It was another wonderful day of celebration of the authors and illustrators of Australia, as voted by the kids of NSW. The winners and honour books, authors and illustrators who attended the awards and the list of schools represented are in the presentation below. Further down the page are video messages from winners who could not attend the awards ceremony. Congratulations to all! See our Facebook and Twitter feeds elsewhere on this page to find out more.
Awards Day 2014 - Save the date!
Awards Day 2014 will be held on the morning of Wednesday 12th of November at Newington College, 200 Stanmore Road Stanmore, 2048.
Awards Day 2013
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The 2013 Awards Ceremony was held at The Old Boys Lecture Theatre in The Rae Centre at Newington College, Stanmore on Wednesday 30th October.
Fourteen schools attended the awards:
Austinmer Public School; Bringelly Public School; Helensburgh Public School; Holroyd High School; Holy Saviour School Geenacre; Holy Spirit College Bellambi; Middleton Grange Public School; Mount Annan Christian College; Newington Wyvern House; Newtown Public School; Old Guilford Public School; PLC Sydney Junior; Stanmore public School; The King’s School.
Bruce Whatley was our Illustrator in Residence, painting a beautiful illustration as we watched, which was taken home by one lucky school.
Bruce Whatley's artwork created during 2013 Awards Ceremony
Other authors and illustrators present were:
Felice Arena, Duncan Ball, Morris Gleitzman, Chris Morphew, Belinda Murrell, Oliver Phommavanh, and Emily Rodda.
Felice Arena was chosen as the KOALA Legend for 2013. He is a dedicated and prolific writer for young readers. His books are accessible, exciting and fun for kids. He writes series that just keep kids reading. His frequent visits to schools inspire even reluctant readers to give reading a go. And kids nominate his books as among their favourites. Felice Arena is a children's choice and a legend! Read the full citation and look back at earlier years on the Legends Page.
Category Winners and Honour Books:
Picture Books
WINNER: The Very Cranky Bear by Nick Bland (Scholastic)
HONOUR BOOKS: Ella Kazoo Will Not Brush Her Hair by Lee Fox and Cathy Wilcox (Lothian) AND The Little Refugee by Anh & Suzanne Do and Bruce Whatley (Allen & Unwin)
Fiction for Younger readers
WINNER: The Golden Door by Emily Rodda (Scholastic Omnibus)
HONOUR BOOKS: Alice-Miranda Shows the Way by Jacqueline Harvey (Random House) AND Pizza Cake by Morris Gleitzman (Penguin)
Fiction for Older readers
WINNER: 26-Storey Treehouse by Andy griffiths & Terry Denton (Macmillan)
HONOUR BOOKS: The Forgotten Pearl by Belinda Murrell (Random House) AND Thai-Riffic! by Oliver Phommavanh (Penguin)
Fiction for years 7 to 9
WINNER: The Phoenix Files: Contact by Chris Morphew (Hardie Grant)
HONOUR BOOKS: The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak (Pan Macmillan) AND After by Morris Gleitzman (Penguin)
Not all of our award winning author and illustrators were able to be present on the day, but we did have video greetings from Nick Bland in the Northern Territory, Andy Griffiths who it seems was stuck in an anti-gravity machine, and Terry Denton from his garden studio in Melbourne.
2012 Awards Day Celebration!
The 2012 Awards Day was held on Tuesday 13 November at Lend Lease Darling Quarter Theatre (Terrace 3, 1-25 Harbour St, Sydney), home of Monkey Baa Theatre Company.
Students, teachers and librarians from 12 schools joined Andy Griffiths, Duncan Ball, Sarah Davis,
Deborah Abela, Oliver Phommavanh, Moya Simons, Gabrielle Lord, Ursula Dubosarsky, Kim Gamble,
David Legge, Frances Watts, Chris Morphew, Jacqueline Harvey and Belinda Murrell to celebrate the annoucement of the 2012 awards.
The 2012 winners and honour books list can be downloaded here.
AWARDS DAY 2011
AWARDS DAY 2011
More than 300 students, teachers, authors, illustrators, publishers and other friends of KOALA celebrated the 25th annual Awards Day at the fabulous Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre on 26th October.
To put us in a party mood each school was asked to make a party hat for one of the authors or illustrators attending. You should have seen the wonderful and very elaborate creations that the recipients had to model. It was great fun! (Austinmer Public School posted some great pictures, as did Thirroul Public School.)
And what a line-up of authors and illustrators were there. Bob Graham, Andy Griffiths, and Robyn Bavati flew in from Melbourne. Pat Flynn came down from Queensland to join local favourites Deb Abela, Duncan Ball, Rod Clement, Ursula Dubosarsky, Anna Fienberg, Kim Gamble, Catherine Jinks, Belinda Murrell, Oliver Phommavanh, Lisa Shanahan and Richard Tulloch in supporting KOALA.
