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Faves of 2012

Okay it is that time of the year again where anyone and everyone puts together lists of their top picks of the past year. I am going to be no different, I will, however, not be doing a top 10. What I have put here are the ones that really stood out, but truthfully I had many wonderful reading experiences this year just about gone, and I did limit this list to those books published in 2012.

Let me start with the youngest first and believe me there were so many really cool picture books this past year but here are a few that stood out.

The Snorgh and the Sailor : Will Buckingham and Thomas Docherty

9781407116525

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore : William Joyce

9781442457027

I Love You Little Monster : Andreae Giles and Jess Mikhail

9781408314289

Plant a Kiss : Amy Rosenthal and Peter H Reynolds

9780061986758

What Does Daddy Do? : Rachel Bright

9780141502649

Fiction 4 – 9 years.

Secret of the Swords : Frances Watts and Gregory Rogers

9781742377285

Hey Jack! series : by Sally Rippin

9781742971254

Billie B Brown series by Sally Rippin

9781742971414Fiction 8 – 12

Floors : Patrick Carmen

9781906427900

Summer’s Dream :  Cathy Cassidy

chocolate-box-girls-summer-s-dream

Dork Diaries series : Rachel Renee Russell

9780857071194Young Adult Fiction

Stormdancer : Jay Kristoff

stormdancer-hi

The Fault in Our Stars : John Green

9780525478812

Team Human : Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan

9781742378398

 

 

Category:

A Little Fun, Topics and Recommendations

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Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2012

Winners of the fifth annual Prime Minister’s Literary Awards were announced today. The awards, ‘celebrate the contribution of Australian literature and history to the nation’s cultural and intellectual life’.

There are six categories – Fiction, Non-Fiction, Australian History, Young Adult Fiction, Children’s Fiction, and a Poetry award – the winners were selected from shortlists of five works in each category

The winners we are of course interested in are:

Young adult fiction – When We Were Two by Robert Newton  (Penguin)

Children’s fiction – Goodnight, Mice! By Frances Watts, illustrated by Judy Watson (Harper Collins)

It goes without saying that all other winners deserve big congratulations as do all short listed authors.

Category:

News

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Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2012 – Shortlist

The Prime Minister’s Literary Awards shortlist was recently announced. To all the nominated children’s authors I want to say a huge congrats and good luck. Of course best wishes go out to all authors to make the lists. (I usually post cover pics with announcements like this but my internet is playing up – my apologies, just getting logged in was a trial)

Young Adult Fiction

Alaska – Sue Saliba

A Straight Line To My Heart – Bill Condon

Being Here – Barry Jonsberg

Pan’s Whisper – Sue Lawson

When We Were Two – Robert Newton

 

Children’s Fiction

Come Down, Cat! – Sonya Hartnett Illus. Lucia Masciullo

Evangeline The Wish Keepers Helper – Maggie Alderson Illus. Claire Fletcher

Father’s Day – Anne Brooksbank

Goodnight Mice! – Frances Watts, Judy Watson

The Jewel Fish of Karnak – Graeme Base

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News

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The Secret of the Swords

By: Frances Watts

Illustrations By: Gregory Rogers

Being a kitchen girl at Flamant Castle is not where Tommy really wants to be. Tommy dreams of becoming a knight and often watches the training sessions when she should be working. When she stands up to a bully and is made Keeper of the Blades she is so excited and starts to hope that maybe her dreams can come true. Then disaster strikes, Lord Walters most valuable sword goes missing and Tommy needs to find it so she doesn’t get sent back to the kitchens.

Way cool. Sorry but that needed to be said. I love characters like Tommy who have big dreams outside the norm, stand up to those who pick on the more helpless and are open enough to accept the unusual in their lives. Tommy is all that.

