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2013 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards Shortlists
A few days ago the shortlists for the 2013 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards was announced by Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Arts Minister Tony Burke.
From children’s books that excel in the art of storytelling through to revealing works of non-fiction and history, the 29 books on the 2013 shortlists represent the breadth and depth of the Australian story and imagination.
Now in their sixth year, the shortlists recognise the best in Australian fiction, poetry, non-fiction, history, young adult and children’s fiction published in 2012. A tax free prize of $80,000 will be awarded to the winner of each of the award categories. Shortlisted entries receive $5,000 tax free.
The 2013 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards shortlists are:
Fiction
Floundering by Romy Ash
The Chemistry of Tears by Peter Carey
Questions of Travel by Michelle de Kretser
Lost Voices by Christopher Koch
Mateship with Birds by Carrie Tiffany
Poetry
Burning Rice by Eileen Chong
The Sunlit Zone by Lisa Jacobson
Jam Tree Gully: Poems by John Kinsella
Liquid Nitrogen by Jennifer Maiden
Crimson Crop by Peter Rose
Non-fiction
Bradman’s War by Malcolm Knox
Uncommon Soldier by Chris Masters
Plein Airs and Graces by Adrian Mitchell
The Australian Moment by George Megalogenis
Bold Palates by Barbara Santich
Prize for Australian History
The Sex Lives of Australians: A History by Frank Bongiorno
Sandakan by Paul Ham
Gough Whitlam by Jenny Hocking
Farewell, dear people by Ross McMullin
The Censor’s Library by Nicole Moore
Young Adult Fiction
Everything left unsaid by Jessica Davidson
The Children of the King by Sonya Hartnett
Grace Beside Me by Sue McPherson
Fog a Dox by Bruce Pascoe
Friday Brown by Vikki Wakefield
Children’s Fiction
Red by Libby Gleeson
Today We Have No Plans by Jane Godwin and illustrated by Anna Walker
What’s the Matter, Aunty May? by Peter Friend and illustrated by Andrew Joyner
The Beginner’s Guide to Revenge by Marianne Musgrove
Have you read any of the shortlisted books? Which would you nominate to win?
National Simultaneous Storytime TODAY @ 10:30am
National Simultaneous Storytime is an annual campaign that aims to encourage more young Australians to read and enjoy books. Now in its 13th successful year, it is a colourful, vibrant and FUN event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy using an Australian children’s book that explores age appropriate themes and addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Grades 1 to 6. The title for 2013 is “The Wrong Book” by Nick Bland which is about Nicholas Ickle who is trying to tell a story, but keeps getting interupted by characters from other stories.
National Simultaneous Storytime 2013
National Simultaneous Storytime is an annual campaign that aims to encourage more young Australians to read and enjoy books. Now in its 13th successful year, it is a colourful, vibrant and FUN event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy using an Australian children’s book that explores age appropriate themes and addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Grades 1 to 6. The title for 2013 is “The Wrong Book” by Nick Bland which is about Nicholas Ickle who is trying to tell a story, but keeps getting interupted by characters from other stories.
Children’s Book Council of Australia shortlists 2013
Here is some quality reading for children of all ages.
Older Readers Short List 2013 – These books are for mature readers
- The Ink Bridge by Neil Grant
- Sea Hearts by Margo Lanagan
- The Shiny Guys by Doug MacLeod
- Creepy & Maud by Dianne Touchell
- Friday Brown by Vikki Wakefield
- The Wrong Boy by Suzy Zail
Younger Readers Short List 2013 – These books are intended for independent younger readers
- Pennies for Hitler by Jackie French
- Other Brother by Simon French
- After by Morris Gleitzman
- Children of the King by Sonya Hartnett
- Pookie Aleera is Not my Boyfriend by Steven Herrick
- The Tender Moments of Saffron Silk by Glenda Millard, illustrated by Stephen Michael King
Early Childhood Short List 2013 – these books are intended for children in the pre-reading to early reading stages
- The Terrible Suitcase by Emma Allen, illustrated by Freya Blackwood
- With Nan by Tania Cox, illustrated by Karen Blair
- The Pros & Cons of Being a Frog by Sue DeGennaro
- Too Many Elephants in This House by Ursula Dubosarsky, illustrated by Andrew Joyner
- It’s a Miroocool! by Christine Harris, illustrated by Ann James
- Peggy by Anna Walker
- The Coat by Julie Hunt, illustrated by Ron Brooks
- Tanglewood by Vivienne Goodman, illustrated by Margaret Wild
- Herman and Rosie by Gus Gordon
- Sophie Scott Goes South by Alison Lester
- Lightning Jack by Patricia Mullins, illustrated by Glenda Millard
- A Day to Remember by Jackie French , illustrated by Mark Wilson
Eve Pownall Award for Information Books Short List 2013 – these books are intended for an audience ranging from birth to 18 years (some books may be for mature readers).
- Python by Christopher Cheng & Mark Jackson
- Lyrebird! A True Story by Jackie Kerin, illustrated by Peter Gouldthorpe
- Topsy-turvy World: How Australian Animals Puzzled Early Explorers by Kirsty Murray
- Portrait of Spain for Kids by the Queensland Art Gallery
- Tom the Outback Mailman by Kristin Weidenbach, illustated by Timothy Ide
The Book Week theme for 2013 is Read across the universe
And Book Week this year is August 17 – August 23, 2013
The winners will be announced on Friday August 16, 2013
Mayoral Awards – Summer Reading Challenge
A big congratulations to all of the wonderfully keen readers who took part in our recent Summer Reading Challenge. 532 children registered for the program, 604 log sheets were returned and 9,900 books were read in total! This is a fantastic result.
Last Wednesday, 27th February, The Mayoral Awards were held at Katoomba Library – to award the winners of the Summer Reading Challenge. Mayor, Councillor Daniel Myles made a speech congratulating the children and their families, whilst also expressing his hearty support of the reading program and how it reinforces the value of reading. He then presented the awards to the winners.
The Mayor’s speech
The winners of the 2012/2013 Summer Reading Challenge were:
The 2013 Best Reader
Chloe Dance
Chloe Dance
The 2013 Runner-Up
Nathan Bailey
The 2013 Encouragement Award
Bernie Miall
Bernie Miall
The 2013 Best Family Reader’s Award
James Family
The James family
Group photo of the winners
Costa Book Award Winners 2013
Hilary Mantel continues to draw awards and acclaim, winning the Costa Novel Award for her masterpiece Bring Up the Bodies.
Ms Mantel’s win is one of several firsts for the Costa Awards, with her becoming the first author to win both the Costa Novel Award and Booker Prize in the same year.
Also a first was awarding a prize, the Biography prize, to a graphic novel. Dotter of Her Father’s Eyes was written by Mary Talbot and drawn by her husband, Bryan Talbot.
The other first is that all five category prizes have been won by women with Francesca Segal winning the First Novel award with The Innocents.
Kathleen Jamie won the Poetry award for The Overhaul and, despite being dyslexic, Sally Gardner won the Children’s Book prize for Maggot Moon which she both wrote and illustrated.
Each of the Costa Book Award winners will recieve £5,000 in prize money. They will now be reappraised and the winner of the £25,000 Costa Book of the Year will be announced on 29th January in London.
