The Wait is Over!!
Announced today! The shortlists for the Children’s Book Council of Australia awards for 2007. In the Older Readers category, there is great variety with a humorous look at family life from Lisa Shanahan, My Big Birkett; an intriguing look at recent history by award winning Ursula Dubosarsky, The Red Shoe; and a selection of short horror stories from Margo Lanagan, Red Spikes – the third in a series. Combine these with Michael Gerard Bauer’s humorous tale in Don’t Call Me Ishmael; Judith Clarke’s well-woven tale of teen angst and love, One Whole and Perfect Day; and the beginning of a new fantasy trilogy by D.M.Cornish, Monster Blood Tattoo, and you have an interesting collection!!
Of course, there are categories for Younger Readers, Early Childhood, Picture Book and the Eve Pownall Award for Information Books. Among many of these, we see some old favourites, like Jackie French and, no surprises, Shaun Tan. Alongside there are also some interesting titles – like All Cats have Aspergers, Woolvs in the sitee, and Doodledum Dancing! Also available from the CBCA website is a list of 91 notable books for 2007. This provides a great selection of books from which to choose for those who are participating in the school’s Reading Challenge. All good reasons to view the lists at: http://www.cbc.org.au/short07.htm
The CBCA also announced the opportunity for readers to participate in voting this year.In a new initiative, the Council launched the CBCA JUNIOR JUDGES PROJECT – a development to encourage children to take part and judge this years’ short list, based on the criteria used by the CBCA judges. Therefore, students from all over Australia can be involved in this year’s judging process!! Will you take the opportunity to vote?
Interestingly, 5 of the 6 authors who are shortlisted this year for the ‘Older Readers’ category have had the honour of being shortlisted in the past. Do you think that is why they were chosen? Or has their success in the past encouraged their writing? Are they simply good writers?
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