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The 2024 Shortlist is out, you should all be busy reading some great books and thinking about which ones you are going to vote for. Don’t forget to save the date to join us for our 2024 Awards Day.
Tuesday 12 November, 2024
William Clarke College, Kellyville
We can’t wait to celebrate fabulous Australian authors, illustrators, and books with you all, and find out the winners of the 2024 K.O.A.L.As.
What a fabulous event! 350 kids (K- Year 8), eleven schools and a spectacular line up of guest authors and illustrators.
Share these videos of the live event and announcements with your students:
‘Lift Off’ play - a clever intertwining of the ten shortlisted picture book characters performed by PLC Sydney students and written by David Holmsen
‘Lights Camera Action Crew Newsreel (PLC Sydney)
Attending school member winner - Croydon Public School won Matt Cosgrove’s ‘Macca the Alpaca’ artwork created live on the day.
Non-attending school member winner - Merewether Public School won the box of new books generously donated by the Australian Children’s Laureate Foundation.
Save the date!
Thursday, November 2nd, 2023.
Awards Day on the 25th October is huge!
Everyone is so keen to be back and able to reconnect that the guest list is incredible.
It is a day not to be missed, so book your seats now. contact@koalansw.org.au
Can’t make it on the day? We are recording the ceremony and will share an online audience friendly version for your students to celebrate at school (or home).
Got questions? Email us contact@koalansw.org.au because we have the answers! The only exception is the guest list at awards day. That's a surprise... no spoilers.
Take care K.O.A.L.A. friends and we hope to see you soon.
Shore Preparatory School 3-6 will be hosting the Awards Day, bringing together children and their favourite Australian children’s book creators. So save the date and look out for more details coming soon, so that you can bring your students along to celebrate!
The 2021 KOALA Awards Day was streamed live on Thursday 4 November. Don’t worry if you missed it, you can catch up by watching the recording here.
Aaron Blabey, Andy Lee, Jacqueline Harvey and Andy Griffiths were some of the authors who participated in the 2021 Awards Day virtual ceremony.
Hear from the winners of the 2021 KOALA Awards, listen to the hilarious stories created on-the-spot by groups of Australian authors and illustrators, and share in the fun!
Can’t wait until the 2022 KOALA Awards Day!
Just over a week to go! Will your favourites win?
Join us virtually to celebrate this year's K.O.A.L.A. shortlisted books, their creators and the children of NSW’s choices! View the live ceremony via Facebook @KoalaAwards and the KOALA NSW YouTube channel (link will be shared soon). On demand available from 11am.
Awards Day Video On Demand - re-watch your favourite segments. School introductions, author and illustrator announcements, acceptance speeches and special awards.
Watch awards day guest illustrator, Dub Leffler, create his stunning artwork; generously donated to the members’ draw.
This year, we are rethinking our plans for Awards Day in Term 4. Like many other groups, we are planning an online celebration. Make sure to mark Tuesday November 10th in your diary!
The KOALA committee has been hard at work contacting authors and illustrators for our online KOALA Awards Day celebration. We know you are going to be excited to see your favourites so we want to keep it a surprise. Did you ask a question for an author or illustrator at the end of the online voting? It could be included too!
Maybe you are a little sad that you can’t physically attend KOALA Awards Day 2020. We are, too. But you might like to help make the day festive as you tune in to watch on the day or at another time more suited to your school. Here are some ideas:
Usually only 20 students from each school can attend Awards Day. This year, because it’s an online event, your entire school could join in! You could view it in the school hall and/or individual classrooms for everyone to share in the excitement.
Students could make KOALA crowns/headbands to wear to the event
Bunting could be hung to make the place for the Awards viewing more festive - perhaps it could say KOALA DAY AWARDS
If your school would normally be buying tickets to attend Awards Day, perhaps you would be in a position to fundraise on the day. You may like to sponsor a koala or another animal, or support a community group that could use a boost, or buy some new books for your library.
Some ideas for appropriate ways to fundraise:
- Sell Caramello Koalas. Koalas, that's right!
- Sell bookmarks - perhaps colour-your-own or themed
- Have a gold coin mufti day. Or a pyjama day - who doesn’t love snuggling up with a good book in bed?
Whatever way you decide to be part of KOALA Awards Day we look forward to having you with us.
Please stay tuned for more details about the day in Term 4.
The KOALA 2019 Awards Day celebrations were held on Wednesday 13th November at Our Lady Of Assumption Catholic Primary School in North Strathfield, Sydney. Congratulations to the winners and honour books.
A fabulous day at Cranbrook Junior School on Thursday 8th November 2018.
The winners, honour awards and KOALA Legend were announced at North Rocks Public School today.
Here are the ceremony presentation slides with videos. Run your own awards announcement at school!
The stage was set, the amazing displays in preparation for what was about to unfold in place. North Rocks Public School was ready. Students warmly welcomed visiting students and their teachers; proud to talk about their school and show-off their beautiful projects.
