Ningaloo by Tim Winton and Cindy Lane wins Environment Award for Children’s Literature
The Wilderness Society has awarded Tim Winton and Cindy Lane their highest honour – the Environment Award for Children’s Literature. Tim Winton won the inaugural Award back in 1994 and, thirty-two years later, has come full circle winning it a second time for the picture book Ningaloo.
Tim pointed out that he had been writing about, studying and defending Ningaloo for three decades, but having a major player in conservation recognise the book gave him a feeling of solidarity. Tim said, ‘I’ve learned a lot about life and natural history from studying this place, so it was a kind of a natural extension for me to want to present the information about Ningaloo to young people, because they are the future … They’re going to be the stewards of our natural world after we’re gone.’
Awarded during Nature Book Week, the Award was started by a group of environmental educators who wanted to work with the Wilderness Society to promote a love of nature in young people through books.
Artist Cindy Lane said winning the Wilderness Society’s Environment Award was an incredible honour. She said Ningaloo was a place that filled you with wonder. Cindy said, ‘I’m very grateful to have been a part of the team bringing Tim Winton’s words and wisdom to life in its pages, and to share it with young people who are its future guardians. I hope the book inspires readers to cherish and protect this wild and precious place.’
Chosen from around 100 books for the under-12s, the award was judged by Kristin Darell, John Williamson, Dr Linden Ashcroft, Marlee Silva, Shelley Ware and Aunty Munya Andrews. The Award recognises titles for originality of concept, engaging language appropriate for the theme, style and audience, and quality design and artworks.
The Wilderness Society was founded in 1976 and went on to successfully stop the Franklin River Dam from being constructed. Since then, they’ve continued to protect Australia’s environment through legal action, securing land for national parks and supporting community campaigns.
And you can help!
Bookseller and sponsor Harry Hartog will donate 10% of sales of any shortlisted title back to the Wilderness Society. You can purchase Ningaloo by Tim Winton with Cindy Lane from them here: Ningaloo from Tim Winton | Harry Hartog – Harry Hartog Bookseller
