Review: The Girl Who Brought Mischief

This outstanding book is an experience that won’t be forgotten. It’s magical like a first visit to the circus, or the first sight of a shooting star. Influenced greatly by the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen, Nannestad’s prose is daring and funny, exhilarating and deeply moving, with a unique writing style and an impressive use of language.

The setting is Denmark 1911. Ten year old Inge Marie Jensen sets out on a boat from Copenhagen to reach her grandmother on the island of Bornholm after her mother dies. (There is no mention of the death until well into the story) She arrives with one side of her hair eaten off by a goat travelling companion after falling asleep in the hay.

12 Curly Questions with Davina Bell

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you. 
Golly! Well, it’s hardly scandalous but not many people know that what I really want to do before I die – more than anything – is learn to surf.

2. What is your nickname? 
I have about a hundred because hardly anyone calls me by my real name, but I guess the main ones are D (my family), Beans (my childhood friends) and dbell or db (most of the rest!).

3. What is your greatest fear? 
Being put in jail for a crime I didn’t commit and nobody believing that I was innocent, then never being able to go outside or see the sky.

4. Describe your writing style in ten words. 
A bit of laughter, a few tears, something for everyone.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer. 
Always willing to try again.

Review: A Little Election

One day at lunchtime, Rory decides to become Prime Minister. Why? Well, everyone knows that if you are Prime Minister, you can do anything you want to. Anything!

Fortunately for Rory’s class, their teacher Mrs Gonsha explains that being Prime Minister isn’t all about being gross and disgusting and pulling down your pants to show everyone your blue undies with seahorses on them. After Mrs Gonsha’s explains that a Prime Minister is supposed to keep everyone happy and safe, Debra-Jo Woo decides that she would like to be Prime Minister too. Who should be Prime Minister, Rory or Debra-Jo Woo? The obvious solution is to hold an election.

Review: Home

I simply adore Alex T Smith's Claude books (see a review here) with their fun storylines, adorable characters and super line-drawnings. So, I was very excited to see this picture book, written and illustrated by this very talented author/illustrator, who just seems to 'get' kids.

Once there was a house. And inside that house was a home. Inside that home were four friends called One, Two, Three and Four.

Event: Showcase: Second Annual Festival of Australian Children's Literature

The University of Canberra in parnership with the Lu Rees Archives, Libraries ACT and the Children's Book Council of Australia, will host Showcase: The 2nd Annual Canberra Festival of Australian Children's Literature, which will celebrate the writers, illustrators and publishers of children's books directly connected with Canberra and District for the past 100 years, and explore developments that could impact the future, such as children's e-books.

The 2013 Festival objective are to:

• Explore the wide range of imaginative work for children created by Canberra and District authors, illustrators and publishers
• Promote the work of local children's authors and illustrators to inspire Canberra school, TAFE and university students through talks, books signings and related events
• Connect local authors and illustrators to each other, their community, and their communities of interest
• Explore the imaginative process of local creators through original artwork, papers and manuscripts on exhibition
• Showcase the unique Lu Rees Archive resources about local writers, illustrators and publishers available to students, researchers and teachers in Canberra
• Profile the outstanding alumni of the University of Canberra

The Festival will include a panel event addressing the topic 'Who do we write for - who are our readers?' where prominent authors are interviewed by their avid readers.

See more here and check out the fabulous line-up of talent by clicking on the image below.

Author Interview: Tony Davis

Kids' Book Review is delighted to welcome Australian author Tony Davis. Tony's latest book, The Big Dry, is a middle fiction/young adult adventure story with a psychological thriller twist.

Your writing career encompasses a range of genres and writing styles. What do you find particularly appealing about writing for teenagers?

I guess I’ve been working my way towards teenagers – my children’s books have been getting “older” as my own children have been doing likewise. I’m now up to the “tween” stage. That’s nominally 10 to 14 years old, though I’m hearing some of the more traditional YA audience are also reading The Big Dry. I suspect that’s because there is a very strong, intriguing older character in the plot (though that wasn’t my motivation for having her there!).

I have hugely enjoyed writing for the upper primary age and hope to do more of it, but there are obvious restrictions. With “tween” writing I can use more expansive language and explore far more complex themes, so in that sense it’s closer to the writing for adults that I do (and love). It is interesting too because with these older readers, you can have a more detailed discussion afterwards about how they have interpreted what was within the pages.

