Picture Book (1993-2014)
or Illustrated Division
Subcategory of COOL Award
The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.

Latest Winners / Recipients

Year: 2013

joint winner y separately published work icon Mirror Jeannie Baker , Jeannie Baker (illustrator), Newtown : Walker Books Australia , 2010 Z1712575 2010 single work picture book children's (taught in 1 units) 'This innovative picture book comprises two stories designed to be read simultaneously – one from the left, the other from the right. Page by page, we experience a day in the lives of two boys and their families. An Australian family, whose way of life strikes a familiar chord, and a family from a far away country with a way of life that differs more than one can imagine. As we read we discover the simple truth that despite these differences we are all the same. We are the mirror of each other.' (From the publisher's website.)
joint winner y separately published work icon A Bus Called Heaven Bob Graham , Bob Graham (illustrator), Newtown : Walker Books Australia , 2011 Z1815865 2011 single work picture book children's

'A broken, old bus appears one morning, sad as a whale on a beach, right outside Stella's house. On the front of it, held up with packing tape, is a hand painted sign... "Heaven".

'For Stella, this decrepit old vehicle is special -this bus is "ours" - a place for everyone to be together: hold meetings, play games and share stories. But one day, the bus is towed away and Stella must fight to save not just the bus, but everything the community has worked so hard to create.' (From the publisher's website.)

Year: 2012

winner y separately published work icon The Terrible Plop Ursula Dubosarsky , Andrew Joyner (illustrator), Melbourne : Penguin , 2009 Z1563323 2009 single work picture book children's (taught in 1 units)

'A picture book about a little rabbit who learns that some things in life aren't as scary as they seem. Based on a Tibetan myth, a sound in the forest sets all the animals running for their lives from the Terrible Plop.'

(Source: Publisher's website)

Year: 2011

winner y separately published work icon Mr Chicken Goes to Paris Leigh Hobbs , Leigh Hobbs (illustrator), Crows Nest : Allen and Unwin , 2009 Z1610674 2009 single work picture book children's 'Mr Chicken has taken up his friend Yvette's invitation to visit Paris. As they journey together through the City of Love, Mr Chicken is overcome by the magic of all the city has to offer - and the inhabitants of this most stylish city don't quite know what to make of him. Mr Chicken will delight children of all ages.' (From the publisher's website.)

Year: 2010

winner y separately published work icon Fearless Colin Thompson , Sarah Davis (illustrator), Sydney : ABC Books , 2009 Z1645727 2009 single work picture book children's

'When a new baby is born it's difficult to tell if it will grow up to be big or small or brave or scared of the dark and spiders. So sometimes babies get the wrong name.

'It's the same with dogs.

'So when the Claybourne-Willments, who should have been called the Smiths, got Fearless as a little puppy, it seemed a good name for him.

'Except Fearless wasn't.

'How does Fearless finally live up to his name? By accident, of course!' (Publication summary)

Year: 2009

winner y separately published work icon Jungle Drums Graeme Base , Graeme Base (illustrator), Camberwell : Viking , 2004 Z1153114 2004 single work picture book children's
— Appears in: Graeme Base Collection: Volume 3 2024;
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.
X