Students from Austinmer Public School, St Mary's Primary School, Georges Hall, Thirroul Public School, Middleton Grange Public School, St Joseph's Primary School Moorebank, Holy Spirit College, Corrimal, Llandilo Public School, Wollondilly Anglican College, Fairfield Public School, The Oaks Public School, Holy Cross Primary, Glenwood, Mt Annan Christian College, Bringelly Public School, Ingleburn North Public School, Newtown Public School and St Jerome's Primary Punchbowl had the chance to meet the authors and illustrators and get their autographs.
The winners were announced and Andy Griffiths was there to collect a record 11th KOALA Award, this time in the Younger Readers category for The Very Bad Book. The audience loved him! Andy is a great supporter of KOALA, regularly making the trip up from Melbourne to join us. Thanks Andy!
Other winners were Mr Chicken goes to Paris by Leigh Hobbs (Picture Book), Book of Lies by James Moloney (Older Readers) and Girl Underground by Morris Gleitzman (Fiction Years 7-9).
Our newest KOALA Legend was announced and Bob Graham was genuinely surprised and delighted with the honour. It was so wonderful that he could join us for this announcement.
4F for Freaks by Leigh Hobbs which has been shortlisted five times was added to the KOALA Hall of Fame.
If you weren't at the 2011 KOALA Awards Day you missed a great day. Look out for details of the 2012 event and try to be there!
Awards Day 2010
AWARDS DAY 2010
KOALA awards day took place this year at Fairfield Public school - 27/10/10. What a fabulous day! With 11 schools and 7 authors & illustrators attending the awards day. It was a hot festive day, especially for all the children who waited eagerly for the announcement of the winners. Mylee Joseph, from the State Library of NSW, one of the special guests commented that the cheers and whistles that followed the announcement of winners were like that of spectators at a football match or a pop concert - it was amazing to see the kids reacting this way to .....authors. We were fortunate to have some of the category winners present to receive their awards in person – Emily Rodda (who attended on crutches) Colin Thompson and Sarah Davis.
Other authors & illustrators who attended were Duncan Ball, Aleesha Darlison, Lisa Shanahan, & Moya Simons.
Fairfield Public School's - Dance group performed.
Narelle Adams performed a koala skit - which was fantastic (see below)
Fairfield Public library staff performed "Its a book" by Lane Smith (Roaring Brook Press, 2010)
In between the performances, all the authors and illustrators shared a scary experience with the audience. After the awards were announced and presented, there was autograph signing and the chance to meet the authors and illustrators.
For the kids from LLandila Public, a highlight was winning an original Sarah Davis illustration, which she drew on the stage during the ceremony. All students (around 180), attending the awards received a book thanks to the generosity of publishers.
KOALA Rap by Narelle Adams
Everybody clap
Everybody clap
Reading rocks
And books rule
And Aussie books are really cool
I’m Indigo info and I’m here to say
Something important to you today
Go to the library, pick up a book,
Open it up and take a look
Colin, Mike, Graeme and Emily
Are some authors you should read
Bob, Margaret, Jackie and Mem
Lots of books can be found by them
Reading rocks
And books rule
And Aussie books are really cool
Andy, Felice and Leigh are funny
They make you laugh down to your tummy
Barbara and Anna, Pat and Deb
Write great books to read in bed
Paul, Morris, Garth and John
Reading books by them you can’t go wrong
Moya, Lisa and Matthew
Create great stories just for you
Reading rocks
And books rule
And Aussie books are really cool
It’s not just stories that make books great
But the pictures inside that are first rate
Craig, Sarah, Andrew and Terry
Stephen Michael, Tom, Lisa and Mark
Give the stories lots of class
Reading rocks
And books rule
And Aussie books are really cool
AWARDS DAY 2009
On Tuesday 27th October 250 children, their teachers, 16 favourite authors and illustrators and s few stray librarians meet at the Parramatta Town Hall for the 2009 KOALA Awards.
Bellow are a few photographs that where tweeted by the Western Sydney Youth Literature Officer.
Awards Day 2008
This year the Awards went out west! Thanks Blacktown City Council, Blacktown City Libraries, Duncan Ball, Ursula Dubosarsky, Anna Fienberg, Kim Gamble, Catherine Jinks, Chris Milne, Emily Rodda and all the students who attended Awards Day 2008 in Blacktown on 22nd October. It was a great day despite the weather. It is the first time that authors have had to come through snow to attend Awards Day! Check out the Winners , and here are some photographs from the day. Full photo gallery on Picasa. Alexander's blog post at Pretxts.