Review: In the Land of Fairies

In the land of fairies, the seasons fly by as the fairies look after the plants and animals to make sure things keep running smoothly.

In spring, the fairies dance with the butterflies and call to the flowers, letting them know it's time to wake up and blossom. At midsummer, the fairies make beautiful glowing lanterns and dance through the night.

Tania's Picks: Alphabeasties, Bugs by the Numbers and Alphasaurus

I first stumbled across Alphabeasties on the internet and was instantly agog. This is the an extraordinary book from extraordinary graphic design talents Sharon Werner and Sarah Forss, who run Werner Design Werks.

When the book arrived in the mail from Blue Apple Books, I had to sit down, my heart was racing so hard. Here is a book that comprises all I love in a picture book--stunning illustration, beautiful design, fabulous text, high production values, a very clever concept AND ... creative typography. Being someone totally obsessed with a) picture books and b) typography, I had a physiological reaction to this book.

So I had to sit down. And once I had taken a seat, I opened this book and I tumbled inside.

Guest Post: Kids' Own Publishing

KBR welcomes Victoria Ryle, Executive Director of Kids’ Own Publishing, an innovative not-for-profit arts organisation that empowers children, families and communities to share their stories through artist-led processes and community publishing.

The Kids’ Own Publishing story began thirty years ago when, as a young, idealistic teacher, I was confronted by a child’s refusal to read a book that had just one word in it: 'Mummy'. The mummy depicted was blond, aproned, dressed circa 1950s Britain, while the young reader was dark-skinned, from the Gujarat, India. That light-bulb moment taught me that children need to see their culture reflected in the books they encounter. 

12 Curly Questions with author Claire Zorn

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I can do a very convincing horse impression.

2. What is your nickname?
Swear Bear, unfortunately.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Fairly predictable of any parent: harm coming to my children.

4. Describe your writing style in ten words.
 I always try to take a less is more approach.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Honest, economical, vivid, occasionally humorous.

KBR Short Story: Sleeping Lions

by Susan Whelan

The young lions move lazily in the afternoon heat. After an active morning running, chasing and playing, they bump and bumble, stumbling over heavy feet.

They gather together, lowering their bodies to the ground, pushing against each other as they stretch to find a comfortable position. Gradually, the wriggling and shuffling stops, muscles relax, breathing slows and a hush descends.

Here and there an unexpected movement - a stretching leg, a twitching nose, an eye slowly opening to scan the group for signs of restlessness before lazily drifting closed once more.

A lone fly drifts through the still afternoon air, breaking the silence with its droning zzzz-zzzz and causing muscles to flinch in irritation as it tries to settle on an ear or neck or shoulder.

The lions rest.

Until...

A sudden movement. A body springs upright from amidst the dozIng crowd. Startled, some eyes pop open to observe the fuss more closely while others snuggle more deeply into their sleepy haze.

'How much longer will we play this game, Miss Harrison? I need to go to the toilet!'

The silence is broken, heads lift, eyes open, fingers wriggle. Little girls giggle and boys laugh out loud. One or two bodies remain curled up in blissful slumber until bumped by their companions. Noise and activity and energy return and the 'sleeping lions' are nowhere to be seen… until kindergarten nap time tomorrow.


Susan Whelan is a freelance writer and enthusiastic reader. She dreams of being a published children's non-fiction author and thinks that Sleeping Lions is quite possibly the most brilliant quiet time game ever invented. You can find out more about Susan at her blog, Reading Upside Down.


KBR Short Stories are a way to get your work ‘out there’—and to delight our KBR readers. Stories are set to a monthly theme and entries are due in the 25th of each month. Find out more here.

Review: Silver Buttons

Bob Graham’s work always moves me deeply.

There is so much going on in his books. In this one, the text tells one story, while countless watercolour scenes bordered by black ink, play out to present additional stories.

To a child, the concept may not be thought-provoking unless the thought is initiated by an adult. But to the adult reader, it is profound.

Here, Graham’s artistry creates awareness. It says life is not just what we are doing; that things are happening constantly everywhere that we are unaware of; that we should be made aware of.

KBR Recommends: New Middle Fiction, August 2013

Flora's War by Pamela Rushby, Ford Street, $18.95, 978192166598, ages 12+

It's 1915 and sixteen-year-old Australian, Flora Wentworth, is visiting Cairo with her archaeologist father. She watches with growing alarm as first a trickle and then a flood of wounded soldiers are shipped into the city from Gallipoli.

