Children's Book Council of Australia - Book of the Year Shortlist announced!

It's awards season, and the CBCA have announced their shortlist for the 2015 Book of the Year. These awards span five categories including Information books, Picture books, Early Childhood, Younger Readers and Older Readers.

The nominees for the 2015 books are.....

Older Readers

Nona and me by Clare Atkins
Intruder by Christine Bongers
Are you seeing me? by Darren Groth
The incredible adventures of Cinnamon Girl by Melissa Keil
The minnow by Diana Sweeney
The protected by Claire Zorn


Younger Readers

Two wolves by Tristan Bancks
The simple things by Bill Condon
The Cleo stories: The Necklace and the present by Libby Gleeson
Bleakboy and Hunter stand out in the rain by Steven Herrick
Figgy in the world by Tamsin Janu
Withering-by-sea: A Stella Montgomery intrigue by Judith Rossell

Winners will be announced on Friday 21 August!

CBCA Awards 2013

The short list of this year's nominated books have been announced for the Children's Book Council of Australia Awards, 2013!!

How does it work, I hear you ask? All the authors must be Australian, and are nominated by their publishers. Then, the judges assess the nominations and select a short list of finalists. There are categories for Older Readers, Younger Readers, Early Childhood, Picture Books and Information Books. Winners are announced at 12pm sharp on the third Friday in August (that's 16th August this year).

And the nominees are:

Older Readers:

Neil Grant, The Ink Bridge

Margo Lanagan, Sea Hearts
Doug McLeod, Shiny Guys
Dianne Touchell, Creepy and Maud
Vikki Wakefield, Friday Brown
Suzy Zail, The Wrong Boy

Younger Readers:
Jackie French, Pennies for Hitler
Simon French, Other Brother
Morris Gleitzman, After

Sonya Hartnett, Children of the King

Steven Herrick, Pookie Aleera is not my Boyfriend
Glenda Millard and Stephen Michael King, The Tender Moments of Saffron Silk

What now?

• Add your thoughts about in the comments below.
• Go to the catalogue and reserve it.
• Borrow it as an ebook.
• Review a book yourself.

The Golden Door by Emily Rodda

The Golden Door is the first in Emily Rodda's new trilogy. I have to admit, this is my first Rodda book. Shameful I know since I have been recommending her for years. She is hugely popular so I thought it about time I had a go.

The book is action packed, full of magic, intrigue, adrenalin and gore. The only thing that reminded me that it was a book for kids was the main character Rye. He is a bit of an antihero, timid and reluctant to join in with the action.

The only down points were that the ending felt rushed and it was left on an obvious cliff hanger. The Golden Door has been shortlisted for the Childrens Book Council of Australia book of the year. A worthy contender but will it win? Hmmm...

What now?

• Add your thoughts about in the comments below.
• Go to the catalogue and reserve it.
• Review a book yourself.