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Australian, New Zealand and Commonwealth Book Awards

See Also: International Book Awards

Look Database of Award-Winning Children's Literature



Children's Book Council of Australia Awards
 
Leaving DoEWA   Australian Children's Book of the Year Awards

The Australian Children's Book of the Year Award is presented annually by The Children's Book Council of Australia. It was first awarded in 1946. Until 1952 there was only a single award category, now there are five:
  • Picture Book of the Year
  • Book of the Year: Younger Readers
  • Book of the Year: Older Readers
  • Book of the Year: Early Childhood
  • The Eve Pownall Award for Information Books
The website contains information about the awards and and a list of current and past winners.

For information and ideas about Children's Book Week activities explore the CMIS
Children's Book Week site.

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Aurealis Online
 
Leaving DoEWA   Aurealis Award

Inaugurated in 1995, The Aurealis Awards for Excellence in Australian Speculative Fiction, recognise the achievements of Australian writers of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror.

Awards are presented in five divisions:
  • Science Fiction
  • Fantasy
  • Horror
  • Young Adult
  • Children (new division for the 2001 Aurealis Awards)
The Young Adult and Children's categories cover all three genres. For each division there is a Best Novel and Best Short Story Award.

For further information, a list of past winners and the current shortlist and winners go to the Aurealis Website above.


  Aurealis Award 2006 - A Selection of the Winners
Award rosette Golden Aurealis: Short Story
The Arrival by Shaun Tan
  Fantasy Short Story
A Fine Magic by Margo Lanagan
  Fantasy Novel
Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier
  Young Adult
Monster Blood Tattoo by DM Cornish
  Children's Short Story
The True Story of Mary who Wants to Stand on Her Head by Jane Godwin tied with:
Woolvs in the Sitee by Margaret Wild and Ann Spudvilas
  Children's Novel
Melissa Queen of Evil by Mardi McConnochie
   
   
  Aurealis Award 2005 - A Selection of the Winners
Award rosette Golden Aurealis: Young Adult Division
Alyzon Whitestarr by Isobelle Carmody

Golden Aurealis: Young Adult Short Story
Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case
by Garth Nix
in Across the Wall: Tales of the Old Kingdom and Elsewhere

Winner: Children's Long Fiction
Drowned Wednesday by Garth Nix

Winner: Children's Short Fiction
Piccolo & Annabel 2: The Disastrous Party
by Stephen Axelson
   
  Aurealis Award 2004 - A Selection of the Winners


Award rosette
Golden Aurealis [Selected from winners of the Divisions]
Singing My Sister Down

Short story by
Margo Lanagan in Black Juice.

Young Adult Best Novel
The Secret Hour
by Scott Westerfeld (Midnighters series)

Children's Best Long Fiction
How to Live Forever
by
Colin Thompson

Children's Best Short Fiction
Beneath the Surface
Picture Book by
Gary Crew & Stephen Woolman
   
  Aurealis Award 2003 - A Selection of the Winners


Award rosette
Young Adult Best Novel - Joint Winners
Abhorsen
by
Garth Nix (The Old Kingdom Trilogy Book 3)
[NOTE: Abhorsen was also winner of the Adult Fantasy Division]
Dragonkeeper
by
Carole Wilkinson

Shortlisted
The Silken Road to Samarkand
(The Sinbad Chronicles Book 2),
Janeen Webb
   
  Aurealis Award 2003
Award rosette Adult Horror
Born of the Sea
by
Victor Kelleher
   
  Aurealis Award 2003
Award rosette Children's Novel (8-12 years) - Winner
Mister Monday (Keys of the Kingdom Book 1
by
Garth Nix

Shortlisted

The Hollywood Mission (Max Remy Super Spy Book 4), Deborah Abela
Eustace, Catherine Jinks
Dragonkeeper, Carole Wilkinson
   
  Aurealis Award 2003
Award rosette Children's Short Fiction (8-12 years) - Winner
Lily Quench and the Lighthouse of Skellig Mor
by
Natalie Jane Prior

Shortlisted
Emily Eyefinger and the Balloon Bandits
by
Duncan Ball
Wolfchild, by Rosanne Hawke
Tashi and the Royal Tombs, by Anna & Barbara Fienberg, illustrated by Kim Gamble
Lily Quench and the Magician's Pyramid, by Natalie Jane Prior
   
  Aurealis Award 2002 - A Selection of the Winners
Award rosette Young Adult Best Novel - Winner
The Hand of Glory
by
Sophie Masson

