Book of the Year Awards 2011

Book of the Year Awards 2011

Top authors awarded for excellence in children’s language and literacy development in Darwin

Speech Pathology Australia today awarded four authors for excellence in the development of children’s speech, language and literacy skills at a ceremony in Darwin.

Authors Carol Goess (Can we lick the spoon now?), Elizabeth Frankel (Hairy Nose Itchy Butt) and Morris Gleitzman (Now) received a Speech Pathology Australia’s 2011 Book of the Year Award, while representatives from the One Arm Point Remote Community School were present to receive the inaugural Best Book for Language & Literacy Development - Indigenous Children award for their book ‘Our World: Bardi Jaawi Life at Ardiyooloon’.

“Literacy is a fundamental life skill - poor literacy skills make it difficult to access an education, find a job and even take part in the community,” said Speech Pathology Australia National President, Christine Stone.

“Research has found that between 7 and 8 million Australians are in danger of being confined to low-wage jobs with little prospect of improvement due to literacy difficulites, highlighting the importance of developing children’s language and literacy from an early age.”

“This is especially important in the Indigenous community - the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous children is depressingly wide, and continues to widen with each year. By the age of 15, more than one-third of Australia’s Indigenous students will not have adequate literacy skills to meet real-life challenges, something we hope our new award will draw attention to and help address.”

“As the peak professional body for speech pathologists, Speech Pathology Australia is in a unique position to recommend books to parents and educators that can assist children’s speech, language and literacy development.”

Speech pathologists play a vital role in the development of key speaking and listening skills, including awareness of the sounds in words and language comprehension. These skills provide the foundation on which literacy is built and each year, Speech Pathology Australia selects four children’s books based on their appeal to children, educational value, graphics and design, as well as their ability to facilitate communication, interaction and discussion.

The Awards, which began in 2003, were presented at the Millner Primary School in Darwin on Tuesday 18 October.

The ceremony was opened by Darwin Lord Mayor Graeme Sawyer and the winning authors read from their books.

Each year, Speech Pathology Australia awards four Australian authors the “Best Book for Language & Literacy Development” in the categories – Young Children, Lower Primary, Upper Primary and Indigenous Children.  

Each award is based on the book’s appeal to children, interactive quality and ability to assist speech pathologists in communication and literacy development.

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 Awards 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 Awards ceremony.

 

 

Member Resources - Book of the Year Awards - media releases, promotional items

  Factors to consider when nominating books

  Past Winners of Book of the Year

 

2011 SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED

We are very proud to annouce our shortlist for this year's awards.  To skip to a category, click on the title below.

To read the media release regarding the announcement of the shortlist, click here.

The judging process is now underway and we look forward to officially announcing the winners of this year's awards at a ceremony at the Millner Primary School in Darwin on Tuesday 18 October, 2011.

 

Young Children

A Giraffe in the Bath
Mem Fox & Olivia Rawson, ill. Kerry Argent – Penguin Group (Australia)

A sheep in the shower?
A roo on the loo?
A giraffe in the bath?
Now does that make you laugh?

This book is full of appealing characters and uses rhyme, rhythm and repetition to gently lead into working on language and phonological awareness.  It’s humourous and the appealing language and vocabulary are sure to bet a hit with youngsters.

 

The ABC Book of Cars, Train, Boats and Planes
Helen Martin, Judith Simpson & Cheryl Orsini – Harper Collins Publishers Australia

Hoot! Toot! Zoom! Brrm!
Look and listen to the traffic of highways, railways, waterways and airways.
Come and explore the busy and exciting world of transport.

This well-presented book is great for young children, using highly relevant vocabulary, linking to daily activities and encouraging imagination and curiosity for the world around us. 

 

Can We Lick the Spoon Now?
Carol Goess, ill. Tamsin Ainslie – Working Title Press

What’s the best thing about making a cake?
Licking the spoon, of course!
What’s the worst thing about making a cake?
Waiting!

Can We Lick the Spoon Now? is a question we have all asked – especially as children.  Relating to a familiar activity, it will appeal to young children and uses relevant vocabulary to introduce children to sequential narrative.

