Wilderness Society announces shortlisted books on World Environment Day

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.

On World Environment Day (5 June) the Wilderness Society announces its shortlisted authors for their 29th annual Environment Award for Children’s Literature and their newly founded Karajia Award celebrating Indigenous authors and illustrators sharing Country and Culture.

ENVIRONMENT AWARD FOR CHILDREN’S LITERATURE

The Environment Award for Children’s Literature was started by a group of environmental educators in
1994 who wanted to work with the Wilderness Society to promote a love of nature through books.

Joining the judging panel for this year’s shortlist are Australian actor and regular Playschool host Alex
Papps, last year’s EACL winner children’s book author and illustrator Sami Bayly and visual artist, cultural education consultant and preschool teacher Adam Duncan.

Alex Papps:

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.

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. 2023.

ENVIRONMENT AWARD FOR CHILDREN’S LITERATURE FICTION:

• SUNNY THE SHARK (Remy Lai)
• DEAR GRETA (Yvette Poshoglian)
• TYENNA: THROUGH MY EYES – AUSTRALIAN DISASTER ZONES (Julie Hunt / Terry White beach)
• 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)

KARAJIA AWARD FOR CHILDREN’S LITERATURE

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.

Bunna Lawrie, Karajia Award Ambassador:

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.

Matt Brennan, CEO of Wilderness Society:

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.

2023 KARAJIA AWARD FOR CHILDREN’S LITERATURE SHORTLIST

• 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)

Victor Steffensen:

It is such an honour to have Looking After Country With Fire nominated by the Wilderness Society for the Karaija and the Environment Awards for Children’s Literature, I’m so happy that parents can share this story with their children to learn how important Aboriginal fire is for Country and how it should be seen more as a friend today.

Cathy Freeman:

To be shortlisted and acknowledged in this way is so meaningful as a contributor to a storytelling process. Knowing that others in the world of storytelling see value in your own contribution means so much and for that I’m very appreciative.

Isaiah Firebrace:

I am so honoured to be nominated for the Karajia Award for Children’s Literature that celebrates authors and illustrators that are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island descent. My book ‘Come Together’ was inspired to connect and educate people to our rich culture and history, and I am so proud that it is being recognised for exactly that.

The Wilderness Society announces all the shortlisted books for both Awards via Facebook Live at 1 pm on Monday 5 June. Nature Book Week Ambassador Dr Jen Martin will MC, and she’ll be joined by some of the judges to announce the shortlist.

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