This story is sure to entertain. The text is funny and appealing. Tommy is in the midst of an interesting cast that includes Lil the talking cat and ghosts that inhabit the swords she is to look after. Rogers’ illustrations bring a quirky visualisation to the story. If you are looking for something for a 7-9 year old girl who isn’t into fairies or way girly things, something with an independent and strong character, then definitely pick this up. Likewise if you want to encourage boys to read books with girl characters, and lets face even these days not enough do, then this is probably a great place to start. Can’t wait to see more of this series.

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Published: 01 April 2012

Format: Paperback 96 pages

Categories: Fantasy

ISBN 13: 9781742377285

Purchase: here or use Booktopia link on the side of the page

Category:

Fiction 4-9

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Speech Pathology Australia 2011 Book of the Year Awards

Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) this week released the shortlist for its annual Book of the Year Awards.

These awards were started with the objective to promote literacy and the need for good literacy skills, and enabling speech pathologists, teachers and parents the resources to build a library that can be uses to help promote literacy and reading.

There are four categories and this years short list is :

YOUNG CHILDREN

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

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

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

The Flying Orchestra
Clare McFadden – University of Queensland Press

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

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

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

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

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

Love from Grandma
Jane Tanner – Penguin Group (Australia)

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

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

LOWER PRIMARY

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

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

Duck for a Day
Meg McKinlay – Walker Books

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

The Important Things
Peter Carnavas – New Frontier Publishing

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

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

Miracle on Separation Street
Bob Graham – Walker Books

Scaly-tailed Possum and Echidna
Cathy Goonack – Magabala Books

Shake a Leg
Boori Pryor – Allen & Unwin

The Snake and the Boy
Azmen Senastien – Magabala Books

UPPER PRIMARY

Arnie Avery
Sue Walker – Walker Books

Battle Boy: White War
Charlie Carter – Pan MacMillan Australia

Grimsdon
Deborah Abela – Random House Australia

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

Head Spinners
Thalia Kalkipsakis – Allen & Unwin

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

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

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

NOW
Morris Gleitzman – Penguin Group (Australia)

Raven’s Mountain
Wendy Orr – Allen & Unwin

Red Dirt Diary
Katrina Nannestad – Harper Collins Publishers

The Song of the Winns
Frances Watts – Harper Collins Publishers

INDIGENOUS CHILDREN

Beautiful Colours
Tina Raveneau – Black Ink Press

The Devil You Know
Leonie Norrington – Allen & Unwin

Fair Skin Black Fella
Renee Fogorty – Magabala Books

Guulaangga the Green Tree Frog
Gloria Whalan – Black Ink Press

Jakobi & Nan
Esther Fisher – Black Ink Press

The Little Moo Cow
John Delacour – Black Ink Press

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

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

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

Sam’s Fishing Adventure
Monique Russell – Black Ink Press

Scaly-tailed Possum and Echidna
Cathy Goonack – Magabala Books

Shake a Leg
Boori Pryor – Allen & Unwin

Sissy’s Secret
Althea McKeown – Black Ink Press

The Snake and the Boy
Azmen Goonack – Magabala Books

Stolen Girl
Trina Saffioti – Magabala Books

Walkabout with our Mates
Esther Fischer – Black Ink Press

Congratulations to all short listed authors. The Awards will be presented  in Darwin on Tuesday 18 October 2011.

Category:

News

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Kisses For Daddy

By: Frances Watts and David Legge

It is time for Baby Bear to have a bath and go to bed, but he is grumbly. He gives his Mummy a kiss but won’t give Daddy one. Daddy Bear takes him to his bath and gets him ready for bed, all while trying to get his goodnight kiss. Baby Bear still won’t kiss Daddy though. Will Daddy ever get his kiss from Baby Bear?

A wonderful, heartwarming story all about going to bed and bedtime kisses. the text is easy to understand, it’s tone is friendly and playful. The illustrations are warm and engaging – perfectly capturing the fun and loving tine of the story. This book has been a CBCA Honour Book and is one of my favourites.

Publisher: Little Hare Books

Published: 01 May 2008

Format: Hardback 24 pages

Categories: Fiction Family Family Issues

ISBN 13: 9781921272431 

Purchase: here


Category:

Picture Books

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