millie's fairy wings but even better when the family start to sing Happy Birthday everyone around the park joins in. 

After the singing we have a full page illustration of Oscar and these beautiful lines:

"Oscar sits titled at an angle, his fingers curled into Millie's tuna sandwich. HIs shoulders are hunched, his head nods and the sun shines through his ears, lighting them up like little lanterns."

Back at home the kids have a bath - notice the candles in the soap dish. Millie gifts her dinosaur glove briefly to Oscar and we learn that the next birthday will be Millie herself with four candles on her cake.

This is a book to own, cherish and read on the occasion of every birthday in your family while your kids are young. 

Graham magnificently captures the essence of a six-month-old: “Oscar frowns in the dim light—six different expressions on his face in the time it takes a leaf to fall.” Millie is an adorable older sister, clearly infatuated with Oscar. Kirkus

Talking about another Bob Graham book (The Concrete Garden) Kirkus said his work is:

Deft, understated loveliness.

I am sure you are familiar with Bob Graham but if not here is a good summary of some of his titles from The School Library Journal. 

The Water Lotus: The journey of a lotus seed by Yingting Chen illustrated by Huaqing translated by Adam Casciaro and Liu Yinan

Last week it was International Flower Day - who knew? I saw this post from my friend at Kinderbookswitheverything. She shared some terrific picture books and last week we set up a display of her books which feature flowers. This one about the lotus flower caught my eye.

The cover of The Water Flower is so appealing with pastel tones of pink and pale green and gold lettering. This is one of those 'newish' style nonfiction books that combines a simple narrative and small text which goes into more scientific details so this is a book you could share with a young child aged 5+ or with a high school botany or biology student. There are also two double spreads in this book with no words - just glorious art. My only comment would be that I would have loved a glossary - but along the way I discovered words like corolla, pistil, stamen, node, and I now know a little about how lotus plants get oxygen even though they are growing under water. Teacher-Librarians might take a closer look at the books in their library collection to see just how many are about flowers and their life cycles - examples perhaps beyond the usual one of the sunflower. 

Publisher blurb: From its beginnings in a peaceful pond, The Water Flower chronicles the journey of a sleepy seed that awakens in spring, pushing through its shell to grow leaves reaching for the sunlight. As summer arrives, it blooms into a stunning flower, opening and closing its petals each day, attracting passing insects. After completing its beautiful display, the flower fades, revealing new seeds inside a pod, ready to begin the cycle again. This story offers a glimpse into the lotus seed's remarkable transformation across seasons.

See inside this book here

Lyrical language and artful illustrations present the life of a lotus and the resilience it represents. A lotus seed falls into the soil and drifts into a deep sleep. It awakens, unfurling tender buds and wide green leaves. Then, the flower blooms, its brilliant petals opening to the sun. And soon enough, another lotus seed falls, starting the cycle all over again… This is a book to share with children of different ages. Reading Rockets

Follow the lotus through the seasons, see each step of its journey, and discover the endless life cycle of this beautiful flower. Beautiful artwork highlighted with foil on the jacket brings the science of a lotus flower’s life cycle to vivid life. The fascinating facts about the beauty and resilience of a lotus seed’s transformation will help inspire a lifelong love of the natural world. YA Books Central

The main narrative in larger print tells the story of the flower, with botanical terms relating to the functions and anatomy of the plant being in a smaller print. Particularly lovely are the wordless double spreads, one showing leaves soaking up the sunlight with a bird sheltering beneath, the second shows several stages in the cycle- bud, flowers and seed head – in one scene. Books for Keeps

The life cycle of the lotus begins with its seeds. Lotus seeds are small and black and come from the lotus plant’s flower. The lotus plant is adapted to grow in many different types of habitats, from murky ponds to sunny riverbanks. As a result, it has developed a method for ensuring that its seeds have the best chance of germination. The method used by the lotus is to produce many seeds. By releasing large quantities of seeds into the environment, the plant increases its chances that at least a few of them will find the ideal conditions for growth and avoid consumption by aquatic life. In addition, lotus seeds are very durable and can remain viable for many years. This allows the plant to survive even harsh conditions that would kill most other plants. 