 

The Flying Orchestra
Clare McFadden – University of Queensland Press

Some days are so windy that even the angels lose their balance from the top of City Hall.  It’s always on a day like this when the Flying Orchestra blows into town…

Exploring emotional themes, new ideas and encouraging imagination, The Flying Orchestra gently helps enhance young children’s vocabulary and develop their use of semantics.  Quality graphics



I Found a Friend and My Friend Found Me
Beth Norling – Penguin Group (Australia)

I didn’t have a friend, then I found a friend.
We did everything together. 
Too much together!  And one day we weren’t friends any more.
But I missed my friend, and my friend missed me…

This book about first friendships introduces children to emotional concepts, exploring them through familiar situations and activities.  Great for young children!

 

It’s Bedtime, William!
Deborah Niland – Penguin Group (Australia)

Every night, William thinks up reasons why he shouldn’t go to bed.
One evening there is a very BIG reason – someone has come to visit William.
Will his parents believe him?
Does William every get to sleep?

It’s Bedtime William’s wonderful narrative makes it with page-turner! Its use of humour and suspense make it appealing for both children and adults, as well as its particularly relevant theme!  The language in the book helps develop imagination and curiosity, while encouraging further exploration of the theme.

 

JoJo Goes to Playgroup
Christine Miesen – Penguin Books (Australia)

It’s Jojo’s first day at playgroup. 
He tries painting, dressing up and digging for dinosaur eggs.
But best of all, Jojo makes lots of new friends!

Using a theme that is particularly relevant to this age group, Jojo Goes to Playgroup is a well-presented book with a strong sequential narrative. 


Leo, the Littlest Seahorse
Margaret Wild, ill. Terry Denton – Penguin Group (Australia)

In the warm waters of the coral reef, one hundred and one baby seahorses set out on an adventure…

An engaging story with a strong narrative, Leo, the Littlest Seahorse uses humour and suspense to explore new ideas and concepts, while helping encourage vocabulary and use of semantics.

The beautiful illustrations also promote discussion of the story and the seahorses adventures long after the story is finished.

 

The Little Drummer Boy
Bruce Whatley – Random House (Australia)

Annie’s favourite Christmas decoration has always been the Little Drummer Boy.  No matter where she’s travelled, or how fashions have changes, every year at Christmas she has carefully taken him from his box and hung him on her tree, close to the top. But now Annie’s feeling tired, and the Drummer Boy is looking a bit worn.  It’s almost Christmas and he is still tucked away in his box.  The Little Drummer Boy and Annie must be reunited.

Using appealing characters and emotional content appropriate for young children, this book is a story that everyone will enjoy.  The quality graphics will help promote discussion and exploration of the theme once the story is finished.

 

Love from Grandma
Jane Tanner – Penguin Group (Australia)

Emily loves spending time with Grandma.  They dance, have tea parties and work together in Grandma’s garden.  But when Emily’s family moves to the city, she has to heave her beloved grandma behind.  Grandma gives Emily a strawberry plant to remind her of the fun they have together.  In summer, when the strawberries are red, it will be time for Grandma to visit…

This book’s strong narrative introduces new ideas and concepts, facilitating interaction and discussion of the central theme.  The well-developed characters will also appeal to children

 

One Funky Monkey
Stacey McCleary, ill. Sue Degennaro – Walker Books Australia

Have you ever seen a meerkat moonwalk?
An eagle rock?
Or a dragon dance disco?
Come and dance with one funky monkey, as he counts to ten and back again.

One Funky Monkey is an engaging story that helps develop vocabulary and the concept of sequential activities.  This book encourages imagination and creativity and is certain to appeal to young children.

 

The Truth About Penguins
Meg McKinlay, ill. Mark Jackson – Walker Books

Penguins?
Everybody knows penguins… don’t they?

The pictures and story of this book will definitely appeal to children, which will inevitably lead to a discussion about penguins and the social concepts covered in the book.  Humourous and a page-turner, The Truth About Penguins will become a family favourite!


Lower Primary

Boris Gets a Lizard
Andrew Joyner – Penguin Group (Australia)

Boris loves pets!
He’s already had lots of them.
All he’s missing is his favourite animal, a Komodo dragon – the biggest lizard in the world!  If only Boris could get one to come to Hogg Bay.  But how?
What Boris needs is a plan…

Dragons and lizards, quick thinking to outsmart the rest of the class, cartoon style format, bright colourful illustrations with hogs dressed as the children of the class in Hogg Bay!  Clearly depicted facial expressions and clever language use will be sure to ensnare reluctant readers (especially boys).

