Wagner awarded 2017 Dromkeen Medal

The State Library Victoria (SLV) has awarded the 2017 Dromkeen Medal to Erica Wagner, publisher of books for children and young adults at Allen & Unwin.

Wagner has worked as an editor and publisher of children’s and YA books for 30 years. She is also co-founder of the graphic novel publishing imprint Twelve Panels Press.

SLV CEO Kate Torney said: ‘Erica’s passion and publishing acumen have helped shape Australia’s thriving children’s and youth literature scene. She has been instrumental in publishing some of Australia’s best loved children’s authors including Leigh Hobbs, Judith Clarke, Paul Jennings and Morris Gleitzman, delighting young readers everywhere.’

The Dromkeen Medal honours outstanding contributions to Australian children’s literature.

SLV also presented this year’s Dromkeen Librarian’s Award to teacher-librarian and book blogger Megan Daley.

Daley is a teacher-librarian at St Aiden’s Anglican Girl’s School in Brisbane and founder of the Children’s Books Daily blog. She is also a former vice president of the Children’s Book Council of Australia.

Torney described Daley as a ‘passionate advocate for children’s literature’. ‘She has gone well beyond her formal teaching roles, employing social media to promote Australian children’s literature to the world, and inspire more young people to engage with it.’

You can read Books+Publishing’s interview with Daley for our ‘Book blogger spotlight’ series here.

Pictured: Erica Wagner and Megan Daley

Category: Junior Local news