Shortlisted
Fireworks and Darkness, by
Natalie Jane Prior
Mum, Me, the 19th C, by David McRobbie
The Starthorn Tree, by Kate Forsyth
   
  The Gift by Alison Croggan, was shortlisted in the Adult Fantasy and Horror categories
   
  Aurealis Award 2002
Award rosette Children's (8-12 years) - Winner
In the Garden of Empress Cassia
by Gabrielle Wang

Shortlisted
Eglantine, by Catherine Jinks
Rhianna and the Dogs of Iron, by Dave Luckett
Lily Quench and the treasure of Mote Ely, by
Natalie Jane Prior  
See also:
Lily Quench Internet Hideout
Astrid Spark, Fixologist, by Justin D'Ath
   
  Aurealis Award 2002
Award rosette Children's Short Fiction (8-12 years) - Winner
Tashi and the Haunted House
by
Anna & Barbara Fienberg, illustrated by Kim Gamble

Shortlisted
The Golden Udder, by
Terry Denton
The Two Natalie's, by Justin D'Ath
In the Blink of an Eye, by Andrew Chapman
Old Ridley, by Gary Crew and Marc McBride
   

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Crichton Award for Children's Book Illustration

Leaving DoEWA  Crichton Award 
This award first presented in 1988 and managed by the Victorian Branch of the CBCA is to acknowledge excellence and encourage new illustrators. Go to the CBCA site for further information including the current shortlist, past winners and a history of the award.

  Crichton Award 2007
Award rosette Vincent Agostino for When Elephants Lived in the Sea
Text by Jane Godwin
   
  Crichton Award 2006
Award rosette Jeremy Geddes for The Mystery of Eilean Mor
Text by
Gary Crew
   
  Crichton Award 2005
Award rosette Declan Lee for Wings
Text by Carol Chataway
   
  Crichton Award 2004
Award rosette Freya Blackwood for Two Summers
Text by John Heffernan
   
  Crichton Award 2003
Award rosette Naomi Mairou for The Dugong Meadow
   
  Crichton Award 2002
Award rosette Mini Goss for When Mum was Little
   
  Crichton Award 2001
Award rosette Caroline Magerl for Grandma's Shoes
   
  Crichton Award 2000
Award rosette Lorette Broekstra for Baby Bear Goes to the Zoo
   

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Dromkeen Medal
 
Leaving DoEWA   Dromkeen Medal

The Dromkeen Medal is awarded to an Australian citizen for recent work that makes significant contribution to the appreciation and development of children's literature.

  Dromkeen Medal 2006
Award rosette Walter McVitty Lecturer, publisher
   
  Dromkeen Medal 2005
Award rosette Roland Harvey  Illustrator, author, publisher
   
  Dromkeen Medal 2004
Award rosette Margaret Hamilton , Publisher, writer, editor, advocate
   
  Dromkeen Medal 2003
Award rosette Ivan Southall, Author
   
  Dromkeen Medal 2002
Award rosette Ann James, Illustrator
   
  Dromkeen Medal 2001
Award rosette Julie Watts, Publisher
   
  Dromkeen Medal 2000
Award rosette Paul Jennings, Author
   

The Dromkeen Medal is presented in February or March each year at the Courtney Oldmeadow Memorial Lecture and Dinner.

For further information about this award, go to the Dromkeen website above and look under News and Events in the dropwell.

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Environment Award for Children's Literature
[Wilderness Society of Australia]
 
Leaving DoEWA   Environment Award for Children's Literature

The Wilderness Society is a national, community-based, environmental advocacy organisation whose mission is to protect, promote and secure the future of wilderness and other high conservation areas.

The annual Environment Award, inaugurated in 1994, is open to fiction and non-fiction children's books published in Australia. Award trophies and certificates are presented to authors and illustrators of those books that best encourage an attitude of caring, wonder and understanding of the natural world, or those that promote an awareness of environmental issues.

