CBCA 2019 Book of the Year Awards Winners

Today in Canberra we celebrated the 2019 CBCA Book of the Year Award at the National Library of Australia. 

What I love about this event is the opportunity to celebrate children's literature and to catch up with my tribe. 

Before the announcement of the winners, the audience was entertained by two talented group of students. 

Students from St Bede's Primary School, Braidwood, performed a voice and action montage showing how Reading is Our Secret Power. The students had the powers of strength, flexibility, speed but most importantly reading. With the secret power of reading they said, 'We can do anything with the power of reading.'  

The second performance was by students from Canberra Girls Grammar School, who retold the story of Noni The Pony Rescues a Joey by Alison Lester, using a great set of face masks.

Julie Long the CBCA ACT Branch President announced the recipients of two CBCA ACT Awards;

• The Children’s Book Council of Australia ACT Branch Prize for Children’s Literature for Literacy Prize
• Laurie Copping Award for Distinguished Service to Children’s Literature in the ACT

Lara Birch was awarded the The Children’s Book Council of Australia ACT Branch Prize for Children’s Literature for Literacy Prize. This prize is awarded to the best Australian Catholic University (Canberra Campus) undergraduate student who completes the Children’s Literature for Literacy unit.

Stephanie Owen Reeder was awarded the Laurie Copping Award for Distinguished Service to Children’s Literature in the ACT. Stephanie, an award winning author, received the award for her services for;

• promoting children’s literature,
• her dedication in bringing Australian history to life for children,
• working in schools, literary associations activities, Children’s Book Week activities, including her participation in the CBCA Outreach program to schools,
• writing, lecturing, debating on areas of children’s literature,
• assistance and encouragement to writers, illustrators and publishers of children’s books, 
• her work with the National Library of Australia as a writer and editor, including the book Story Time Stars: Favourite Characters from Australian Picture Books that will accompany the exhibition, Story Time: Australian Children's Literature 
• being a resource person for the community i.e. book review for The Canberra Times

Then 12 noon arrived and Julie could finally reveal the 2019 winners. Congratulations to all of this year's winners.

I'm pleased that two of the books I reviewed for Kids' Book Review in 2018 were awarded as Honour Books.

Book of the Year: Early Childhood Shortlist
Heads and Tails Insects by John Canty - KBR Review

'Canty has successfully given this timeless and popular topic an engaging and fresh feel. Head and Tail Insects will delight and engage a new generation of budding entomologists.' Kids' Book Review

Book of the Year: Picture Book Shortlist
The All New Must Have Orange 430 by Michael Speechley - KBR Review

'...is great read aloud, humorous and rhythmic story that tells a cautionary tale about the world of consumerism.' Kids' Book Review

I hope everyone has a wonderful Children's Book Week: Reading is My Secret Power.

An amazing group of authors, illustrators & storytellers!
Kerry Malone, Shelly Unwin, Julian Laffan, Tania McCartney,
Stephanie Owen Reeder, Holly Bidwell, Cate Whittle, Pauline Deeves
Tracey Hawkins, Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern, Dawn Shields (CBCA ACT Vice President) 

Krys Saclier, Jacqueline, Me, Holly, Shelly,
Cate, Tania, Tracey and Stephanie.
(Photo courtesy of Tania McCartney)