Each year, Speech Pathology Australia selecting a shortlist of book for their book of the year awards, the list came out recently and you can reserve and borrow most of the list from Cockburn Libraries today.
The Awards
Literacy is based on good oral language skills. The Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards aim to promote quality Australian books that help children get the best, most literate start in life.
Books are awarded for “Best Book for Language and Literacy Development” in the following categories:
- Birth to 3 years
- 3 to 5 years
- 5 to 8 years
- 8 to 10 years
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Authored Children’s Book Award.
- Decodable Book Series
Each book is judged on its appeal to children, interactive quality and ability to assist speech pathologists and parents in communication and literacy development.
Birth to Three Years
All Dogs Bark by Catherine Meatheringham, with illustrations by Deb Hudson
Babies at the Billabong by Maura Finn, with illustrations by Cate James
Backyard Bugs* by Helen Milroy
Before You Were Born by Katrina Germein, with illustrations by Helene Magisson
Goodnight Toes by Justine Adams, with illustrations by Camille Manley
Hello World by Lisa Shanahan, with illustrations by Lella Rudge
Karrkin = My Body* by Maureen Yanawana with the families of La Grange Kindilink, with illustrations by Children from La Grange Remote Community School
Little Bilby’s Aussie Bush Christmas by Yvonne Mes, with illustrations by Jody Pratt
Little Bilby’s Aussie Easter Egg Hunt by Yvonne Mes, with illustrations by Jody Pratt
Miimi Marraal, Mother Earth* by Melissa Greenwood
Moving Your Body by Beci Orpin
Mummy! Where are you? by Charmaine Oates, with illustrations by Jelena Jordanovic-Lewis
Noni the Pony Counts to a Million by Alison Lester
Rhyme Hungry by Antonia Pesenti
This is me!* by Sally Morgan
Three to 5 Years
A Crocodile in the Family by Kitty Black, with illustrations by Daron Parton
A Pair of Pears and an Orange by Anna McGregor, with illustrations by Anna McGregor
Boss of Your Own Body by Byll and Beth Stephen/Teeny Tiny Stevies, with illustrations by Simon Howe
But I’m NOT Hungry for my Dinner! by Valerie Gent, with illustrations by Kirrili Lonergan
Cat Dog by Mem Fox, with illustrations by Mark Teague
Crumbs by Phil Cummings, with illustrations by Shane Devries
Dinosaur Dads by Lesley Gibbs, with illustrations by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall
Florence and Fox by Zannie Louise, with illustrations by Anna Pignataro
Gary the Goat. The Speech Sound Series by Dannielle Pickford, with illustrations by Ana Djordjevic
I Want to be a Sports Star by Mary Anastasiou, with illustrations by Anil Tortop
Little Matilda by Caz Goodwin, with illustrations by Shaney Hyde (check back later)
Macca the Backpacker by Matt Cosgrove
Miss Understood by Kat Apel, with illustrations by Beau Wylie
My Spaghetti ABC by Deborah Niland
Snuffy by Andrew Dittmer, with illustrations by Jenni Goodman
Stellarphant by James Foley
The Bark Book by Victoria Mackinlay, with illustrations by Beth Harvey
Train Party by Karen Blair
Who Fed Zed? by Amelia McInerney, with illustrations by Adam Nickel
Who’s a Goose by Scott Stuart
Five to 8 Years
Boogie Woogie Bird by Alison Stegert, with illustrations by Sandra Severgnini (check back later)
Boris Goes Berserk by Robert Favretto, with illustrations by Janice Bowles
Born to Run* by Cathy Freeman, with illustrations by Charmaine Ledden-Lewis
Jarrampa* by Marshia Cook, with illustrations by Marshia Cook and others (check back later)
Monkey Mind by Rebecca J Palmer
Mozzies Vs. Flies by Sarah Speedie, with illustrations by Rebel Challenger
Reggie Red by Josie Layton, with illustrations by Rebecca Timmis
Somebody’s Land: Welcome to Our Country* by Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing, with illustrations by David Hardy
Super Geeks 1: Fish and Chips by James Hart
The Incredibly Busy Mind of Bowen Bartholomew Crisp by Paul Russell, with illustrations by Nicky Johnston
The O in the Snow by Judith Barker, with illustrations by Janie Firth
Where Ya Goin’ by Steve Heron, with illustrations by Matty Mitchell (check back later)
Eight to 10 Years
Albert Namatjira* by Vincent Namatjira
Aliens and other Worlds by Lisa Harvey-Smith, with illustrations by Tricie Grimwood
Common Wealth* by Gregg Dreise
Eliza Vanda’s Button Box by Emily Rodda
Grace’s Escape by Louise Park
Heroes, Rebels and Innovators* by Karen Wyld, with illustrations by Jaelyn Biumaiwai
Little Lon by Andrew Kelly, with illustrations by Heather Potter and Mark Jackson
My Brother Ben by Peter Carnavas
The Accidental Penguin Hotel by Andrew Kelly, with illustrations by Dean A Jones
The Dunggiirr Brothers and the Caring Song of the Whale* by Aunty Shaa Smith and Yandaarra
The Good Times of Pelican Rise: Save the Joeys by Samone Amba
The Riddle of Tanglewood Manor by Tracey Hawkins
The Travelling Bookshop: Mim and the Baffling Bully by Katrina Nannestad, with illustrations by Cherly Orsini
The What on Earth Institute of Wonder by Lisa Nicol
Decodable Books
Cockburn Libraries only has one of these series but our Ready, Steady, Go Easy Reader collections are available at each branch.
Early Readers Series by Decodable Readers Australia
InitiaLit Readers Levels 10-16 Series 2 – The Wattle Series by Various
Little Learners Big World Stage 1–6 by Various
Pip and Tim by Lorraine Lea, Maureen Pollard and Berys Dixon
Rip Rap Club series by Judy Keen / Cumquatmay
Snappy Sounds by Kristin Anthian and Macmillan Education
SPELD SA Phonic Book Series by Various (SPELD SA Phonic Books support the teaching of reading by using a structured synthetic phonics approach. They are designed to build on the pre-reading skills of oral language and phonological awareness needed for reading success. Electronic SPELD SA Phonic Books are free to use)
* This book is eligible to be judged in its nominated category and is also eligible to be judged for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Authored Children’s Book Award.
