A former Olympian, an Indigenous pop star and a 14-year-old entrepreneur passionate about the eradication of plastic in our oceans feature among many other diverse authors in this year’s shortlists.
In its 29th year, the Wilderness Society’s Environment Award for Children’s Literature is the world’s longest running award of its kind. The Karajia Prize for Children’s Literature established in 2022 is the first award in Australia that honours children’s books written by First Nations authors with a connection to Country.
2023 ENVIRONMENT AWARD FOR CHILDREN’S LITERATURE
SUNNY THE SHARK (Remy Lai)
DEAR GRETA (Yvette Poshoglian)
TYENNA: THROUGH MY EYES - AUSTRALIAN DISASTER ZONES (Julie Hunt / Terry Whitebeach)
BERANI (Michelle Kadarusman)
NONFICTION:
WE ARE AUSTRALIANS (Duncan Smith / Nicole Godwin / Jandamarra Cadd)
THE ABC KIDS GUIDE TO LOVING THE PLANET (Jaclyn Crupi / Cheryl Orsini)
ON THE TRAIL OF THE PLAINS-WANDERER (Rohan Cleave / Julian Teh)
AUSTRALIA'S ENDANGERED BUSH CREATURES (Myke Mollard)
PICTURE FICTION:
SAY NO TO PLASTIC! (Ned Heaton / Shane Heaton / Tamzin Barber)
THE TREE AT NUMBER 43 (Jess McGeachin)
A SHOREBIRD FLYING ADVENTURE (Jackie Kerin / Milly Formby)
LOOKING AFTER COUNTRY WITH FIRE (Victor Steffensen / Sandra Steffensen)
KIND (Jess McGeachin)
"Storytelling has the power to inspire, confront, entertain, reassure and bring us together. And it is a crucial pathway to encourage children to embrace a lifelong love, respect and a sheer wonderment of their natural world. I feel very privileged to be on this year's judging panel." — Alex Papps
Past winners of the award include acclaimed Australian children’s authors Tim Winton, Paul Jennings, Jackie French, Aunty Joy Murphy, the late Narelle Oliver, Coral Tulloch, Graeme Base and Wendy Orr.
THE HEART OF THE LAND (Cathy Freeman / Coral Vass / Tannya Harricks)
COME TOGETHER (Isaiah Firebrace / Jaelyn Biumaiwai)
NINNI YABINI (Cheryl Kickett-Tucker / Tyrown Waigana)
THE DUNGGIIRR BROTHERS AND THE CARING SONG OF THE WHALE (Aunty Shaa Smith / Yandaarra)
OUR DREAMING (Kirli Saunders / Dub Leffler)
LOOKING AFTER COUNTRY WITH FIRE (Victor Steffensen / Sandra Steffensen)
MIIMI MARRAAL, MOTHER EARTH (Melissa Greenwood)
WE ARE AUSTRALIANS (Duncan Smith / Nicole Godwin / Jandamarra Cadd)
OPEN YOUR HEART TO COUNTRY (Jasmine Seymour)
For more information about these shortlisted books see: HERE
The Karajia Award for Children’s Literature celebrates and recognises the important message of First Nations authors and illustrators that honour a connection to Country. Sharing stories exploring land, community, culture and language. Judges for this year’s Karajia awards include 2022 Karajia award winning author and former AFL player Adam Goodes, Australian actor and regular Playschool presenter Hunter Page-Lochard and Inaugural Karajia winner illustrator and visual artist Leanne Mulgo Watson.
“In our language, Mirning means listen, learn, understand and observe and when you get that, you get wisdom and you get knowledge. It is very important to have these Karajia Awards and books to teach younger people. Not only younger people, adults as well who have missed out on stories in that time, in that life, going back those years. They can say “Wow, never heard that before. It is really good. Wow that is incredible.” - Bunna Lawrie, Karajia Award Ambassador
“In Mirning culture, Karajia is a holder and teller of stories, some carried from when the world was young. Senior Elder of the Mirning people, Uncle Bunna Lawrie is a Karajia. I can’t express my gratitude enough for him allowing us to use the word Karajia to name the Award,” said Matt Brennan, CEO of Wilderness Society.
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MEDIA ENQUIRIES
For more information and interview requests, please contact:
Dina Kluska on [email protected] or 0409 011 092
Sophia Constantine on [email protected] or 0434 832 040
Download the media release in full here.