The Children’s Bookshop was set-up and ready to sell. Slowly and tentatively students stepped forward. How would they spend their money at the bookstall? Which book? Which author? Who would they meet? Who would they see? Which is your favourite they asked of each other? This one’s great, they were selling their favourites to each other. They chatted quietly (it was a library after all!) amongst themselves as they paced the displays.
The tension was high as they entered the hall. Who would win this year? Would it be their favourite? So many questions unanswered…
Tony Flowers had his back to the audience while he created magic with watercolour and pen. The children all polite and quietly filed in neat rows. Their cheers of hello were demure and respectful, but laughter soon erupted as the special guests told us their favourite words. ‘Stupid pineapple’ or was that ‘Super pineapple’, ‘Delightful’, ‘Joy’, ‘Serendipity’, ‘Memories’ and more. Trust those clever authors and illustrators to come up with ones that spoke to us all.
The drum roll rumbled and there were shouts of joy as Andy Lee’s ‘Do not open this book’ was announced as the favourite picture book for 2017.
Quietly sitting again for the next, the drum roll came, louder this time… Aaron Blabey’s ‘Bad Guys episode 2’ had won the younger readers' prize.
They were well and truly ready for the older readers, on the edge of their seats the children sat before exploding in noise, the ‘78-storey treehouse’ by Andy and Terry had won the older readers' category.
The final award, went to Jackie French’s ‘Pennies for Hitler’. A clear favourite with the older members of the audience.
The thank you messages were in person and on screen. It didn’t matter which, the students loved each unique one. But perhaps, the standout was dead bunny Brad’s surprise on-screen appearance!
Excitement rippled through the audience once more as the LEGEND for 2017 was announced. Deborah Abela, favourite to so many, is ushered into the title by very enthusiastic St. Andrew’s Cathedral and Blackheath Public School students. An honour well deserved, as many a young reader has been made by her wonderful books.
The fun continued as students rummaged under their chairs, desperate to find stickers for free books. Lucky schools won book packs and Tony’s completed artworks.
Still more to come as the authors and illustrators made their way to sign books. Students stood in tidy lines and waited their turn, eager to meet the heroes before them.
What did they say to them? What did they ask in return? Students came away beaming and giggling and the feedback to staff? Can we come next year?
From Svetlana Paul and the students, St. Andrew's Cathedral School
The votes are close so make sure all of your students have their say by this Friday, 22nd September.
Awards Day at North Rocks Public School is shaping up to be a wonderful celebration of Australian children's literature. Here is a short video of last year's proceedings at Blackheath to get you inspired.
Good morning everyone, my name is Megan Light and I am the 7th President of the Kids Own Australian Literature Awards. It is my great pleasure to welcome you to Blackheath today to celebrate the stories that you all love and to acknowledge and honour those who create and bring them to us.
This year is a special milestone for KOALA – 30 years.
KOALA began in 1986. It was the creation of a group of motivated volunteers who valued both children’s opinions and the promotion of Australian books and authors. After a great deal of work and the involvement of just about every school, library and publishing body they could muster, the scene was set for the first awards ceremony at Taronga Zoo in 1987.
We have come a little bit closer to the bush for awards day this year, and warmly welcome some very special guests to help us celebrate.
A number of past KOALA Council members have joined us today including Janet Sorby – the first KOALA president, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Presidents Miranda Harrowell, Val Noake and Antonina Fieni; past council members - Yvonne Louis, Cathie and Alan Tasker from KOALA books, Di Simpson, Marita Thomson and Judith Ridge. I also wish to acknowledge the contributions of the many Council members who have sent their apologies today. And of course the current KOALA council! We also welcome and appreciate the support of Jackie Hawkes from the CBCA NSW, Margaret Hamilton who is highly respected and honoured in the world of children’s literature, Melanie Elkan from Blackheath Public Library and two awesome KOALA Legends, Duncan Ball and Richard Tulloch (Richard Tulloch's Birthday Song).
Richard Morecroft presented the first awards in 1987, which went to Possum Magic by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas and Hating Alison Ashley by Robin Klein. Unfortunately, Richard couldn’t be with us today but has sent us a message (see presentation slides).
I would like to share with the children of NSW the top 10 primary books in 1987. I wonder how many of them you have read? I’m sure quite a few. They are stories of endurance indeed. (See presentation slide 8)
KOALA is about kids’ choice and giving the readers a voice – we received almost 7000 votes from the children of NSW this year. Please welcome Alyson Simpson to introduce the voices that are here today - both the children’s and our shortlisted authors and illustrators. Thank you.
Thank you videos from interstate and overseas
WHAT DID OUR KOALA FRIENDS THINK ABOUT THE DAY?
Wentworth Falls Public School
Please click on your invitation and order tickets here
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We are very excited to announce our Awards Day venue and date for 2017. The ceremony will be held at North Rocks Public School on Thursday 9th November. We hope to see you there!
Bookings will be availble from Term 2.