Flora's comfortable life is turned upside down when a hospital visit thrusts her into the realities of World War 1. She is soon transporting injured soldiers and helping out exhausted nurses – managing to fall in love along the way.

As Flora battles to save lives and find her own, a tragic misunderstanding changes everything ...

KBR Recommends: New Junior Fiction and Non-Fiction, August 2013

Eric Vale Off the Rails by Michael Gerard Bauer and Joe Bauer, Omnibus Books, $14.99, 9781862919945, ages 8+

Eric Vale is really in trouble this time. Big trouble. Principal Porter thinks he's gone completely off the rails!

Does Eric have a good explanations for his surprising behaviour? Or have mutant vampire zombie werewolf alience from outer space stolen Eric's brain?

Eric Vale Off the Rails is ideal for reluctant readers, continuing Eric's hilarious adventures shared in the first two books in the series, Eric Vale: Epic Male (KBR review here) and Eric Vale: Super Male (KBR Shout Out here).

KBR Recommends: New Picture Books, August 2013

Meet ... Captain Cook by Rae Murdie and Chris Nixon, Random House, $19.95, 9780857980175

Captain Cook was the first European to discover the eastern coast of Australia. Along with his crew on the HMB Endeavour, Cook set out from England with royal orders to look for signs of the great southern land known as Terra Australis, which they chartered in 1788.

From Ned Kelly to Saint Mary MacKillop; Captain Cook to Douglas Mawson, the Meet ... series of picture books tells the exciting stories of the men and women who have shaped Australia's history.

News: A new interactive online experience for new readers

Penguin Group (Australia) and Felice Arena have unveiled a new interactive and immersive online experience for children, with the launch of AndyRoidHQ.com.

This innovative website, designed around Felice Arena’s Andy Roid series of books, is an exciting new publishing approach, designed to extend the reading experience for children online.

Best described as an interactive online comic book adventure, Andy Roid HQ brings the 10-book series to life with 3-D style parallax animation, colour graphics and synchronised sound effects.

Sally Bateman, Marketing and Digital Director, Penguin Group (Australia) says the website offers an online reading experience to engage young readers beyond the pages of the Andy Roid series in an entertaining and exciting way, combining old-fashioned, comic book adventure with cutting edge technology that is fast and fun, yet stays true to the series.

Felice Arena, creator of Andy Roid, says he had enormous fun working on content for the site. "Anyone who gets to write for a living is very blessed and it’s been it's an absolute bonus to be able to see my characters spring to life beyond the printed page.”

AndyRoidHQ.com features an exclusive new story, Andy Roid and the Jungle of Combat, displayed in a choice of modes which the user interacts with by choosing a multiple choice answer at cliffhanging moments to help Andy defeat his enemies.

Featuring artwork by Chad McCown, AndyRoidHQ.com includes covers, blurbs and sample chapters for each Andy Roid title. Kids can also insert their own photograph into various action scenes, create their own Secret Agent ID card, and download amazing wallpaper artwork and character face masks to print and wear.

Review: Tom Gates: Best Book Day Ever (so Far)

It's Book Week at Oakfield High and everyone is making their own costume. Even the teachers are getting in on the act. There is a real buzz in the air, as normal lessons are put on the backburner to make way for costume capers and creativity.

With a sensational prize up for grabs for best costume, Tom is determined to create a masterpiece. Can his Alien Scale monster take out first prize?

Liz Pichon's hugely popular Tom Gates books are a sensational blending of word, typography and image, cleverly-designed to attract boys or kids who don't particularly like to read, or are struggling to read.

Guest Post: Children's Books Daily

KBR warmly welcomes friend and fellow literature lover, Megan Daley, with this guest post on the evolution of her fabulous website. 

I am mother to two small and slightly feral children, a judge for the Queensland Literary Awards, former National Vice President of the Children’s Book Council of Australia, a teacher librarian at St Aidan’s Anglican Girls School and a blogger! Because I’m really bad at being bored, I am also completing my Masters in Teacher Librarianship through QUT.

I started blogging about two years ago now, in what was a truly tumultuous time in my life. I wasn’t sleeping very much and my dear friend Tom De Spiegelaere of www.mangomatter.com decided that a blog would be a good way to fill the wee hours of the night, and keep all my reviews in the one spot.

Event: One Word One Day Auction

Around Australia, illustrators were brought together to create pictures, and work and play. Each gathering was supplied with a delicious array of art materials, and invited to explore a surprise theme word visually.