  Environment Award 2007
Award rosette Picture Book
Uno's Garden
by Graeme Base
  Nonfiction Picture Book
Leaf Litter
by Rachel Tonkin
   
  Environment Award 2006
Award rosette

Secondary Fiction
Hope Bay by Nicole Plüss

Nonfiction Picture Book
The Big Picture Book by
John Long, illustrations by Brian Choo

   
  Environment Award 2005
Award rosette Picture Books - Joint Winners
Belonging by
Jeannie Baker
The World That We Want by Kim Michelle Toft

Nonfiction
The works of Greg Pyers
   
  Environment Award 2004
Award rosette Picture Books
The Extinction Series written by Gary Crew, Illustrated by Mark Wilson
I Saw Nothing: The Extinction of the Thylacine
I Said Nothing: The Extinction of the Paradise Parrot
I Did Nothing: The Extinction of the Gastric Brooding Frog

Nonfiction
Antarctica: The Heart of the World by Coral Tulloch

Lifetime Achievement
Tricia Oktober
   
  Environment Award 2003
Award rosette Fiction
Blotsville, by Mary Steele, illustrated by Jiri Tibor Novak
   
  Environment Award 2003
Award rosette Non-fiction
Solo Wildlife series by David Kennet (Omnibus Books)
   
  Environment Award 2003
Award rosette Publishing
Steve Parish for his outstanding contribution to environmental publishing
   
  Environment Award 2002
Award rosette Picture Book
Yellow-eye, by David Spillman, illustrated by Mark Wilson
   
  Environment Award 2002
Award rosette Non-fiction
Greg Pyers for his outstanding contribution to environmental nonfiction for children
   
  Environment Award 2001
Award rosette Non Fiction
The State of the Planet by John Nicholson
   
  Environment Award 2001
Award rosette Picture Books
The Hidden Forest
written and illustrated
by
Jeannie Baker
The Singing Hat
written and illustrated by
Tohby Riddle
   
  Environment Award 2001
Award rosette Senior Fiction
Remote Man
written and illustrated by Elizabeth Honey
   

For further information about this award, including short listed books and past winners go to the Wilderness Society website above.

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Miles Franklin Literary Award
 
Leaving DoEWA  Miles Franklin Literary Award

The Miles Franklin Award was established in 1954 with a bequest from Miles Franklin to promote excellence in Australian literature. At $42,000 it is the richest literary prize in Australia. It is award to the novel of the year of 'highest literary merit which presents Australian life in any of its phases.'

The website above contains judges formal comments, shortlist, author profiles, description of the novels and a list of past winners.

  Miles Franklin 2007 - Winner
Award rosette Carpentaria
by Alexis Wright
   
  Miles Franklin 2006 - Winner
Award rosette The Ballad of Desmond Kale
by Roger McDonald
   
  Miles Franklin 2005 - Winner
Award rosette The White Earth
by Andrew McGahan
   
  Miles Franklin 2004 - Winner
Award rosette The Great Fire
by Shirley Hazzard
   
  Miles Franklin 2003 - Winner
Award rosette The Journey to the Stone Country
by Alex Miller
   
  Miles Franklin 2002 - Winner
Award rosette Dirt Music
by
Tim Winton
   

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Psychologists for Peace
Children's Peace Literature Award
 
Leaving DoEWA  PFP Children's Peace Literature Award
The Children's Peace Prize is a biennial award, awarded by Psychologists for Peace, to promote the peaceful resolution of conflict by recognising and encouraging Australian authors of children's books with that theme. It was first awarded in 1987 to Gillian Rubinstein for her novel Space Demons.

Information about the award, list of winners and shortlists 1997-2005, and discussion ideas for parents and teachers are available on the Australian Psychological Society website.


  PFP Children's Peace Literature Award 2007
Award rosette Michael Gerard Bauer for Don't Call Me Ishmael
   
  PFP Children's Peace Literature Award 2005
Award rosette Kirsten Murphy for The King of Whatever
   
  PFP Children's Peace Literature Award 2003
Award rosette Irini Savvides for Sky Legs
   
  PFP Children's Peace Literature Award 2001
Award rosette James Moloney for Touch Me
   
  PFP Children's Peace Literature Award 1999
Award rosette Phillip Gwynne for Deadly, Unna?
   
  PFP Children's Peace Literature Award 1997
Award rosette James Moloney for A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove
   
  PFP Children's Peace Literature Award 1995
Award rosette Brian Caswell for Deucalion
   

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Vision Australia Foundation Library Awards
 
Leaving DoEWA   Vision Australia

The Vision Australia Foundation Library Awards were established in 1974 to encourage the production of current Australian literature in braille and audio formats. A list of current winners can be found on the Vision Australia site above by using the search term Library Awards in the search box on the home page.

Award categories are: Braille Book of the Year, Audio Book of the Year, Adult Narrator of the Year, Civica Young Adult Audio Book of the Year, Civica Young Adult Narrator of the Year.

