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Speak Out December 2013 11
W hat do you get it if you cross five authors, 90+
excited Grade 1 children, a rascally Seadog and
great books that promote children’s oral language
development? The 2013 SPA Book of the Year Awards Ceremony.
When almost 16% of Australian children have difficulties learning to
read, these awards are as important as ever.
As announced in the October edition of Speak Out, four deserving
books were awarded for their contribution to language and literacy
development:
Seadog by Claire Saxby – Young Children category (2–5 years)
Sophie Scott Goes South by Alison Lester – Lower Primary
category (5–8 years)
After by Morris Gleitzman – Upper Primary category (8–12 years)
Two Mates by Melanie Prewett – Indigenous Children category
Ursula Dubosarsky was also inducted into Book of the Year’s
Hall of Fame for sustained and excellent contribution to Australian
children’s language and literacy development. Visit our Facebook
page to see the ABC News interview about literacy and the awards
with Ursula and SPA’s Dr Tanya Serry, as well as a Herald Sun
piece containing Ursula’s thoughts on quality children’s books (and
Book of the Year).
Thank you to everyone who has been involved in this year’s awards
– they have been highly successful and we continue to increase
awareness about the role of speech pathologists in literacy, the
awards and forge relationships with partner organisations.
An even bigger thank you must go to the shortlisters and judges
who have spent their valuable time poring over the books to make
sure that the winners serve as valuable tools to promote oral
language and literacy.
If you would like to suggest a book for the 2014 Book of the Year
Awards, nomination forms will be available from the Book of the
Year webpage from January 2014.
Tennille Burns
National PA Coordinator
Joanna Wood
Communications & Marketing Manager
Claire Saxby won the Young
Children’s category for Seadog.
Author Ursula Dubosarsky showed
her favourite childhood books.
SPA’s Tennille Burns awards Alison
Lester forSophie Scott Goes South .
Rascally Seadog!
Morris Gleitzman’s book After won
the Upper Primary category award.
Bridie McKay and Glenda Strong from
the RCH helped support the event.
Maggie and Melanie Prewett with their
award-winnning book Two Mates.
Some attendees took the time to read
shortlisted books after the ceremony.
We learned Sophie Scott was inspired
by Alison Lester’s trip to Antarctica.
The award-winning titles at this year's
Book of the Year Awards.
Book of the Year Awards
2013 Awards Ceremony and call for 2014 nominations
Book of the Year
2013 ceremony