Awards Day 2007
What a fabulous day! With 24 schools and 20 authors & illustrators attending the awards, KOALA certainly celebrated 21 years in style! It was a very festive day, especially for all the children who waited eagerly for the announcement of the winners. We were fortunate to have all the category winners present to receive their awards in person – Margaret Wild & Deborah Niland , Andy Griffiths & Morris Gleitzman.
Other authors & illustrators who attended were Deb Abela, Matt Dray, Anna Fienberg, John Flanagan, Chris Milne, Bruce Whatley, Matthew Reilly, Duncan Ball, Allan Stomann, Kim Gamble, Sally Odgers, Janine Dawson, Felice Arena, Ursula Dubosarsky, & also Richard Tulloch who had everyone holding their breath with the story of Brian Hobble being strangled by a boa constrictor!
For the kids from Austinmer Public, a highlight was winning an original Tashi illustration, which Kim Gamble drew on the stage during the ceremony. Other winning schools were Orana Heights PS who received a box of books worth $300; and St Joseph’s Kilaben Bay who took home a set of KOALA Syba Signs for their library. All students attending the awards received a book thanks to the generosity of publishers.
Awards Day 2006
AWARDS DAY 2006
The 2006 KOALA AWARDS were held on 20th October at Taronga Zoo. This year KOALA celebrated its 20th birthday and the day was a big hit for the kids who attended. They were rewarded with the chance to meet some of their favourite authors & illustrators!
A huge thank you to the authors and illustrators, some of whom travelled far to be present :
Felice Arena, Alyssa Brugman, Morris Gleitzman, Andy Griffiths, Richard Tulloch, Carole Wilkinson, Duncan Ball, Allan Stomann, Kim Gamble, Libby Gleeson, Darrell & Sally Odgers, Janine Dawson, Pamela Allen, Matt Dray, Pamela Lofts, Lachie Hume, Alison Lester & Julie Mullins.
They shared words of inspiration & Felice was most entertaining with the assistance of one of the children from the audience.
We are very proud to announce this years winners, check them out on the winners page !
Pamela Allen's book Mr McGee and the Biting Flea was entered into the KOALA Hall of Fame . Another highlight of the ceremony was the announcement of two new KOALA Legends . Morris Gleitzman and Richard Tulloch were presented with an award in recognition of their significant contribution to KOALA.
A donation of $205 was raised on the day to sponsor two (real) koalas at the zoo. Many thanks to students, teachers, authors, illustrators & publishers who contributed.
We look forward to our big 21st birthday party next year!
image 1: Maddison and her new friends at Taronga Zoo
image 2: Julie Mullins and Felica Arena with their KOALA Awards.
Feedback:
Thank you so much for such a wonderful honour on Friday. Becoming a KOALA Legend is one of my proudest achievements. I’ll treasure it. And thank you for a delightful day. I can’t imagine a better-organised or more enjoyable celebration of what we all do. Congratulations. You’re legends too.
Morris Gleitzman
Just wanted to say thanks to you & the committee for a great day last Friday. Our students thoroughly enjoyed the experience & got a lot out of it. I know you've all worked hard to get it all ready, & it really paid off. We loooooved Matt Dray!! Thanks so much for all you've done,
St Martha's, Strathfield
Awards Day 2005
The 2005 Kids Own Australian Literature Awards (KOALA) were announced at Westmead Public School on the 31st October. It was a fabulous day especially for those children who had voted for their favourite Australian authors and illustrators and eagerly awaited the announcement of the winners. It was a close race and the winners were:
Picture Book Category Mutt Dog by Stephen Michael King; published by Scholastic
Younger Readers?Category TooCool Series by Phil Kettle & Craig Smith; published by Scholastic
Older Readers?Category The Bad Book by Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton; published by Pan Macmillan
Thanks to Scholastic Australia, Phil Kettle was able to fly in from Melbourne to accept his award in person and Pan Macmillan arranged for Terry Denton, also from Melbourne to accept the older readers award on behalf of himself and Andy Griffiths.
The Westmead Public staff and students were wonderful hosts on the day and the School Choir entertained the audience with their outstanding performance. Steven Herrick’s reading of some of his poems had everyone laughing and Bruce Whatley amazed us all with his drawing talent in between the announcements of the winners.
Many authors and illustrators were present and students from Telopea, Turramurra, Newtown and Chatswood Public Schools, Central Coast Grammar, St Martha’s Primary Strathfield, St Thomas Aquinas Primary Springwood, Mt Annan Christian College, St Luke’s Grammar Dee Why, St Josephs Primary Kilaben Bay, Our Lady of the Way Emu Plains, Loquat Valley Christian School Bayview, Pymble Ladies College and host school Westmead were delighted to meet and speak to Deborah Abela, Duncan Ball, Terry Denton, Anna & Barbara Fienberg, Steven Herrick, Phil Kettle, David Legge, Jeni Mawter, Justyn Walker and Bruce Whatley.