 

The Boy and the Toy
Sonya Hartnett, ill. Lucia Masciullo – Penguin Group (Australia)

One day a m an invented the best toy in the world.  He gave the toy to his son.  The boy thought the toy was marvellous.  It could do anything!  But as time passed, the boy started to wonder about the toy.  Was it really the best toy in the world?

The story of how being calm and thoughtful ingenuity can help solve problems, the rich vocabulary of verbs and adverbs, as well as the description of emotions make The Boy and the Toy  a story that will be read and re-read over and over again. 

 

Duck for a Day
Meg McKinlay – Walker Books

Abby’s class has a duck.
A duck named Max who waddles and quacks and makes your feet all warm with his feathery breathing.
A suck you might get to take home, just overnight, if you can make everything absolutely positively perfect.
Abby can do is.  She is sure she can.
Her problem is, everyone else wants to take Max home, too.

Duck for a Day encourages problem solving, cooperation, inspiration and hope, as well as gently teaching respect for difference.  The story is told using rich and highly descriptive and sensory vocabulary, while gently drawing out an emotional response to the themes developed throughout the book.

 

Hairy Nose, Itchy Butt
Elizabeth Frankel, ill. Garry Duncan – Jane Curry Publishing

Ever had an itch you couldn’t scratch?  Hairy-Nosed Wombat has one, and somebody has chopped down his favourite scratching tree.  Join our marsupial hero on an itchity, scratchity adventure as he tries to find the perfect place to scratch his butt.

A great rhyming verse for a class to chorus, Hairy Noce, Itchy Butt gently raises awareness of environmental issues and the conflict of progress Vs conservation of native species and their habitats.  A page-turner with rhyming text, this book provides opportunities to practice prediction, using rich vocabulary with a certain onomatopoeia…

 

The Important Things
Peter Carnavas – New Frontier Publishing

Christopher comes to terms with an absent father by discovering the important things in his life.  An insightful and perceptive story about remembering a father.

The Important Things is a poignant reminder of the different perspectives of losing a parent.  Simply told with colourful and perceptive illustrations, the book uses alliterative language, repetition and vowel rehearsal to gently tell the story of how sad things can come to be seen with new eyes and wonder.

 

Magpie
Luke Davies, ill. Inari Kiuru – Harper Collins Publishers Australia

A father and son.  An epic journey.
An intrepid adventure.

Magpie offers the opportunity for expressive language development, and uses few words to encourage discussion and elaboration of the story.  The central themes of parental support and supportive relationships will appeal to all.

 

The Miracle of the Little Wooden Duck
Margaret Wild, ill. Dee Huxley – Working Title Press

Once upon a time, there was a little wooden duck that sat on the windowsill of Annie’s bedroom.
Every day Annie picked up the little suck and stroked it, wishing it could speak to her.  But the little wooden duck continued to sit silently on the windowsill – until, one day, something miraculous happened.

This books gentle message of hope contains descriptive vocabulary & will appeal to reluctant readers – especially girls.

 

Miracle on Separation Street
Bob Graham – Walker Books

Now I look back on my story, I’m not sure if what happened was a miracle exactly.  But it is definitely true.  It happened to us a few years ago – our family, I mean.  That’s my mum, my dad, my little brother (Duggie) and me (Jack), plus Madam Brown the guinea pig.  It was all to do with cars…

Miracle on Separation Street will appeal to the whole family, especially boys, gently introducing new vocabulary and encouraging children to write as Jack does.  Using an intimate, one-on-one style, humour and familiar roles and situations, this story is sure to become a favourite.

 

Scaly-tailed Possum and Echidna
Cathy Goonack – Magabala Books

Scaly-tailed Possum climbed down from his pandanus tree and went walkabout.  Imagine his surprise to find Echidna there when he got back! Find out how Possum ended up with a scaly tail and why Echidna now has spikes.

The use of colourful illustrations and highly descriptive language make this story a great introduction to the Dreamtime.  Full of habitat descriptions and verbs, Scaly-tailed Possum and Echidna is a great opportunity to practice the language of explaining ‘why’.

 

Shake a Leg
Boori Pryor – Allen & Unwin

All you fellas watching, come up, join in, warrima. 
Clap your hands, little ones.
Stamp your feet, nannas,
Get down and dance, you smart things, mummas and daddas.
Let’s get the whole town dancing!

