On World Environment Day (5 June) each year, the Wilderness Society announces the winner of its Environment Award for Children’s Literature.
The award honours books that promote a sense of caring and responsibility for the environment through quality Australian children's books. To be eligible for the award, a book might highlight an environmental issue or create a sense of awe and wonder for the natural world.
The award is open to fiction and non-fiction in the categories of picture book, primary readers and secondary readers.
Source: http://www.wilderness.org.au/childrens-book-award-introduction Sighted: 10/12/2013.
'The annual Environment Award, inaugurated in 1994, is open to fiction and non-fiction children's books published in Australia. Award trophies and certificates are presented to authors and illustrators of those books that best encourage an attitude of caring, wonder and understanding of the natural world, or those that promote an awareness of environmental issues.'
The fiction category is further divided into awards for picture books, younger readers and older readers. In some years, however, the picture books are awarded as a stand alone category.
Source: The Wilderness Society website, http://www.wilderness.org.au
Sighted: 26/07/2006
'Talking about the weather used to be small talk, now it's the hottest topic on Earth.
'We can't survive without Earth's atmosphere, yet most of the time we ignore it. We treat our atmosphere as a rubbish dump for our greenhouses gas emissions. Slowly but surely, what we are doing is changing Earth's climate.
'Atmospheric cuts through the many voices raised around climate change to tell the story of our atmosphere, what is putting our climate at risk and what we can do about it. This could be the most important book of your life.' (Source: back cover)
'Hi! I'm Juliet. I'm ten years old. And I'm nearly a vet!
'A terrible bushfire has struck and Mum's vet clinic is in chaos. Every day more and more injured baby animals arrive. Chelsea and I have never been busier! There's an adorable baby koala to feed by hand, a fat little wombat to bandage, and a funny blue-tongued lizard that Max is determined to make his pet.
'But who knew that babies needed so much feeding! I may never sleep again!' (Publisher's blurb)
(Joint winner with The Smallest Carbon Footprint in the Land and Other Eco-Tales by Anne Morgan and illustrator Gay McKinnon.)In Anne Morgan's delightful collection of organically-grown eco-tales, a prince wants to marry the young woman with the smallest carbon footprint in the land; Space Cadet Lox finds out why a planet is like a bowl of porridge; a girl in a little green hoodie tries to save an endangered wolf; and Chicken Licken warns the sea is rising. (Source: Trove)
"With stunning, brilliantly coloured photographs, this book is a visual feast of the marine environment that is the Great Barrier Reef. Well laid out, facts are presented in a way that is both accessible and engaging with memorable headings, break-out boxes, sidebars and easy to understand text. This is a valuable resources that will stimulate students and leave a lasting impression about the beauty and fragility of this natural wonder." (Publication summary)
Joint winner with 'Something About Water' by Penny Matthews, illustrated by Tom Jellett.Mr Fowler, Robbie's teacher at school, explains how the water cycle works, and says theres a lot kids can do to help the planet. This book shows how small things can make a big difference. (Publisher's blurb)
Joint winner with 'The Great Barrier Reef Book: Solar Powered' by Dr Mark Norman.