Celebrate WA Day 2024 – Monday 3 June
What is WA Day?
- WA Day takes place on the first Monday in June each year.
- It’s a day to celebrate all Western Australians, recognising our Aboriginal history, early European settlers and the many from all over the world who have made, and continue to make, Western Australia their home.
- It’s a day for each of us to reflect and celebrate all the great things about our people, our lifestyle, our culture and our potential.
- (What is WA Day? – Celebrate WA)
To celebrate, why not read a book by some wonderful WA creators.
You might have seen all of the information about the Children’s Book Week of Australia’s Book of the Year awards. As with previous years, we have some amazing creators here in WA who were honoured by being on the Notable Lists (Older Readers, Younger Readers, Early Childhood, Picture Book, and Eve Pownall) or the Shortlist. Below are all of these amazing WA creators, reserve your copy today.
Older Readers
Eta Draconis by Brendan Ritchie
Elora is leaving her hometown for university. Leaving behind friends, family, and safety to follow her dream of studying theatre while she still has the chance. Together, Elora and her older sister, Vivienne, set out by road for the city and the upcoming semester. The relationship between them is fractured and fading, turned upside down by Eta Draconis: the violent meteor shower that has rained across Earth since the beginning of their adolescence. In a land scarred by craters and shockwaves, to travel anywhere is to risk everything. As the showering intensifies and their way forward becomes threatened, the sisters are forced to confront their relationship and recalibrate their hopes for the future. Do they return home or press on in the face of the meteors? Can life ever be normal with the world crashing down all around you? Eta Draconis is an epic story about two resilient sisters who are determined to live their life in a world on the brink of destruction. Winner of the 2022 Dorothy Hewett Award, Brendan Ritchie’s Eta Draconis is timely, hopeful and full of suspense.
I Am the Mau and other stories by Chemutai Glasheen
This enticing collection of contemporary fiction is a celebration of our ubuntu- the invisible ties that bind us all together. From ancient forest guardians to modern cultural warriors, from grappling with ageold traditions to championing hair identity, these evocative stories explore the duality of Kenyan life and how to find a way between two cultures, both of which are yours. Chemutai Glasheen’s unforgettable characters are drawn from her early life in Africa, with all its richness, diversity and complexity.
One Song by A.J. Betts
Aspiring singer-songwriter Eva has one last chance to enter Triple J Unearthed High and break into the music industry. But after three failed attempts, she needs some help. Cue the band: perfectionist Eva, charismatic Cooper, easy-going Ant and moody Ruby. Plus fly-on-the-wall Mim, who’s filming them for her school Media project. Five people who have nothing in common but music. One emotionally and creatively charged weekend. Can they record the most important song of their lives?
Younger Readers
Scout and the Rescue Dogs by Dianne Wolfer, and illustrated by Tony Flowers
The summer holidays have finally arrived and Scout can’t wait for her adventure in the big rig with Dad. They’re on a mission to deliver donations of dog food to animal rescue shelters right across the state. There’ll be lots of music, dad-jokes and a brilliant plan that will make sure everyone’s got a friend for the holidays. There might even be a special four-legged friend in it for Scout. But Scout and her dad get more than they’ve bargained for. It’s bushfire season – and it’s not just the dogs who need rescuing…
Early Childhood
Gymnastica Fantastica! by Briony Stewart
Quick! Come and see! Something fabulous, it’s . . . me! Gymnastica Fantastica! is about a child discovering and attempting new physical skills and putting on wonderfully imperfect shows for whoever will watch them. Join Gymnastica, a small person with big energy, as they bend and balance, bounce and roll, attempt a cartwheel and a spectacular trapeze flip-out finale.
Nedingar = Ancestors by Isobel Bevis, with illustrations by Leanne Zilm
This lyrical, dual language picture book from two debut First Nations creators celebrates the beauty of Country and family. ‘Please Mum, I want to meet my ancestors, I want to learn from them so I know who I am.’ Inspired by traditional Indigenous teachings, every family will relate to this beautiful bilingual picture book as brought to life by Noongar storytellers Isobel Bevis and Leanne Zilm highlighting the rich cultural heritage we all share. The book features gorgeously hand painted images of Australian flora and fauna.