The 78 finished artworks will be auctioned to raise funds for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. The auction will take place on Wednesday 4 September, Indigenous Literacy Day.

One Word One Day is organised by the Australian Society of Authors in conjunction with the Micador Group and the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. The ASA would like to acknowledge the support of ABC Local Radio in this project.

Interested parties may register bids in advance (absentee), or choose to bid live at the auction by telephone or in person. Refreshments will be provided.

Find One Word One Day on Facebook. The One Word One Day auction is listed as a Facebook event, making it easy for you to share details about the auction with your friends.

Auction Details
When: Wednesday 4 September, 6pm - 8.30pm
Where: ABC Southbank Centre, 120 Southbank Boulevard, Southbank, Melbourne
RSVP: email events@asauthors.org or call (02) 9211 1004
More Information: visit One Word One Day to view the artworks and to download bidding registration forms.

Book Week Wrap-Up

Followed by Christmas (yes, I said followed) Book Week is my favourite week of the year. It's a time to really celebrate the glorious children's book scene we enjoy in Australia, and of course, internationally.

From 17 to 23 August this year, Aussie authors and illustrators were on the hop all over the county, visiting schools, running workshops, presenting, interacting and sharing their books and talent with children, from preschool to Year 12. The energy is bookishly high, and it's just so much fun to see kids amp up their reading and book enjoyment (not to mention the fabulous costumes--see the last photo of this post).

Book List: Alphabet Books

Alphabet by Alain Grée, Button Books, $19,99, 9781908985019


Operation Alphabet by Al MacCuish and Luciano Lozano, Thames & Hudson, $19.99 9780500515846 KBR review

 
Apple Pie ABC by Alison Murray, Orchard Books,  $28.99, 9781408308011 KBR review 

Al Pha's Bet by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Putnam, $23.99 , 9780399246012

 
Alphabet by Paul Thurlby, Hardie Grant Egmont, $14.95, 9781921759499 KBR review

 
Superhero ABC by Bob McLeod, Harper Collins, 9780060745141 KBR review


Alphab'art by Anne Guery and Olivier Dussutour, Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, $29.95, 9781847800138 KBR review


An ABC of Pirates by Caroline Stills and Heath McKenzie, Little Hare, $24.99, 9781921272776 KBR review

Alphabet by Matthew Van Fleet, Simon and Schuster, $29.99, 9781416955658

 
Alphabet City by Stephen T Johnson, Puffin, 9780140559040 KBR review

Miss Spider's ABC by David Kirk, Hodder Callaway, 9780733609350 KBR review

Click here for more Book Lists

Review: Dog on Log

The moment I laid eyes on this cover, I knew I would trip and fall in love. It wasn't only Kat Chadwick's divine illustrations, it was the title. It was the colours. The characters, the typefacing.

It was just the cover in its entirety, really.

As my son said to me recently, 'Mum, I absolutely do judge a book by its cover'.

Well, in the case of Dog on Log, both my son and I were spot-on.

Guest Post: Anna Fienberg

KBR is delighted to welcome award-winning author Anna Fienberg, as she tells us the story behind her novel Horrendo's Curse, which has now been given new life as a graphic novel.

The novel Horrendo’s Curse was a joy to write. Creating pirates with dreadful manners and rude ways meant I had to become one of them, and so I felt strangely free (as well as a bit shocked at myself). ‘How far will we go?’ I often asked Squid or Dogfish, as they lay about the deck picking their teeth or squabbling with each other. 

Review: The Little Dragon

I still remember the sneak peek I managed to drag out of Roland Harvey when this book was in production (from memory, it's what ended up on the front cover) and I was so excited about seeing these fabulous illustrations do their picture book dance with Mem Fox's text.

It's only taken me a little over two years to finally lay eyes on this dance, but it was worth the wait.

Guest Post: Let's Read Towards Early Literacy

KBR welcomes Jaquelyn Muller, children's book author, publisher, workshop presenter and Let's Read National Early Literacy campaign program champion.

I have a vivid memory of the first time I read out loud to my eldest daughter, Grace. She was only a few weeks old and I am sure that any capacity for forming sentences would have been considered a miracle … on my part that is, not the baby’s! We had both changed into our third outfit for the day (an assumption of style or taste would be wrong on your part) and our apartment looked like an explosion of disposable goods. It was ramping up to be another day in ‘paradise’.