Alliterative langue, chorus structures and cultural vocabulary are used to tell the story of the experiences of an young Australian Indigenous boy.  The whole page illustrations promote the success of collaboration and reflect part of Australian Indigenous culture. 

 

The Snake and the Boy
Azmen Senastien – Magabala Books

Beneath a sea-blue sky, a young boy swings on the bars in the school playground, only to have a green tree snake sneak up on him…

A simple story, but a page-turner.  The descriptive language used in this story is complemented by the illustrations and will lead to discussion of the images, descriptions and themes.


Upper Primary

Arnie Avery
Sue Walker – Walker Books

What could be worse than fighting Jacko?
Being in big trouble at school?  Your friends deserting you?  Your family acting like a bunch of aliens?  Lately, nothing’s going right for Arnie.  Then one day everything changes…

Arnie dreams of growing biceps for his 13th birthday until he gets tangled up with the local bully in the pool. Now he just wants to survive long enough to blow out the candles. Mixed with everyday dramas is a background of coping with grief and guilt. An easy read.

 

Battle Boy: White War
Charlie Carter – Pan MacMillan Australia

It’s a Level 5 security mission.  A mission that is SO top secret that even Skin doesn’t know what’s what.  Battle Boy arrives to the roar of war: guns firing, cannons blasting, soldiers fighting across the mud-drenched trenches.  And in the middle of it all is the last person Battle Boy expects to find.

Napoleon is 11 years old. He’s also a secret agent, travelling back in time to historical battles. He doesn’t know the reason for these secret missions, but every trip is exciting and dangerous with new gadgets to assist survival. This time Agent BB005 (Napoleon) is in for a surprise… An easy read apart from fancy gadget names.

 

Grimsdon
Deborah Abela – Random House Australia

Grimsdon is in ruins.  Three years ago a massive wave broke its barriers and the sea flooded this grand city.  Most were saved, some were lost – and some were left behind…

Do the money hungry actions of a few put us all at risk? What happens to children orphaned by tsunamis? Grimsdon is a fast-paced whodunit that links these two seemingly separate ideas. Some are keeping secrets that affect the safety of everyone. A fairly easy read.

 

Harriet Bright: The Star You Are
Claire Craig – Penguin Group (Australia)

Harriet Bright wants to be a star when she grows up.  As soon as:
one: she becomes a world-famouse laughologist conducting a ground-breaking laugh out loud survey.
two: she finishes her family tree and discovers there’s room for two on her only, lonely branch.
three: she and melly fanshave seek and find their hidden talents for the local talent contest…

Harriet Bright wants to know why people laugh less the older they get. She and her friends survey everyone to find the truth. A delightful tale hope for those who thought they’d lost their smile. Down to earth dialogue with real kids and the quirky things they come up with. An easy read.

 

Head Spinners
Thalia Kalkipsakis – Allen & Unwin

BEWARE the twists in these tales… a fish sandwich.  A tingle on the arm.  A boring birthday present.  LOOK AGAIN!  The fish has a secret.  The tingle is transforming.  The birthday present is a time machine.
These stories will make your head spin and keep you thinking long after you finish reading.

Get ready to have your head turned upside down and inside out! Short suspense-filled stories that stretch the bounds of reality and keep you wondering what will happen next. Collection of short stories.

 

Mosquito Advertising: The Parfizz Pitch
Kate Hunter – Quniversity of Queensland Press

Katie Crisp has talent, it’s just that the report card hidden in her room doesn’t show it.  School’s out for another year and Katie is set to spend the summer lazing under the sausage tree in the backyard of the only home she’s ever known.  So, when she discovers that Parfitt’s Family Soft Drink Company is about to be taken over by a corporate giant, leaving her mum out of a job and them both out of a home, it’s time to finally show everyone what she’s made of…

Although the kids are a bit older, the dilemmas are universal - can you save your house from being sold? Who are the villains? Can mere kids foil their dastardly attempts? It takes lateral thinking and a good dose of courage, not to mention friends. An easy read.