Shadow Catchers by Kirsty Murray, with illustrations by Karen Blair
On sunshiny mornings, we go shadow catching. Inside, outside, in our home and in our neighbourhood, shadows dance around us from morning through to night. Our shadows are so tall, then small, then tall again in sunlight, lamplight and even in the moonlight.
These Little Feet by Hayley Rawsthorne, with illustrations by Briony Stewart
These little feet, so tiny and new. The places they’ll go, the dances they’ll do. The mountains they’ll climb, the dreams they’ll pursue. These little feet, so tiny and new. A delightful celebration of love, hope and promise, this beautiful picture book perfectly captures the precious dreams of childhood and parenting.
When I’m Big by Karen Blair
With its gorgeous illustrations, When I’m Big is a completely new and fun take on becoming a brother or sister. Karen has cleverly used a classic case of children taking something adults say literally, as a tool to open up a conversation with your little one about what to expect. It’s a must-read for any little (and big) person about to welcome an even smaller person into their home. Filled with humour and imagination, When I’m Big is a delightful, warm-hearted celebration of becoming a sibling. Everyone keeps telling me I’m going to be a big girl soon, but I wonder . . . Just how BIG will I be?
We are very excited to have Karen Blair coming to Cockburn Libraries this Children’s Book Week. Keep an eye out for more information.
Picture Book
City of Light illustrated by Mark & Heather Jackson, and written by Julia Lawrinson
Our city is so big. The universe is bigger. An astronaut from the other side of the world will fly over our home, at night. We will see a tiny light and we’ll know it’s him. But will he be able to see us? One girl, one boy? A true story.
Every Night at Midnight written and illustrated by Peter Cheong
Every night at midnight, Felix turns into a wolf. His hands and feet become velvety paws and he grows a long, bushytail. Felix has the night-time world to himself. There’s no one else like him. Felix isn’t a wolf during the day, butit still feels like there’s no one else like him. That’s okay. Felix is just fine on his own. But after a chance encounter, this little lone wolf starts to wonder whether he might find his pack after all… A tender and whimsical picture book about finding friendship in unexpected places.
The Garden at the End of the World illustrated by Briony Stewart, and written by Cassy Polimeni
At the end of the world is an island covered in ice. On the island is a mountain. Inside the mountain is a vault. And inside the vault are millions of seeds. When Isla makes a special discovery, she and her botanist mother travel to the Global Seed Vault in Norway. Isla is going to leave her precious package there, so children who haven’t even been born yet can grow and eat the food we all enjoy. What else will they encounter along the way? The Garden at the End of the World is a hopeful story about protecting nature’s treasures for the future.
The Lucky Shack illustrated by Jennifer Falkner, and written by Apsara Baldovino
I am a lucky shack.I spend my days watching boats bob gentlyunder puffy clouds, on a sparkling sea.Surrounded by natural beauty, a seaside shack is lovingly cared for by a fisherman, until one day everything changes.The Lucky Shack is a heartfelt and uplifting journey through the seasons, the cycle of life, and the beauty and power of nature. If you are brave enough to let the light in, love and gratitude will triumph.Unveiling a timeless message of hope – of love lost and found again – this story is a stunning debut from author Apsara Baldovino and illustrator Jennifer Falkner.
Timeless written and illustrated by Kelly Canby
Emit (whose parents turned back time to name him) is surrounded by busyness. Dad is too busy to read stories, Mum is too busy to play games and Emit’s brother and sister are simply too busy doing nothing to do anything, at all. Emit tries everything he can think of to get more time, he tries to catch it, wait for it, but it’s not until Emit tries to buy some time that he learns the secret which is, if you want time, you have to make it.
Eve Pownall Award (for Information Books)
Our Country: Where History Happened by Mark Greenwood, with illustrations by Frané Lessac
In every corner of Australia, history happened. The pages of this book are a journey through tens of thousands of years. Our history is recorded in ancient rock art, in the flag flown at the Eureka Stockade, by Burke and Wills’ tree. All around our coastline history unfolded in shipwrecks and ship arrivals. Sometimes tragic, often regrettable, always formative, history is commemorated from Tasmania and throughout the mainland at the sites of prisons and massacres. From the birthplace of a new federated nation at the beginning of the twentieth century in Sydney’s Centennial Park to Eddie Mabo’s struggle for acknowledgement of land rights in the 1990s, history happened all around Our Country.
