Every year the Wilderness Society shortlists the best children’s nature books. Showcasing some of the best writers and illustrators working in children’s literature, the award promotes a love of nature in kids. The new Karajia Award celebrates this continent’s First Nations authors and/or illustrated children’s books.

This year’s awards will take place during Nature Book Week, from 5-11 September. Find out what titles made the shortlist here…

The Karajia Award shortlist

• Sea Country by Aunty Patsy Cameron, illustrated by Lisa Kennedy (Magabala Books)
• Sharing by Aunty Fay Muir and Sue Lawson, illustrated by Leanne Mulgo Watson (Magabala Books)
• Wiradjuri Country by Larry Brandy (National Library of Australia)
• Welcome to Our Country: Somebody’s Land by Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing, illustrated by David Hardy (Allen & Unwin)

See the full shortlist for the Karajia Award here…

Picture Fiction

• The Accidental Penguin Hotel by Andrew Kelly, illustrated by Dean Jones (Wild Dog Books)
• Sharing by Aunty Fay Muir and Sue Lawson, illustrated by Leanne Mulgo Watson (Magabala Books)
• The River by Sally Morgan, illustrated by Johnny Warrkatja Malibirr (Magabala Books)
• Saving Seal: The Plastic Predicament by Diane Jackson Hill, illustrated by Craig Smith (Museums Victoria Publishing)

See the full shortlist for Picture Fiction here…

Non-fiction

• The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature by Sami Bayly (Hachette Australia)
• The Australian Climate Change Book by Polly Marsden, illustrated by Chris Nixon (Hachette Australia)
• The Way of Weedy Seadragon by Anne Morgan, illustrated by Lois Bury (CSIRO Publishing)
• The Gentle Genius of Trees by Philip Bunting (Omnibus)

Fiction

• Fish Kid and the Turtle Torpedo by Kylie Howarth (Walker Books)
• Bailey Finch Takes a Stand by Ingrid Laguna (Text Publishing)
• The Good Times of Pelican Rise: Save the Joeys (Affirm Press)

See the full 2022 shortlist here…

Nature Book Week is a space for us all to celebrate nature writing in all its forms, from science writing to poetry, fiction and non-fiction. From 5-11 September, you’ll find a week of talks and events culminating in the Environment Award For Children’s Literature.