The University of Queensland Press (UQP) has received a staggering six nominations for the 2006 Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Awards.
It is the most nominations UQP has ever received for the prestigious awards and sees them leading the shortlist alongside Penguin books, also with six.
The UQP nominations are:
Book of the Year: Older Readers
Brian Caswell – Double Exposure
Bill Condon – No Worries
Book of the Year: Younger Readers
Catherine Bateson – Millie and the Night Herron
Pat Flynn, Illus. Chantal Stewart – To the Light
Book of the Year: Early Childhood
Nike Bourke, Illus. Stella Danalis – What the Sky Knows
Picture Book of the Year
Nike Bourke, Illus. Stella Danalis – What the Sky Knows
Children’s Publisher Leonie Tyle, who has worked with UQP for 12 years, said she submitted 11 books for the awards.
“To get six books out of 11 is amazing, particularly when some of the larger publishers would have entered more than 100,” Ms Tyle said.
The CBCA Award winners will be announced on Friday, August 18 during the Children’s Book Week celebrations.
Publishers regard the awards as the most important children’s book prizes in Australia and the shortlist is commonly used as a buying guide, especially by schools and libraries, but also by young readers and those choosing books for them.
“You are guaranteed of selling at least an extra 5000 copies so they are very significant awards,” Ms Tyle said.
“It’s an honour to work with such talented Australian writers and I’m thrilled these titles have been acknowledged by the CBCA as among the best Australian literature for young people.”
Brian Caswell, author of Double Exposure, is no stranger to the awards shortlist having previously been nominated.
“Being shortlisted is always an incredible acknowledgment and honour,” Mr Caswell said.
“Working with Leonie all these years has been a wonderful experience; she knows how to get the best out of an author and not only offers support, encouragement and advice but also friendship.”
Stella Danalis, illustrator of What the Sky Knows by Nike Bourke, said she was excited about attending the awards.
“The book is about everything to do with the sky and more. I was inspired by Nike’s text,” she said.
“This is my first picture book so now I’ll have to do some more.”
Media: For more information, contact UQP Marketing Officer Taressa Brennan (telephone 07 3365 2606, email taressab@uqp.uq.edu.au) or Chris Saxby at UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 2479, email c.saxby@uq.edu.au).
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