Children’s Book Council of Australia short list 2012

1. Children’s Book Council of Australia short list 2012

2. 365 Books read by 8 judges From May till February 2012. A huge range of categories including adventure, fantasy, family, school, history, humour and animal stories. OR 77 YR 130 EC 116 PB 130 Total 365 +EP 54

3. Judges conference Largs Pier, Adelaide March 29 – April 2, 2012 Short List announced April 3rd 2012

4. All Judges and award co-ordinators 8 fiction Judges – 1 from each state/territory. Chosen by members of each state branch of CBCA 3 Eve Pownall judges 2 Awards co-ordinators

5. Judges conference One category was discussed each day starting at 8.30 AM. First the books were held up, discussed and either rejected by a vote of at least four agreeing they were worthwhile for notable discussion. We then went through the reduced heap discussing the literary merits of each book. Then we voted with a show of hands to include them in the notables, 5 votes needed for inclusion. We then went through the notable heap and voted for the six short list books.

6. Deciding winner and honour books A secret ballot was used to decide the winner and honour books. The vote was on paper using descending values from 6 to 1. After much discussion and many scraps of paper we came to a final decision and the short list was set. The later afternoon was spent editing our pre-written annotations for the chosen notables books.

7. Short List announcement April 3, 2012 The eight fiction judges with South Australian Governor, Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce in the ballroom of Government House, Adelaide.

8. What were the judges looking for? Outstanding titles with literary merit. Language appropriate to the theme and style of the work with regard to the aesthetic qualities of language. Originality in the treatment of literary elements. Quality of illustrations, book design, production, printing and binding CRITERIA FOR ALL CATEGORIES

9. The 2012 early childhood Short List4 FEMALE AUTHORS, 2 MALE AUTHORS

10. The Runaway HugNick bland Ill. Freya Blackwood • Effective collaboration of text and images • Authentic family story • Simple, heart-warming narrative • Intricate, detailed illustrations • Suitable for EC and YR

11. Come down, cat! Sonya Hartnett ill. Lucia Masciullo • Hartnett’s text is lyrical and emotive • Masciullo’s images are expansive and sophisticated • Strong narrative drive supported by rich visuals • What is bravery? • Suitable for many ages

12. That’s not a daffodil! Elizabeth Honey • Gentle and endearing • Multicultural and multigenerational • Metaphorical and cyclic • Honey’s images and text support each other wonderfully • Suitable for all levels of EC

13. The last viking Norman Jorgensen ill. James Foley • Variety of viewpoints and perspective in the images • Strong narrative, with lots of text • Plucky resilient protagonist • Humour and irony evident • Includes issues such as bullying • Suitable for upper end of EC into YR

14. No Bears Meg McKinlay ill. Leila Rudge • Close relationship between literary and illustrated texts • Book about books • Clever witty and subversive • Visual clues • Suitable for many age groups

15. Rudie nudieEmma Quay • Bath time book • Illustrations are lively and active • Text rhyme works effectively when read aloud • Children are depicted as loved and safe • Parents are both evident • Colour palette suits subject matter and design • Fun, slightly daring • Suitable for young end of EC

16. EARLY CHILDHOOD JUDGING CRITERIA • Written for children who are pre-reading or early stages of reading • Outstanding books of fiction, drama, poetry or concept books. • Can be picture books, picture storybooks, or texts where illustrations play a major part in the storytelling or concept development.

17. The 2012 Younger Readers Short List. 5 Female authors, 1 Male

18. Crow Country Kate Constable • One of four time slip novels entered • Aboriginal aspects sensitively handled • Atmospheric and evocative • Dominant genres – mystery/family and friendship • Upper end of YR

19. The outcasts John Flanagan • Companion series to Ranger’s Apprentice focusing on the Skandians • Group of misfit boys team up and face challenges to prove their worth • Some humour and character development • Upper end of YR • Action sequences well described • Book one in the series that stands alone

20. Nanberry: Black brother white Jackie French • Historical narrative • Mostly set between 1789 – 1797 • Author’s notes provided • Clash of cultures – European and indigenous • Detailed and emotionally powerful • Upper end of YR

21. The Truth about Verity Sparks Susan Green • Gaslamp, sub-genre of steam punk, which is usually set in 19th C recently industrialised society. • Elements of paranormal, mystery, historical and adventure genres • Feisty, independent female protagonist • Effective blend of action and suspense • Upper end of YR

22. The Golden Door Emily Rodda • Classic Rodda fantasy • Detailed world building • Strong family connections and loyalties • Reluctant under-dog hero • First (stand alone) in a new series • Strong female character • Upper end of YR due to strong violence

23. Bungawitta Emily Rodda ill. Craig Smith • Australian rural setting • Iconic Australian humour and characters • Images integrated effectively • Drought affected country town • Community seeks ways to bring people to join or re-join the community • Inspirational and witty narrative • Middle range of YR

24. CRITERIA FOR YOUNGER READERS Outstanding books of fiction, poetry or drama. • For readers who have developed independent reading skills • These readers are still developing in literary appreciation. • A huge range of books from small books for newly confident readers up to more challenging novels. Generally for middle to upper primary students.