 

The Keepers: Museum of Thieves
Lian Tanner – Allen & Unwin

Goldie Roth lives in the city of Jewel, where impatience is a sin and boldness is a crime.  But Goldie is both bold and impatient.  She runs away to the mysterious Museum of Dunt, where she meets a bot named Toadspit and discovers dangerous secrets…

Move over Harry Potter, the Keepers are your equal: fast paced, intriguing and completely original. Goldie runs away from a place where boldness a crime. Taking refuge in the Museum, she finds rooms that shift and dangerous secrets hide. Goldie must be bolder than she ever imagined if she is to save those she loves from disaster. An easy read.

 

Nanny Piggins & the Runaway Lion
R. A. Spratt – Random House (Australia)

With a runaway lion loose in the neighbourhood, Derrick, Samantha and Michael feel scared.  Nanny Piggins feels like a slice of cake.  And Boris feels like that lion looks strangely familiar…

Nanny Piggins is Nanny for Mr Green, who doesn’t like children. She is also a pig. Nanny protects the children from Mr Green’s dastardly schemes to get rid of them and takes them on adventures. Nanny Piggins is irreverent, outlandish and a lot of fun.

 

NOW
Morris Gleitzman – Penguin Group (Australia)

Once I didn’t know about my grandfather Felix’s scary childhood.  Then I found out what the Nazis did to his best friend Zelda.  Now I understand why Felix does the things he does.  At least he’s got me.  My name is Zelda too.  This is our story.

Zelda stays with her Grandad Felix, a retired surgeon while her parents work overseas. Felix survived persecution in World War II but remembers the pain, fear and loss of his childhood best friend, whose name was also Zelda. Zelda Junior has to survive local bullies, while Felix struggles with his memories. They manage with each other’s help.

 

Raven’s Mountain
Wendy Orr – Allen & Unwin

Raven is the first to reach the mountain top.  Her sister and step-dad are still climbing the train below.  She is alone on top of the world.  So she dances – a crazy, jumping, spinning dance – because if you can climb a mountain you can do anything!
But then there is a rumble and the earth shakes.  Rocks are fallin, and so is Raven, in a terrible tumble down the side of the mountain.  When she comes to, no one answers her calls.  The rockfall is covering the train where she last saw Lily and Scott…

Raven dances on top of the mountain while her stepdad and sister are still climbing. Suddenly the world tilts. Falling rocks take her tumbling down. When she wakes in pain, no one answers her calls and the trail where the others stood is covered with rocks - couldn’t put Raven’s Mountain down. Can an 11 year old girl find her way through rugged terrain alone? More than one life depends on it. An easy read.

 

Red Dirt Diary
Katrina Nannestad – Harper Collins Publishers

Blue Weston’s life is spiralling out of control.
Her parents are sending her to boarding school next year.
Her mad twin brothers are building pig chariots in the back shed.
Her best friend has been abducted by zombies and replaced with a boy-crazy tween.
And then there’s the drought that’s showing no signs of ending soon…

Bursting with humour, Blue’s diary helps her through the drought. While her twin brothers are accidents waiting to happen, the lack of rain threatens everything Blue loves. An easy read with moments that cover every emotion there is. Hard to put down until the last, satisfying page.

 

The Song of the Winns
Frances Watts – Harper Collins Publishers

Alex, Alice and Alistair think they are just three ordinary mice, until Alistai mysteriously vanishes.  Then Alex and Alive learn a secret about their family: a secret which means Alistair’s life is in danger – unless Alex and Alice can find him first…

Alistair is the youngest orphan mouse of three. When he is kidnapped, his brother and sister learn of secrets and suspicion and race to save him. Alistair finds enemies at every turn in the far off land he lands in. Fast moving and full of intrigue.


Indigenous Children

Beautiful Colours
Tina Raveneau – Black Ink Press

This book is best the first time you read it.  But old and young will want to revisit these vibrant illustrations.  Enjoy the insight of a child in a colourful family.  Beautiful, funny and inspiring.



The Devil You Know
Leonie Norrington – Allen & Unwin

88 is angry.  Damien can feel it. Prickling the air between them.  He’s sitting so close Damien has to clench his teeth and hang onto the chair to stop himself from bolting.  88 is Damien’s father.  88 is coming home.  The Devil You Know takes you under the skin of a boy who learns to face up to those he fears most.



Fair Skin Black Fella
Renee Fogorty – Magabala Books

‘Colour is a state of mind, girls.  Mary is just a fair skin black fella!’



