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The Wilderness Society Environment Award for Children's Literature (1994-)
Subcategory of Awards Australian Awards
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History

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.

Notes

  • '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

Latest Winners / Recipients (also see subcategories)v1244

Year: 2016

winner (Non-fiction) y separately published work icon Atmospheric : The Burning Story of Climate Change Carole Wilkinson , Newtown : Black Dog Books , 2015 11022004 2015 single work information book young adult

'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)

Year: 2014

joint winner (Young Readers) y separately published work icon Bush Baby Rescue Rebecca Johnson , Melbourne : Puffin , 2013 Z1935714 2013 single work children's fiction children's

'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.)
joint winner (Younger Readers) y separately published work icon The Smallest Carbon Footprint in the Land and Other Eco-tales Anne Morgan , Carindale : IP Kidz , 2013 7894837 2013 selected work short story children's

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)

Year: 2013

winner (Preschool) y separately published work icon The Last Dance Sally Morgan , Sally Morgan (illustrator), Richmond : Little Hare Books , 2012 Z1879769 2012 single work picture book children's 'Everyone needs a home, but some Australian creatures are losing theirs. From sandstone ridges to tropical beaches, from coastal woodlands to alpine streams, habitats are shrinking and changing. The animals in this book need help, and we are the only ones who can give it' (Publisher website).
winner (Primary) y separately published work icon Tanglewood Margaret Wild , Vivienne Goodman (illustrator), Parkside : Omnibus Books , 2012 Z1866427 2012 single work picture book children's 'Tanglewood lives on an island far away, visited only by the wind. One day a bird shelters from the storm among its branches and a precious bond is formed. But Seagull belongs to the sky and, too soon, must leave. Will she ever return?' (Trove record)

Year: 2012

joint winner y separately published work icon One Small Island Alison Lester , Coral Tulloch (illustrator), Camberwell : Viking , 2011 Z1795235 2011 single work picture book children's (taught in 1 units) 'Macquarie Island lies in the Southern Ocean, between Antarctica and New Zealand. A speck of green in the vast, windswept sea, it is a haven for many creatures that live above and below the waves.

'In One Small Island, Alison Lester and Coral Tulloch bring us the story of this remote and precious World Heritage Site. Together they explore the island's unique geological beginnings, discovery and degradation at the hands of humans, and the battle to restore it today.

'This beautifully presented book leaves us with an important question: can Macquarie Island and places like it be saved?' (From the publisher's website.)

Year: 2010

joint winner y separately published work icon The Great Barrier Reef Book : Solar Powered Mark Norman , Fitzroy : Black Dog Books , 2009 Z1696350 2009 single work picture book children's

"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.
joint winner y separately published work icon Something About Water Penny Matthews , Tom Jellett (illustrator), Malvern : Omnibus Books , 2009 Z1574730 2009 single work picture book children's

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.

Works About this Award

2009 Wilderness Society Environment Award for Children's Literature Dianne Bates , 2009 single work column
— Appears in: Buzz Words , 15 June no. 62 2009; (p. 17)
Environment Award for Author's Series Glenis Green , 2004 single work column
— Appears in: The Courier-Mail , 9 June 2004; (p. 18)
Environment Awards for Children's Literature Janice Bird , 1994 single work column
— Appears in: Wilderness News , May/Jun/July 1994; (p. 14) The Lu Rees Archives Notes, Books and Authors , no. 16 1994; (p. 24-25)
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