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Small Publishers' Children's Book of the Year
Subcategory of Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA)
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Latest Winners / Recipients

Year: 2021

winner y separately published work icon Bindi Kirli Saunders , Broome : Magabala Books , 2020 19598297 2020 single work children's fiction children's

'Meet 11-year-old Bindi. She’s not really into maths but LOVES art class and playing hockey. Her absolute FAVOURITE thing is adventuring outside with friends or her horse, Nell.

'A new year starts like normal—school, family, hockey, dancing. But this year hasn’t gone to plan! There’s a big art assignment, a drought, a broken wrist AND the biggest bushfires her town has ever seen!

'Bindi is a verse novel for mid-upper primary students. Written ‘for those who plant trees’, Bindi explores climate, bushfires, and healing. Written from the point of view of 11-year-old Bindi and her friends on Gundungurra Country.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

Year: 2020

winner y separately published work icon Love Your Body Jessica Sanders , Carol Rossetti (illustrator), Melbourne : Bonniers , 2019 18744001 2019 single work picture book children's

'My body is strong.
My body can do amazing things.
My body is my own.

'Freedom is loving your body with all its "imperfections" and being the perfectly imperfect you! Love Your Body encourages young girls to admire and celebrate their bodies for all the amazing things they can do, and help girls see that they are so much more than their bodies.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

Year: 2019

winner y separately published work icon Whisper Lynette Noni , Neutral Bay : Pantera Press , 2018 12364747 2018 single work novel young adult science fiction

'For two and a half years, Subject 684 --- "Jane Doe" --- has been locked underground in a secret government facility, enduring tests and torture. In that time, she hasn't uttered a single word. Not even her real name. Jane chooses to remain silent rather than risk losing control over the power within her. She alone knows what havoc her words can cause. Then the authorities put her in the care of the mysterious Landon Ward, and Jane is surprised when he treats her like a person rather than a prisoner. Ward's protective nature causes her resolve to crack in spite of her best efforts to resist. Just as Jane begins to trust him, though, a freak accident reveals the dangerous power she has concealed for years. It also reveals that the government has been keeping secrets of its own. Now Jane's ability is at the heart of a sinister plot for vengeance, and she has to decide whom she will trust ... and whom she will help.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

Year: 2018

winner y separately published work icon It's Okay to Feel the Way You Do Otherwise You Wouldn't Be You Josh Langley , Josh Langley (illustrator), Newport : Big Sky Publishing , 2017 12242518 2017 single work picture book children's

'Everyone has feelings ... sometimes we just don’t know what to do with them!

'Happy, sad, lonely, angry, anxious, proud, scared – they’re all feelings and emotions and they’re all OK! Yes – every single one of them!

'In this bright and heartening book, Josh Langley helps kids get to know and make friends with their feelings.

'Bursting with simple and effective ways that kids can notice and handle difficult emotions like anger, anxiety, and loss and also rejoice in the positive feelings such as joy, empathy and happiness, this is a little book with a big message.

'It’s Ok to Feel the Way You Do empowers kids to understand and share their feelings so they can enjoy life a whole lot more.'  (Publication summary)

Year: 2017

winner y separately published work icon My Sister Is a Superhero Damon Young , Peter Carnavas (illustrator), St Lucia : University of Queensland Press , 2016 8936906 2016 single work picture book children's

'Some sisters glide on scooters

next to lanes of tooting cars.

But my sister is a superhero …

she races rockets around stars.

'All sisters are different. But what if your sister was really different? What if your sister was a superhero?

'A spectacular picture book celebrating sisters everywhere.' (Publication summary)

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