Feature image credit: Little Book Press
Two South Australian women have been honoured in the national CBCA 2023 Book of the Year Awards.
On Friday August 18, the Children’s Book Council of Australia announced the winners of the CBCA 2023 Book of the Year Awards, a prestigious annual accolade that continues to celebrate quality Australian literature for young people.
Author Katrina Germein and illustrator Mandy Foot received an honour in the Early Childhood category for their picture book Bev and Kev. Telling the story of a giraffe and a small bird who make an unlikely pair of friends, the book explores belonging, self-love, and the value of friendship.
The category seeks fiction, drama or poetry and should be appropriate in style and content for children who are at pre-reading or early stages of reading.
While the winner of the category was “Where the Lyrebird Lives” by Vikki Conley, illustrated by Max Hamilton, Bev and Kev was chosen for “rich language,” “important messages,” and the harmony between the text illustrations.
“The southern African setting is clearly defined in these outstanding watercolour and pencil illustrations which are placed onto digitally rendered backgrounds, capturing the mood of the story to perfection,” the judge commented. “Illustrations and text harmonise well, and the spectacularly eye-catching final fold-out page creates a lovely resolution, told wordlessly.”
Below, Chloe (4) and Arlo (18m) dressed up as Bev for Book Week (image provided by DMCPR Media).
The competition was fierce, as entries across the six categories presented powerful, polished, and professionally produced books that enrich the imaginations of readers.
”We are thrilled,” said CBCA National Chair Wendy Rapee. “In 2023 particularly we want to champion these powerful stories because they respect our young readers and the value they place on strong friendships and family bonds.”
CBCA Book Week runs from 19-25 August. In 2023 the theme is “Read, Grow, Inspire.”
For the full list of CBCA Book of the Year 2023 Award and Honour books, visit the CBCA website here.
Grab a copy of Bev and Kev from Little Book Press. RRP: $14.99 (paperback).
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