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History

'The COOL Awards is an annual children's choice award voted on by students in Canberra, the Australian Capital Territory, Australia. Children are encouraged to read and vote for their favourite books. The votes are tallied and the awards made.

'The COOL Award name is an acronym, standing for Canberra’s Own Outstanding List.

'The ACT Public Library currently convenes the awards and they are administered by a committee representing ACT Government, Catholic and Independent Schools, the ACT Public Library and the Children's Book Council of Australia, ACT Branch. The award was first made in 1991.'

Latest Winners / Recipients (also see subcategories)v1449

Year: 2009

winner (Picture Book) y separately published work icon Jungle Drums Graeme Base , Graeme Base (illustrator), Camberwell : Viking , 2004 Z1153114 2004 single work picture book children's Little Ngiri is the smallest warthog in Africa. Tired of being teased by his bigger brothers and sisters, he wishes things could be different. When Old Nyumbu the wildebeest gives Ngiri a set of magic drums, he is sure his wish is about to come true. But all the animals of the jungle are in for a BIG surprise as Ngiri's wish is granted in a most unexpected way.

Year: 2008

winner y separately published work icon Dragon Moon Carole Wilkinson , Fitzroy : Black Dog Books , 2007 Z1365380 2007 single work children's fiction children's fantasy (taught in 1 units)

'Ancient China. Han Dynasty. Ping and Kai have travelled far, but their journey is not yet over. Danger stalks them. Ping must find Kai a safe place. But how?

'When a hidden message from Danzi makes the way clear, Ping knows that once again the journey of a thousand li begins with a single step.' (Publisher's blurb)

Best fiction for years 7-9

Year: 2007

winner Fiction for Years 7-9 y separately published work icon The Silver Donkey : A Novel for Children Sonya Hartnett , Camberwell : Penguin , 2004 Z1153478 2004 single work children's fiction children's (taught in 1 units) In France during World War I, four French children learn about honesty, loyalty, and courage from an English army deserter who tells them a series of stories related to his small, silver donkey charm. (Source: Trove)

Year: 1998

winner (Secondary Division) y separately published work icon The Dead of the Night John Marsden , Chippendale : Pan Macmillan Australia , 1994 Z91026 1994 single work novel young adult

'Hell is still the safest place on earth.

'When you've run out of choices, you've only got yourself.

'As war rages, as the enemy closes in, as Ellie and her friends fight for their lives, they are left with nothing. Nothing but courage, spirit and pride' (Source: bookseller's website).

Year: 1997

winner (Primary Readers' choice) y separately published work icon Belly Flop Morris Gleitzman , Sydney : Pan , 1996 Z797514 1996 single work children's fiction children's humour '"Doug's not like one of those posh guardian angels in the Bible," Gran used to say. "He's invisible, he doesn't do violence and he's very busy, so if you need him you've got to ask." I'm asking you now, Doug. Mitch needs help. Everyone hates him, but he's got a plan that'll make him the most popular bloke in town. If it doesn't kill him. He hopes his guardian angel is listening' (Source: NLA).
winner (Secondary Readers' choice) y separately published work icon The Paw Thing Paul Jennings , Ringwood : Puffin , 1989 Z832414 1989 single work children's fiction children's

'Oh yuck. The mice were running up my trousers. They wriggled under my shirt. They were even inside my underpants.

'Mice, madness and mayhem' (Source: publisher's website).

Works About this Award

Funny, Scary Is COOL, Say Junior Readers Julian Hobba , 1998 single work column
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 11 June 1998; (p. 3)
Awards are not a Flop Georgia Curry , 1997 single work column
— Appears in: The Chronicle , 21 May 1997;
Horrified Reactions of First Europeans Robert Hefner , 1991 single work criticism
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 27 October 1991; (p. 27)
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