Media Release - Book of the Year winners announced

Poster - Book of the Year award winners 2008

The Book of the Year concept was an idea proposed by a member of Speech Pathology Australia.  Speech Pathology Australia awarded the inaugural Book of the Year in 2003 and Council endorsed the award as an annual event.

The intention of Book of the Year is to:

• Enhance people’s awareness of the role speech pathologists play in literacy development.
• Gradually develop a nationally recognised pool of books that speech pathologists can recommend for the development of oral language and speech and/or sound awareness.
• Promote the Association with the Book of the Year award ceremony.

List of nominated books for 2008

The ceremony for the award winners, Tuesday 26 August in Adelaide, celebrates the authors, their books’ promotion of literacy development and the joy of reading.

And the winners are…

Best Book for Language Development:

Young Children 2-5 years

 

Is Your Grandmother a Goanna? By Pamela Allen

One day a little boy sets out on a train to visit his grandmother. But at each station he is met by a different animal… ‘No!’ his grandmother is not a gorilla, an elephant, a walrus – or a goanna!
Chuffa, Chuffa, Chuffa, Chuffa, the train steams on, until finally there she is at the very last station.
Playful and engaging, using fun sound effects, clever rhyme and deliberate repetition, this book is designed to be read aloud and shared.  Children are encouraged to use their own language to actively participate at each station and are kept entertained by the outrageous suggestions of who the boy’s grandmother might be.
Use the beautiful illustrations to chat with your children about the journey and the larger-than-life characters who appear.   Join the fun and make plenty of noise on this surprising train journey!  
(Penguin Group Australia)

Best Book for Language Development:

Lower Primary 5-8 years

Going Bush By Nadia Wheatley & Ken Searle

Going Bush is the result of the ‘Harmony Project’ of author Nadia Wheatley and artist Ken Searle with children of various backgrounds.  As well as experiencing the harmony of the environment, the children learnt about the harmony between the traditional owners and the land, and found harmony in friendship, communication and collaboration.
The book showcases the children’s journey through their own words, poems, illustrations, and photography, embroidered with the narrative voice of Nadia Wheatley and the art of Ken Searle.
We should have harmony among people who live on this beautiful planet. We should make friends with people we don’t know. We should play, share and have trust with everyone. - Mohammed
Going Bush encourages in-depth discussion about environmental and political issues and demonstrates the power of open communication to break down barriers.   
(Allen & Unwin)

Best Book for Language Development:

Upper Primary   8-12 years

Stride's Summer By Jenni Overend

The telephone was hanging loosely from her hand.
‘Mum?’ Stride’s voice was low and throbbed in his throat. ‘Mum?’...
She didn’t answer.

Stride must overcome more than just his grief at the loss of his father - he has to learn to let go, trust others and even put his own life at risk.
A story grounded in reality, Stride’s Summer uses everyday language to which older children can relate.  The author provides insight into human emotion while cleverly exploring issues faced by this age group including grief, change, growing up and the sacrifices people make for those they love.
The story is enhanced by the development of strong characters with whom the reader can connect.  The language used develops suspense and ensures readers keep turning the pages until the very end.  
(Allen & Unwin)