SHORTLIST 2013 - Focus on Fiction for Years 7-9

Download: Years 7 - 9 Shortlist Poster / Full Shorlist Poster (pdf)

Our oldest and boldest shortlist category. Here are some links to help you find out about our ten great finalists. If you are in year 7, 8 or 9 we would love to publish your review.

A Straight line to my Heart by Bill Condon Review at Aussie Reviews

After by Morris Gleitzman Reviewed by the Sydney Morning Herald

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak Feature review in The Guardian

The Phoenix Files: Contact by Chris Morphew Reviewed at My Best Friends Are Books

The Dead I Know by Scot Gardner - Reviewed by Fancy Goods, the blog of Books+Publishing Magazine

Give me Four Reasons by Lizzie Wilcock - A student review on ReadPlus

Grace by Morris Gleitzman Review from a case for books blog

The Invisible Hero by Elizabeth Fensham readingmatters@ssclibrary review

Shift by Em Bailey Read Alert review

Stolen by Lucy Christopher Teen reads review

Shortlist 2013: Focus on Fiction for Older Readers

Download: Older Readers Shortlist Poster / Full Shorlist Poster (pdf)

Investigate the Fiction for Older Readers Shortlist. Your comments and reviews from kids wanted!

26-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton Review & video on 366 Books

Brotherband: The Outcasts by John Flanagan Book Trailer

Con-Nerd by Oliver Phommavanh Review on Alpha Reader

Eric Vale Epic Fail by Michael Gerard Bauer & Joe Bauer Book Trailer by Joe Bauer

The Forgotten Pearl by Belinda Murrell Review on Kids Book Review

Just Doomed! by Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton Doomed test & Review on Literary Life

Nanberry: Black Brother White by Jackie French Review on Kids Book Review

Specky Magee and the Best of Oz by Felice Arena & Garry Lyon Reader Reviews from Insideadog

Thai-Riffic by Oliver Phommavanh Review on Momo Celebrating Time to Read

The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow by A.J. Mackinnon Description, extract & video of author

SHORTLIST 2013 - Focus on Fiction for younger Readers

Download: Younger Readers Shortlist Poster / Full Shorlist Poster (pdf)

Here are some links to help you find out more about the ten fiction books for younger readers on this year's KOALA Shortlist.

What do you think of the books on the list? Tell us in the comments below. Better still, if you are a young reader - up to Year 9 - then send us your review to contact@koalansw.org.au and we will put it on the blog.

Alice-Miranda Shows the Way by Jacqueline Harvey Review on ReadPlus blog

Andy Roid and the Field Trip Terror by Felice Arena Review on ReadPlus blog

Billie B. Brown: The Copy Cat Kid by Sally Rippin, illustrated by Aki Fukuoka - Review by The Book Chook

Bungawitta by Emily Rodda, illustrated by Craig Smith Review by NSW Association for Gifted & Talented Children

EJ12 Girl Hero: Pyramid Puzzle by Susannah McFarlane A page of fun & a sample chapter

Our Australian Girl: Meet Nellie by Penny Matthews, illustrated by Lucia Masciullo Read a sample

Our Australian Girl: Meet Rose by Sheryl Clark, illustrated by Lucia Masciullo Read a sample

Pizza Cake by Morris Gleitzman Review on Boomerang Books Blog

Sword Girl: The Siege Scare by Frances Watts, illustrated by Gregory Rogers  Frances Watts Guest on Kids Book Review

The Three Doors #1 The Golden Door by Emily Rodda Review & trailer on St Martin of Tours LRC blog

Vale Graham Davey

Mr Graham Davey, the YABBA President for more than 20 years, passed away on Thursday 11 April 2013

Graham Davey was a good friend to KOALA over many years. He was a passionate believer in the rights of children to have their say in ‘judging’ what were the best books for them, hence his dedication to YABBA and children’s choice awards in general. He willingly shouldered most of the workload involved in the operation of the REAL Awards involving the children’s choice awards in NSW, ACT and NT as well as VIC but he never claimed any credit for himself or YABBA.

A quick call to Graham was never that – he always had time to chat, discuss problems and share ideas. YABBA and KOALA regularly borrowed ideas from each other and Graham was always generous in sharing the resources created for YABBA.  In my time as president of KOALA I had many conversations with Graham about the future direction of children’s choice awards and the creation of a national children’s choice award was one of his dreams.

Our sympathy goes to his family and friends and especially the YABBA team. They will be big shoes for someone to fill.

Val Noake

Past President of KOALA Council

A tribute to Graham Davey from the YABBA Committee

St. Philomena's joins KOALA

KOALA has been an exciting addition to Library events at St Philomena’s School. Students have been nominating books like crazy! (Seriously, we actually found a book in our post box instead of a nomination form!)

The KOALA book marks have also been a tremendous hit. Both designs are intriguing and fun, and we especially love the one illustrated by Kim Gamble because it can be coloured in!

We have been tying in lots of educational activities in our Library with KOALA, as well. Students have been learning how to identify Australian books in our collection and how a Library and Book Awards can work.

Kristy Moony
Teacher Librarian K - 10
St Philomena's School
Moree

A powerful way of getting reluctant students reading

We use KOALA in our school to support and promote local authors, literature, reading and writing. It's an easy way to engage children in the Library. You just set it up and it self promotes.

A kids' choice list is a very powerful way to get reluctant students reading. “Student voice of popular choice can often be more effective than teacher/parent recommendation”.

KOALA gives students the chance to meet popular authors - at the annual awards day - which is great as students then feel more connected to the people who create the books they love. Because students like competitions they understand the value of nominating and voting for their favourite books/authors. The process helps them to see the importance of reading, writing and literature.

Megan Light

K-6 Teacher Librarian

Cranbrook Junior School

(Photos of our 2012 voting promotion)

Welcome

This is a new blog page for the website where we will publish news, research reports, reports from schools, book reviews - and whatever else comes to our attention which is related to Australian children's literature and children's choice awards.