Guulaangga the Green Tree Frog
Gloria Whalan – Black Ink Press

This is another story of the Grandma’s Farm stories by Gloria Whalan, with her distinctive illustrations.  The story of Guulaangga is about a story about a green tree frog.  It helps to give children an appreciation for all small creatures.



Jakobi & Nan
Esther Fisher – Black Ink Press

Jakobi is two year old.  And this is Jakobi’s Nan.
Jakobi loves Nan and Nan loves Jakobi.
They both love to do things together.



The Little Moo Cow
John Delacour – Black Ink Press

Bunji’s adventure is set in the changing moods of the north Australian bush.  This animal story, told and retold by ex-stockman John to his grandchildren, has now been illustrated by his Indigenous son.  A picture story book for all youngsters to enjoy.



Look See, Look at Me
Leonie Norrington – Allen & Unwin

Leonie and Dee visited three norther communities, Wugularr, Barunga and Manyalalluk to workshop words and drawings for this wonderful celebration of childhood and community life.




Our World: Bardi Jaawi Life at Ardiyooloon
One Arm Point Remote Community School – Magabala Books

Ardiyooloon is home to the Bardi Jaawi people and sits atop the Dampier Peninsula in the remote Kimberley Region of  Western Australia.  Also known as One Arm Point, the community is surrounded on three sides by the salt water that plays such an integral part in the people’s lives.

Our World gives a rare glimpse into the lives of the children of a remote Indigenous community. The children carry on the culture of the Bardi Jaawi people as they build fish traps, make spears and boomerangs, hunt crabs, turtles and dugong, learn traditional dances and share traditional stories.

 

Peka-Boo, the smallest bird in the world
Eliza Feely – Allen & Unwin

Being the smallest bird in all the world is no skip in the bish.  Everything’s BIG.  Big egg.  Bigger nest.  Big whopper brothers.  But the biggest twig-snapper of all is what Kapechi is on about???




Sam’s Fishing Adventure
Monique Russell – Black Ink Press

Monique Russell listens to the stories her grandfather tells of his childhood adventures in the Torres Strait.  She has not retold one of them in his voice and illustrated it with her own vibrant pictures for the new generation to enjoy.



Scaly-tailed Possum and Echidna
Cathy Goonack – Magabala Books

Scaly-tailed Possum climbed down from his pandanus tree and went walkabout.  Imagine his surprise to find Echidna there when he got back!  Find out how Possum ended up with a scaly tail and why Echidna now has spikes.

 

Shake a Leg
Boori Pryor – Allen & Unwin

All you fellas watching, come up, join in, warrima.
Clap your hands, little ones.
Stamp your feet, nannas.
Get down and dance, you smart things, mummas and daddas.
Let’s get the whole town dancing!



Sissy’s Secret
Althea McKeown – Black Ink Press

Sissy is sad because she has to keep a bad secret.  What must she do to feel alright again?
This book will help children, parents and teachers to talk about bad secrets.




The Snake and the Boy
Azmen Goonack – Magabala Books

Beneath a sea-blue sky, a young boy swings on the bars in the school playground, only to have a green tree snake sneak up on him…




Stolen Girl
Trina Saffioti – Magabala Books

With a deep breath, she turns the key in the lock.  The door swings open and she takes her first step towards home.
And so comes a glimmer of hope for a young girl taken from all she knows and loves.




Walkabout with our Mates
Esther Fischer – Black Ink Press

A group of young Indigenous boys in a small town find themselves with not much to do.  It was starting to get dark… they saw someone lying on the beach and ran to see what was wrong…


Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards


Each year, Speech Pathology Australia awards three Australian authors the “Best Book for Language and Literacy Development” in the categories –  Young Children, Lower Primary and Upper Primary.  2011 marks the inaugral presentation of a new award category - "Best Book for Language and Literacy Development - Indigenous Children" and will presented in Darwin on Tuesday 18 October 2011.

Each award is based on the book’s appeal to children, interactive quality and ability to assist speech pathologists and parents in communication and literacy development.

The intention of Book of the Year Awards 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.

Further information as to the nomination and juding criteria is avaiable for download (alt Young Children, Lower Primary, Upper Primary and alt Indigenous Children), as well as the alt Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards Short and Longlist 2006 - 2010 and all alt our winners 2003 - 2010.


Links

The Premier's Reading Challenge (SA)

The Premier’s Reading Challenge (TAS)