Legends
Terry Denton & Anna Fienberg joined Duncan Ball and Paul Jennings as KOALA legends recognising their contribution to children’s literature and children’s choice awards. Read their citations on the website.
Schools win
Thirroul Public School were the envy of every other school at Awards Day when they became the proud winners of a delightful 'Diary of a Wombat' illustration graciously drawn and donated by Bruce Whatley. Cherrybrook Public School won an original illustration donated by illustrator Allan Stomann from one of the Selby books and Cranbrook Junior School won $300 worth of books generously donated by Koala Books.
Thanks
Many thanks to the Westmead Public School staff and students for hosting a fabulously memorable day. A BIG thank you also to our sponsors Koala Books for their assistance with the design and printing of kits and fliers and donating book prizes and SiteSuite for designing and hosting our website. Allan Stomann’s donation of artwork from the Selby books is also much appreciated.
ABC books, Allen & Unwin, HarperCollins Australia, Koala Books, Little Hare, Multimedia Interface, Pan Macmillan Australia, Penguin Group Australia, Scholastic Australia and Walker Books also donated books to give away to lucky KOALA members.
Awards Day 2006 is promising to be even bigger and better so start planning now to be there. More information on venue and date later.
Children lining up for their favourite author's signature
Just one of the examples of the artwork created by the school
based on Bruce Whatley's "Little White Dogs Can't Jump"
Awards Night 2004
In 2004 Awards day was held on 4 November at Pymble Ladies College.
What a day it was! Duncan Ball, Graeme Base, Janine Dawson, Anna & Barbara Fienberg, Paul Jennings, Emily Rodda, Allan Stomann and Richard Tulloch were all there along with students from Glenhaven, Telopea, Turramurra, Wiley Park, Stanwell Park and Chatswood Public Schools, Central Coast Grammar, Meriden Junior School, St Benedicts Primary Edgeworth, St James Primary Kotara South, St Martha’s Primary Strathfield, St Thomas Aquinas Primary Springwood, Mt Annan Christian College, St Luke’s Grammar Dee Why, St Josephs Primary Kilaben Bay, Our Lady of the Way Emu Plains, Locquat Valley Christian School Bayview, St Philips Christian College Waratah and host school Pymble Ladies College.
We were so lucky to have two of the three category winners present to receive their awards in person - Graeme Base (TruckDogs) and Emily Rodda (Deltora Quest series 3). Leigh Hobbs (Old Tom ?Man of Mystery) was overseas and unable to attend.
Richard Tulloch’s reading of an extract from his book Weird Stuff had the whole auditorium laughing. It was so popular that the bookshop sold out of copies. If you don’t have it in your library take a recommendation from the 300 students at awards day and buy a copy.
For the kids from Chatswood Public School, a highlight of the day was winning an original Graeme Base illustration which he drew on stage during the ceremony. St Joseph’s Primary School won a framed picture of Selby for their school library and over 100 of the students present received a book thanks to the generosity of publishers.
Lake Macquarie Public Library won a box of books donated by Koala Books and valued at more than $200 and Thurgoona Public School (Albury), also won a book prize donated by publishers.
Special thanks go to Julia Elsey and staff and students at PLC who were a pleasure to work with and did everything possible to make it a great day.
Start planning now to attend Awards Day 2005. More information on venue and date later.
Awards Night 2003
On 30 October the KOALA winners for 2003 were announced at Meriden School before an audience of more than 350 keen young readers. What an exciting occasion it was! We were delighted to have shortlisted authors and illustrators Duncan Ball, Anna & Barbara Fienberg, Jackie French, Kim Gamble, Bob Graham, Lyn Lee, Rosie Smith, Allan Stomann and Bruce Whatley present plus Di Bates, Bill Condon and Janine Dawson. Students from Meriden were joined by young readers from Annandale North, Burwood, Newtown, Glenhaven, Lucas Heights, Tarrawanna and Chatswood Public Schools, Mt Annan Christian School, PLC Junior School Pymble, St Luke’s Grammar Dee Why, St Johns Auburn, St Josephs Toronto, Our Lady of the Way, Emu Plains, Locquat Valley Christian School, Bayview and St Philips Christian School, Waratah. As well as announcing the 2003 winners we admitted Big Bad Bruce by Di Bates and Phoebe Middleton to the KOALA Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame titles are books which have not won KOALA but which have appeared on shortlists at least five times, demonstrating their popularity with young readers in NSW. For the kids from St Josephs, a highlight of the day was winning a picture of Tashi drawn by Kim Gamble for their school library. Special thanks go to Gabrielle Ritchie and staff and students at Meriden School for hosting the 2003 Awards Day.