Review: Some Days Are Lonely

We all feel lonely at times. As adults, we know that loneliness will generally pass. But for children, loneliness can be a very unsettling experience.

This is when a book such as Some Days Are Lonely can be of great help in assisting children to not only recognise their emotions, but also better cope with them.

Review: Actually, I Can

Amelia is adventurous and carefree. She loves to explore and try new things. Connor doesn’t like to try new things. He is too worried about making mistakes. He prefers to just stay safe, but does it really make him happy?

Author/illustrator Nicky Johnston has created another lovely picture book to help children manage their anxiety and confront their fears. With Amelia’s encouragement, Connor discovers that sometimes it is fun to try new things and readers learn that they can ‘change your thoughts, to change your feelings’ as a strategy for dealing with worry and anxiety.

12 Curly Questions with author/illustrator Nicky Johnston

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I am terrified of the ocean. I would rather stick pins in my eyes and swallow flies than go on a cruise ship, boat or dingy.

I have a 2nd Dan Black Belt in Karate.

2. What is your nickname?
I was officially named “Ick-Ick” by my uncle (famous for giving long lasting nick-names)…I also get Nix and Trixie

3. What is your greatest fear?
My greatest fear (apart from failing…) is a tsunami. I dream about them all the time. I can’t watch movies about them, read about them or watch vision from 2004 and 2011 natural disasters.

4. Describe your writing style in ten words.
I write from my heart then edit with my head.

KBR Short Story: Loni the Unlikely Lion

by Tricia Simmons

‘Go play with your friends,’ pleaded Loni the lion’s mother. ‘And for goodness sake stop scratching.’

‘Mother, I have no desire to play with anyone,’ said Loni. ‘And I’m scratching because I itch all over. I must be allergic to grass.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ said her mother. ‘You’re a lion. You can’t possibly be allergic to grass. Grass hides us and keeps us safe. And why on earth would you want to be alone? Lions are the only cats who live in groups, and we’re proud of it.’

‘Well, I’m not proud of it,’ whined Loni. ‘I want to be different.’

Loni’s father approached.

‘Your daughter tells me she’s allergic to grass and she wants to be alone. Please speak to her,’ muttered Loni’s mother.

‘You’re being silly Loni,’ chided her father.  ‘Lions are ...’

‘I know, I know—I’ve had the lecture,’ said Loni, petulantly. ‘When I’m Queen of the Jungle, things will change.’

‘Queen of the Jungle?’ laughed her father. ‘My dear, we have Kings of the Jungle—but Queens?’

Review: Where's Wally?

It would be hard to find someone who hasn’t casually flipped through a Where’s Wally? book only to find themselves engrossed in trying to find the elusive Wally and his friends.

Do you have a special Where’s Wally? search technique? Do you systematically search, section by section, for Wally, Wenda, Odlaw, Wizard Whitebeard and Woof or do you just randomly scan the pages hoping that you’ll catch sight of a beard or tail or arm that might give away their hiding place? Do you search on your own, or do you like it to be a group activity – a Where’s Wally? race?

Blog Tour: 12 Curly Questions with Royce Bond

Royce Bond’s new sci fi/fantasy novel The Princess and the Pirate is a swashbuckling adventure of a pirate, a princess and their followers as they fight to save the universe from evil forces. It is the first book in a series called 'The Knights of Katesch'. Today Royce joins KBR to tackle our 12 Curly Questions!

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you. 
I make my own medieval bows. My latest bow stands 2.4 metres tall and each time I pull the string it’s the same as lifting a 50 kg. weight. Consequently, I can only pull it once before my shoulder hurts. It fires arrows about 200 metres, so I’m not able to use it in town. I also made the string for the bow.

I also make medieval style arrows. Each one is hand-crafted and takes a couple of hours to complete. I use a variety of bird feathers for the fletchers. Often my lounge room looks like a workshop where I craft my bows and arrows while watching television.

Events: Margaret Wild and Jan Latta at Pinerolo

Two amazing events are coming up at Pinerolo, the Children's Book Cottage in Blackheath, New South Wales. I don't care how you get there, but get there if you can.

An Afternoon with Wild Animals

Saturday 31 August

This promises to be a fascinating afternoon listening to author/photographer Jan Latta, who will talk about her up-close-and-personal adventures with wild animals. Jan leads such an exciting life and she produces books full of superb photographs on endangered wild animals, with the aim of educating children.

Click here for a booking form. Jan's talk will be of interest to any age.

