Finding your Place: The 2022 Children’s Book of the Year Winners

Winner
Tiger Daughter by Rebecca Lim, Allen & Unwin.

‘A beautifully written story of the challenges and injustices of culturally based domestic violence and the injustices and effects of migrant discrimination.’

Honours
Girls in Boys’ Cars by Felicity Castagna, Pan Macmillian Australia.
How to Repaint a Life by Steven Herrick, University of Queensland Press.

Winner
A Glasshouse of Stars by Shirley Marr, Penguin Random House Australia.

‘Using the rarely seen second person point of view … The subtle magic of both the house and the glasshouse serves as an extension of the protagonist’s emotions and provide her with hope.’

Honours
Dragon Skin by Karen Foxlee, Allen & Unwin.
Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief by Katrina Nannestad, ABC: An Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Winner
Jetty Jumping by Andrea Rowe illustrated by Hannah Sommerville, Hardie Grant’s Children Publishing.

‘A beautifully written and highly relatable book about overcoming fears. Time and place have been carefully created to depict an Australian beach town in summer. The language is rich and descriptive, using apt vocabulary and alliteration.’

Honours
Walk of the Whales by Nick Bland, Hardie Grant’s Children Publishing.
Amira’s Suitcase by Vikki Conley illustrated by Nicky Johnston, New Frontier Publishing.

Winner
Iceberg by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Jess Racklyeft, Allen & Unwin.

‘The use of many shades of blue beautifully reflects this icy environment and immerses readers in the Antarctic. A sense of wonder is created through transparent layers of water allowing readers to spot life above and the mysteries below the surface.’

Honours
Stellarphant by James Foley, Fremantle Press.
Just One Bee by Margrete Lamond and Anthony Bertini, illustrated by Christopher Nielsen, Dirt Lane Press and imprint of WestWords.

Winner
Still Alive, Notes from Australia’s Immigration Detention System by Safdar Ahmed, Twelve Panels Press.

‘A confronting, raw and graphic account of the history and treatment of asylum seekers and refugees under successive Australian governments. The black and white drawings, well-integrated with the text, are detailed and the inclusion of artwork by the detainees is powerful. The language is direct, occasionally didactic, and emotive at times.’

Note: There is mature content such as self-harm, executions, sexual intimacy and assault, both in written and drawn examples.

Honours
The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature by Sami Bayly, Hachette Australia.
Heroes, Rebels and Innovators by Karen Wyld illustrated by Jaelyn Biumaiwai, Hachette Australia.

Winner
The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name illustrated by Michelle Pereira written Sandhya Parappukkaran by Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing.

‘An excellent production with high-quality, very appealing retro illustrations which have been created with a limited colour palette using bold strokes and ‘splattered’ detail. ’

Visit the Children’s Book Council of Australia for more details. You can also watch the video of the awards presentation below.

The awards coincide with Book Week, 20 – 26 August 2022, with the theme Dreaming with eyes open…

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