As a result of these adaptations, the lotus is one of the most successful plants in the world. Lotus seeds germinate in the mud usually at the bottom of bodies of water. Once the seeds are released, some will begin to germinate in wet soil or water beds. It can take anywhere from two weeks to two months for the seeds to germinate. After germination, they begin to sprout. A tiny seedling will emerge from the seed coat, and roots will start to grow down into the mud. The seedlings will then start producing leaves, which will rise to the water’s surface. The lotus plant will continue to grow, growing more leaves and flowers, until it eventually reaches the surface of the water. The lotus flower typically blooms for only a few days for pollination to occur. Each day the flowers bloom, at nightfall they will close up and sink back into the water or mud only to re-emerge beautifully intact the following day. Source Earth.com

Australia Day Awards and Children's Literature

Graeme Base

Publications include: 

• Eye to Eye, Penguin Australia, 2015.  
• Little Bug Books, A series of six toddlers' books; Penguin Australia, 2014, 2016.  
• The Last King of Angkor Wat, Penguin Australia, 2014.  
• My First Animalia, Penguin Australia, 2013.  
• Co-Author, Breather, Penguin Australia, 2013. 
• Little Elephants, Penguin Australia, 2012.   
• The Jewel Fish of Karnak, Penguin Australia, 2011.  
• The Legend of the Golden Snail, Penguin Australia, 2010.  
• Enigma, Penguin Australia, 2008. 
• The Discovery of Dragons: New Research Revealed, Penguin Australia, 2007.  
• Uno's Garden, Penguin Australia, 2006.  
• The Waterhole, Penguin Australia, 2001.  
• The Discovery of Dragons, Penguin Australia, 1996.  
• The Sign of the Seahorse, Penguin Australia, 1992.  
• The Eleventh Hour, Penguin Australia, 1989. 
• Illustrator, Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky, Penguin Australia, 1987. 
• Animalia, Penguin Australia, 1986. 
• My Grandma Lived in Gooligulch, Penguin Australia, 1983.  

Stephanie Owen Reeder

Story Time Stars

Rakali of the Riverbank

Sally Odgers - Sally Odgers is a Tasmanian author and manuscript assessor. She was born in Tasmania in 1957 and has written over 400 books.

Eliza Hull - Eliza Hull is an award-winning musician, writer, and disability advocate. She is the creator of the ABC podcast series We’ve Got This about parenting with a disability. She also edited and created the book with the same title We’ve Got This: Essays by disabled parents which features parents who identify as disabled, Deaf or Chronically Ill.  She is a contributor in the Growing up Disabled in Australia and Teacher Teacher anthologies, and her award-winning children’s book Come Over To My House, and its companion, The World We Can Build (co-authored by Sally Rippin and illustrated by Daniel Gray-Barnett), authentically represent various families with disability. A writer for the ABC, Eliza is also a regular television and radio guest, using her lived experience of disability to reduce stigma.

Patricia Pledger - for service to children's literature. Pat Pledger is a director of Pledger Consulting and editor of the ReadPlus blog. Previously, she has been a school library coordinator and English teacher. She is keenly interested in the promotion of reading and has presented conference papers about literature activities at national and international conferences. She also reviews for the South Australian English Teachers’ Association and the School Libraries Association of South Australia.

The Australia Day 2026 Honours List recognizes and celebrates 949 Australians, including awards in the Order of Australia (General and Military Divisions), meritorious awards, and recognition for distinguished and conspicuous service. This year's list includes 680 recipients of awards in the General Division of the Order of Australia, with 187 Meritorious awards, 10 AM and 12 OAM in the Military Division, and 60 distinguished and conspicuous awards. Notable recipients include Olympic legend Cathy Freeman, who has been appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia, and former premiers, community champions, and mental health trailblazers. The youngest recipient is Nicholas Alexander Pearce, a 32-year-old co-founder of HoMie Streetwear Store, which supports young people affected by homelessness and hardship. The eldest living recipients are Janina Archabuz and Derrick Hammon, both at age 99, recognized for their community service in Melbourne and Canberra, respectively.