Picture Books @ Pinerolo: One Day Course with Margaret Wild

Saturday 5 October

Margaret Wild is one of Australia's most successful writers of children's picture books, with over forty published. This will be an enlightening day for all interested in how picture books are created. Bookings essential. Check the Pinerolo website for a booking form - www.pinerolo.com.au.

Review: I Love You 5 Lollipops

What little girl hasn't wished her family was part of the circus? And what little girl doesn't love puppies, dollies, cupcakes, teddy bears and lollipops? Combine all of these ingredients with some simply gorgeous illustrations and you end up with I Love You 5 Lollipops.

This is the perfect book for young children just starting to read. As Elizabeth Rose tells each member of her family just how much she loves them, the simple sentences follow the same pattern, enabling early readers to improve their word recognition skills.

Winners: Prime Minister's Literary Awards 2013

The Prime Minister's Literary Awards 2013 have been announced! and KBR warmly congratulates:

Young adult fiction winner
Fog a Dox by Bruce Pascoe (KBR review here)

Children’s fiction winner
Red by Libby Gleeson

What an absolute thrill to see our talented authors take out such enormous prizes. See the full list of winners right here.

Review: The Big Dry

What would a world be like for children whose parents have gone missing if the Social Services placed all children under the age of seven under their ‘protection’?

These are the active ingredients that propel this futuristic novel through drought and dust storms called blasters. But these aren’t the only dangers that brothers George and Beeper face after their father doesn’t return from a shopping trip to town. There are also the wanderers, people who move about stealing and murdering to survive under any circumstances.

Vintage Review: Polar the Titanic Bear

Published in the 1990s, Polar the Titanic Bear, based on a true story, is written from the perspective of a toy bear and was found in a family trunk long after its creation early in the twentieth century.

A young boy named Douglas is fortunate to travel the world with his family, and at the beginning of one such trip he is given a parting gift - Polar, a Steiff teddy bear made in Germany and bought at a store in New York. So begins Polar’s first international expedition, staying in hotels and playing outdoors. Companion to Douglas while quarantined by chicken pox, Polar is even subjected to a disinfectant bath.

CBCA Book of the Year 2013 Announcement - the Winners!

KBR is delighted to share with you the winners of this year's CBCA Book of the Year, as well as the Honour Books. Our biggest congratulations to all the talented authors, illustrators, editors, designers and publishers for all the hard work they have put into these beautiful books!

You can see the notable books for 2013 right here. See this year's shortlist here.


Older Readers Book of the Year 2013
Winner: Sea Hearts by Margo Lanagan (Allen & Unwin)
Honour: Friday Brown by Vikki Wakefield (Text)
Honour: The Ink Bridge by Neil Grant (Allen & Unwin)

Younger Readers Book of the Year 2013
Winner: The Children of the King by Sonya Hartnett (Viking)
Honour: Pennies for Hitler by Jackie French (A&R)
Honour: The Tender Moments of Saffron Silk by Glenda Millard and Stephen Michael King (ABC Books)

Early Childhood Book of the Year 2013
Winner: The Terrible Suitcase by Emma Allen and Freya Blackwood (Omnibus)
Honour: With Nan by Tania Cox and Karen Blair (Windy Hollow Books)
Honour: Too Many Elephants in this House by Ursula Dubosarsky and Andrew Joyner (Viking)

Picture Book of the Year 2013
Winner: The Coat by Julie Hunt and Ron Brooks (Allen & Unwin)
Honour: Herman and Rosie by Gus Gordon (Viking)
Honour: Sophie Scott Goes South by Alison Lester (Viking)

Eve Pownall Book of the Year 2013
Winner: Tom the Outback Mailman by Kristin Weidenbach and Timothy Ide (Lothian)
Honour: Topsy-Turvy World by Kirsty Murray (NLA)
Honour: Lyrebird! A True Story by Jackie Kerin and Peter Gouldthorpe (Museum of Victoria)

KBR Consultant Librarian, Sarah Steed, was at the Award Ceremony today at the National Library of Australia, where she managed to snaffle these fabulous author photos. Thanks, Sarah!

Front row, L-R: Sue DeGennaro, Freya Blackwood, Jackie French, Jackie Kerin, Julie Hunt, Sonya Hartnett, Kristin Weidenbach

Back row, L-R: Emma Allen, Peter Gouldthorpe, Maro Lanagan, Ron Brooks, Timothy Ide