  Vision Australia Foundation Library Awards 2002
Award rosette Civica Young Adult Audio Book of the Year
Willow Tree and Olive by Irini Savvides
   
   
Award rosette Civica Young Adult Narrator of the Year
Melissa Eccleston for Willow Tree and Olive
   

For a list of past winners browse the Louis Braille Audio site below.
 
Leaving DoEWA   Louis Braille Audio

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Western Australian Premier's Book Awards
 
Leaving DoEWA   WA Premier's Book Awards

Organised by the State Library, the WA Premier's Awards are open to writers who meet at least one of the following criteria:
  • Born in WA
  • Usual place of residence is WA
  • Resident in WA for a minimum of 10 years
  • Work has a WA primary focus
Prizes are awarded in various categories.
Winners announced in June.

   
  WA Premier's Book Awards 2006
Award rosette Premier's Prize and Children's Book
The Arrival by Shaun Tan
Young Adult Book
Destroying Avalon by Kate McCaffrey
   
  WA Premier's Book Awards 2005
Award rosette

Children's Books - Winner
Where's Stripey?
by Wendy Binks

Young Adult's Award - Winner
A Prayer for Blue Delaney
by Kirsty Murray

   
  WA Premier's Book Awards 2004
Award rosette Children's Books - Winner
A Home for Bilby
by Joanne Crawford & Grace Fielding
   
  WA Premier's Book Awards 2004
Award rosette Young Adult's Award - Winner
Fireshadow
by
Anthony Eaton
   
  WA Premier's Book Awards 2003
Award rosette Children's Books - Winner
The Legend of Lasseter's Reef
by
Mark Greenwood
   
  WA Premier's Book Awards 2003
Award rosette Young Adult's Award - Winner
Nights in the Sun
by
Colin Bowles
   
  WA Premier's Book Awards 2002
Award rosette Children's Books - Winner
The Legend of Moondyne Joe
Text by
Mark Greenwood, Illustrated by Frané Lessac
   
  WA Premier's Book Awards 2002
Award rosette Young Adult's Award - Winner
Feeling the Heat
by Pat Lowe
   
  WA Premier's Book Awards 2001
Award rosette Children's Books - Winner
The Yankee Whaler (My Story series)
by
Deborah Lisson
   
  WA Premier's Book Awards 2001
Award rosette Perth Independent Newspapers
Young Adult's Award - Winner

Obsession
by Julia Lawrinson
   
  WA Premier's Book Awards 2000
Award rosette Children's Books - Winner
Zarconi's Magic Flying Fish
by Kirsty Murray
[Kirsty is a Victorian writer whose novel is set in Western Australia]
   
  WA Premier's Book Awards 2000
Award rosette Dymock's Young Adult's Award - Winner
The Darkness
by
Anthony Eaton
   
  WA Premier's Book Awards 2000
Award rosette Nonfiction - Joint Winner
The Shark Net
by Robert Drewe

Of interest to older adolescent readers and teachers, is this joint winner of the nonfiction award. This nonfiction narrative brings Perth of the 1950s and 1960s alive. It was reviewed in Fiction Focus Vol. 14 No. 3 2000.
   


For further information about the awards, the complete shortlist and past winners browse the website above.


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New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults
 
Leaving DoEWA  New Zealand Post Children's and Young Adult Book Awards

Awards are presented to New Zealand books in five categories plus a "Book of the Year." Sponsored by New Zealand Post.
Formerly the AIM Children's Book Awards (Est. 1990).

   
  New Zealand Post
Children's Book Of The Year 2007
Award rosette

Junior Fiction Category
Thor's Tale by Janice Marriott

Picture Book Category
Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck!
by Kyle Mewburn, Ali Teo & John O'Reilly

Young Adult Category
Genesis
by Bernard Beckett

Best First Book Category
The Three Fishing Brothers Gruff written and Illustrated by Ben Galbraith

   
  New Zealand Post
Children's Book Of The Year 2006
Award rosette Overall Winner & Best Junior Fiction
Hunter by Joy Cowley

Picture Book Category
A Booming in the Night by Ben Brown & Helen Taylor

Young Adult Category
With lots of Love from Georgia by Brigid Lowry
   
  New Zealand Post
Children's Book Of The Year 2005
Award rosette Overall Winner & Best Picture Book
Clubs: A Lolly Leopold Story

