James Foley, Emily Sun, Cristy Burne, Aśka and Jessica Walton are all commended for awards while May O’Brien is added to the Roll of Honour in the WA Women’s Hall of Fame

Jane and Cate

Three Fremantle Press titles are in the running for major awards and another has been highly commended, plus the life’s work of a Fremantle Press writer has been remembered and recognised.

Stellarphant is shortlisted for the 2022 Children’s Book Council of Australia’s
Picture Book of the Year and the 2021 Aurealis Award for Best Children’s Fiction

International and intergalactic, James Foley’s Stellarphant has been shortlisted for the 2022 Children’s Book Council of Australia’s (CBCA) Picture Book of the Year. The CBCA judges said, ‘This story about an anthropomorphised, larger than life elephant can be read either as an ironic comment on privilege and diversity or the power of persistence … This book has the potential for lots of rich discussion around who becomes powerful, educated, and celebrated and who doesn’t.’

Stellarphant has also been shortlisted for the 2021 Aurealis Award for Best Children’s Fiction. The annual Aurealis Awards go to Australia’s best stories of speculative fiction with Stellarphant shortlisted as a science fiction children’s book. The Aurealis judges said, ‘Congratulations to all the finalists – there was fantastic competition across the board this year, with some panels receiving well over one hundred entries … We’re delighted to announce the shortlists, and encourage our followers to investigate the finalists to find some great reads!’

Vociferate receives a Highly Commended in the Kenneth Slessor Prize
for Poetry 2022

Emily Sun’s debut poetry collection, Vociferate, has received a Highly Commended in the Kenneth Slessor Prize for Poetry 2022 as part of the New South Wales Premier’s Literary Awards. This recognition is a huge achievement for West Australian poets.

Off the Track is shortlisted for the 2022 West Australian Young
Readers’ Book Award

Cristy Burne’s children’s fiction book, Off the Track, has been shortlisted for the 2022 West Australian Young Readers’ Book Award (WAYRBA). Her book is shortlisted in the Younger Readers’ category, as voted by young readers from across Western Australia.

Stars in Their Eyes is shortlisted for the ALIA Graphic’s Notable
Australian Graphic Novels of 2021

Jessica Walton and Aśka’s debut graphic novel, Stars in Their Eyes, has been shortlisted for the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) Graphic’s Notable Australian Graphic Novels of 2021 in the Young Adult category.

‘We also want to highlight the fact that a lot of the graphic novels in this shortlist are debuts … With debuts of this quality the future of Australian comics sure looks bright!’, the ALIA Graphic Novels and Comics team said. ‘Congratulations to all the creators, publishers and titles in both the longlist and the shortlist, and a big thank you for all the work you do.’

The late May O’Brien acknowledged and added to the
Roll of Honour by WA Women’s Hall of Fame

May O’Brien, educator and author of The Badudu Stories and The Bawoo Stories, has been posthumously acknowledged this year in the Roll of Honour by the WA Women’s Hall of Fame. The WA Women’s Hall of Fame acknowledges the significant contributions and achievements women have made to Western Australia’s community, society, history and culture. The Hall of Fame inductees represent a selection of the following categories: Community, Business, Health, Education, Arts, Culture, STEM and Sport.

To view the full list of recipients, visit the WA Women’s Hall of Fame website or click the link: http://www.wawomenshalloffame.com.au/index.php/2022-2/

The recognised books are available in all good bookstores or online from Fremantle Press. Just follow the links above.


Books discussed
Vociferate è© 
Off the Track
Badudu Stories
Bawoo Stories

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