25. The 2012 picture book Short List. 3/3 Illustrators,1 male author 5 female.

26. Look, a book!Freya Blackwood text Libby Gleeson • Minimal ambiguous text • Metaphorical images • Use of framing and symbolism • The ‘red’ book • Readers bring own experiences to the book • Suitable for a wide age range

27. The dream of the thylacine Ron Brooks text Margaret Wild • Lyrical and dreamlike • Unusual contrasting structure • Mixed media • Effective use of repetition in words and poetic structure • Strong powerful message • Suitable for a wide range of audiences

28. For all creaturesRebecca Cool text Glenda Millard • Joyous celebratory text • Clever and inspirational use of repetition • Clear consistency of design • Effective collaboration between author and artist • Suitable for a wide range of audiences and purposes

29. A bus called heavenBob Graham • Distinctive illustrative style • Story of community working together • Multicultural harmony • Hopeful and humorous • Gentle and restrained • Suitable for all ages

30. No bearsLeila Rudge text Meg McKinlay • Images enhance the text, add to it, build on it • Story within a story • Bear around the edges • Magic and rescue • Quirky protagonist • Multiple reading levels

31. FloodBruce Whatley text Jackie French • Powerful and fitting images • Sophisticated yet minimal text • Faithfully recreates many familiar events and places • Raining and crying device used effectively • Useful narrative device – the dog • Suitable for a wide audience • Non fiction elements

32. CRITERIA FOR PICTURE BOOKS • Outstanding books where the author and illustrator achieve artistic and literary unity. • Can be wordless books where the story, theme or concept is unified through illustrations. • Balancing and harmonising: artistic style and graphic excellence; use of media and technique; colour, line, shape and texture; relationship between illustration and text; clarity, appropriateness and aesthetic appeal; quality of book design, production, printing and binding.

33. The 2012 Eve Pownall (information) Short List. 3 female authors, 3 mixed groups 54 books 15 Notables

34. The little refugee Ahn & Suzanne Do ill. Bruce Whatley • Adapted from Do’s autobiography ‘The Happiest Refugee’ • Illustrations reflect events by changing colours and tones • Clever emotive story-telling • Important narrative suited to all ages

35. One Small islandAlison Lester Coral Tulloch • Macquarie Island history • Detailed written text • Diversity of visual material • Brings an isolated environment to our view • Topics range from first hand historical accounts to most recent visitors • Includes all the components of non fiction • Environmental conservation messages

36. Surrealism for kidsQueensland Art Gallery • Produced by a huge team • Surrealism as a movement • Has a 60’s flavour and design • Includes four pages on six of the great surrealist masters • Striking production

37. Bilby secretsEdel Wignell ill. Mark Jackson • Narrative format • Factual information offered in a smaller and different font • Illustrative colours appropriate for the Australian desert • Suited for young children with a simple index in the back

38. FromellesCarole Wilkinson • A WW1 Battle usually included under the Battle of the Somme • Has an introductory section of fiction at the beginning of each chapter • Based on true experiences • Predominately non fiction • Secondary school years • Comprehensive bibliography

39. Playground compiled by Nadia Wheatley • 80 elders contributed • Life stories from the 20th century • Contributors are listed • Glossary and index • Includes stories from both well-known as well as everyday Indigenous people • Stories from Country • Column format • Illustrations and photographs add another dimension

40. CRITERIA FOR EVE POWNALL INFORMATION BOOKS • Outstanding books that have the prime intention of documenting factual material • Using imaginative presentation, interpretation and variation of style. • Balance and harmony of the elements: Style of language and presentation • Graphic excellence • Clarity, appropriateness and aesthetic appeal of illustrations. • Integration of text and graphics + overall design • Accuracy relevant to the current state of knowledge

41. The 2012 older readers Short List. 5 male, 1 female author

42. Ishmael and the hoops of steelMichael Gerard Bauer • Third in a series, but stands alone • Follows Ishmael through Yrs 11 and 12 • Rites-of-passage • Multicultural • Funny, funny, funny • References and parallels to Hamlet • Suitable for secondary school ages

43. A straight line to my heartBill Condon • Rural setting • Unusual but positive family arrangement • Tiff wants to be a journalist • Typically Australian, but does not fall into cliché or ‘ockerisms’ • Lots packed in, but tight and funny • Feel-good book • Suits Secondary school students

44. The golden dayUrsula Dubosarsky • Evocative language • Reminiscent of Picnic at Hanging Rock • Multi layered narrative with touches of humour • Beautifully captures a moment in time • Ambiguous mysterious epilogue • Could be used in upper primary, as well as secondary

45. The dead I knowScot Gardner • Dark and intense • Adolescent narrator suffering nightmares and anxiety • ‘Saved’ by a compassionate funeral director and his young daughter • Searing portrait of a dysfunctional life • Hopeful satisfying conclusion • Upper secondary students

46. The coming of the whirlpoolAndrew McGahan • First in a series of four fantasy novels • Focuses on a young boy’s adventurous journey to follow a seafaring life • McGahan’s love of ships and the ocean revealed • Vivid imagery and strong narrative • Detailed world building • Suitable for upper primary into secondary

47. When we were twoRobert Newton • Historical road trip • Close siblings Dan and younger brother Eddie • Runaways from a violent father • Rural NSW C WW1 • Meet a diverse cast of characters • Comedy and pathos

48. CRITERIA FOR OLDER READERS • Outstanding books of fiction, drama or poetry • The reader will be required to have a degree of maturity to appreciate the topics, themes and scope of emotional involvement • Appropriate in style and content for readers in secondary schooling up to 18 years. • Large range as 14 year olds and 17+ readers have widely differing levels of cognitive development

49. 2012 Notables Younger Reader 24 Early Childhood 23 Picture Book 27 Older Reader 22 Eve Pownall 15

50. With so many great books are we winning in literacy? • Yes and no! • According to the Education Review Journal article of 9 Dec.2009 Australia is the only OECD (Organisation for Economic co-operation and Development) country to show a significant decline in reading literacy performance from 2000 to 2009. • High socioeconomic kids are generally doing fine • Girls are going great but boys are trailing them • Low socioeconomic and country kids are up to 2-3 years behind • Indigenous kids are way behind