Written by Kate De Goldi, Illustrated by Jacqui Colley

Young Adult Category
Malcolm and Juliet by Bernard Beckett

Junior Fiction
Aunt Effie and the Island that Sank by Jack Lasenby

Best First Book
Cross Tides by Lorraine Orman
   
  New Zealand Post
Children's Book Of The Year 2004
Award rosette Overall Winner
Bird in the Hand: Keeping New Zealand Wildlife Safe

by Jane Hunts
   
  New Zealand Post
Children's Book Of The Year 2004
Award rosette Junior Fiction Category
Juggling with Mandarins
by Vicky Jones
   
  New Zealand Post
Children's Book Of The Year 2004
Award rosette Young Adult Category
Thunder Road
by Ted Dawe
[Also Winner Best First Book]
   
  New Zealand Post
Children's Book Of The Year 2004
Award rosette Picture Book Category
Cuthbert's Babies by Pamela Allen
   
  New Zealand Post Children's Choice 2004
Award rosette Oh Hogwash, Sweetpea!
by Ngareta Gabel
   
  New Zealand Post Children's Book Of The Year 2003
Award rosette Overall Winner
Weaving Earth and Sky: Myths and Legends of Aotearoa
by Robert Sullivan, illustrated by Gavin Bishop
   
  New Zealand Post
Children's Book Of The Year 2003
Award rosette Junior Fiction Category
Buddy
by V. M. Jones
   
  New Zealand Post
Children's Book Of The Year 2003
Award rosette Senior Fiction Category
Alchemy
by Margaret Mahy
   
  New Zealand Post Children's Choice 2003
Award rosette Why do Dogs Sniff Bottoms?
by Dawn McMillan and Bert Signal
   
  New Zealand Post
Children's Book Of The Year 2002
Award rosette Overall Winner
The Plight of the Penguin

by Lloyd Spencer Davis
   
  New Zealand Post
Children's Book Of The Year 2002
Award rosette Picture Book Category
Brodie
by Joy Cowley,  Illustrated by Chris Mousdale 
[Also Winner Best First Book Illustrator]
   
  New Zealand Post
Children's Book Of The Year 2002
Award rosette Junior Fiction Category
Recycled
by Sandy McKay
   
  New Zealand Post
Children's Book Of The Year 2002
Award rosette Senior Fiction Category
Owl
by Joanna Orwin
   
  New Zealand Post
Children's Book Of The Year 2002
Award rosette Non-Fiction Category
The Plight of the Penguin
by Lloyd Spencer Davis
   
  New Zealand Post Children's Choice Dunedin
Award rosette Grandpa's Shorts
by Joy Watson and Wendy Hodder
   

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Man Booker Prize
 
Leaving DoEWA  Man Booker Prize

First awarded in 1968 the Booker Prize rewards the best novel of the year written by a citizen of the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland.

For information about the prize, an archive of winners, rules and contacts refer to the official website above.


  Man Booker Prize 2007
Award rosette The Gathering by Anne Enright.
   
  Man Booker Prize 2006
Award rosette The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai

Shortlisted
Carry Me Down by M.J. Hyland and The Secret River by Kate Grenville (both Australian)
   
  Man Booker Prize 2005
Award rosette The Sea by John Banville
   
  Man Booker Prize 2004
Award rosette The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst
   
  Man Booker Prize 2003
Award rosette Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre [Born in Australia, lives in Ireland]
This first novel is a satire about contemporary America
   
  Man Booker Prize 2002
Award rosette Life of Pi by Canadian Yann Martel

Shortlisted
Dirt Music by Australian Tim Winton
   
  Man Booker Prize 2001
Award rosette True History of the Kelly Gang by Australian Peter Carey
   

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Commonwealth Writer's Prize
 
Leaving DoEWA  Commonwealth Writer's Prize

To encourage and reward the upsurge of new Commonwealth fiction and ensure that works of merit reach a wider audience outside their country of origin, the Commonwealth Foundation established the Commonwealth Writers' Prize in 1987. 

The objectives of the prize are to promote new voices, reward achievement, encourage wider readership and greater literacy, thereby increasing appreciation of different cultures and building understanding between cultures

The Prize is awarded in four regions : Africa, Canada and Caribbean, Europe and South Asia and South East Asia and South Pacific. There is also an overall 'Best Book' award which is noted below. All other winners for the current year are available on the official website.

For information about the prize, an archive of all winners, rules and contacts refer to the official website above.

  Commonwealth Writer's Prize 2007
Award rosette Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones (NZ)
  Commonwealth Writer's Prize 2006
Award rosette The Secret River by Kate Grenville (Australia)
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