Readings Children’s Book Prize 2015 shortlist announced

Independent Melbourne bookseller Readings has announced the shortlist for its 2015 Readings Children’s Book Prize.

The shortlisted titles are:

• Rivertime (Trace Balla, A&U)
• The Mapmakers Chronicles: Race to the End of the World (A L Tait, Hachette)
• Ophelia and the Marvellous Boy (Karen Foxlee, The Five Mile Press)
• How to Save the Universe in Ten Easy Steps (Allison Rushby, A&U)
• Figgy in the World (Tamsin Janu, Omnibus)
• Stuff Happens: Jack (Tony Wilson, Penguin).

This year’s shortlist was announced at the Children’s Book Festival in Melbourne. Readings Carlton children’s book buyer and children’s book prize manager Angela Crocombe said in a statement: ‘We are very fortunate to have such a high calibre of talented Australian authors on this year’s shortlist. All of the shortlisted titles are beautifully written, wholly unique and will keep even a reluctant reader utterly captivated.’

The winner will be announced at an event at Readings Hawthorn and published in the July Readings Monthly. The judging panel for 2015 prize is comprised of Readings’ children’s book specialists and author Sally Rippin.

The Readings Children’s Book Prize, worth $4000, aims to raise the profile of debut and on-the-rise Australian authors. It is open to Australian authors writing for children aged between five and 12 years who have had no more than four children’s books published.

Last year’s winner was Julie Hunt’s Song for a Scarlet Runner (A&U). Readings said that Hunt’s book was one of its bestselling children’s books for 2014 since the announcement, selling over 1000 copies.

Category: Junior Local news