Big Red Kangaroo at Melbourne Clayton's Night

Last night with two fellow authors I attended the Melbourne Clayton's Night where five speakers talk about their predictions for the upcoming CBCA Awards. It's always interesting to hear others talk passionately about books in general and specifically. The speakers last night were Anna Burkey from the State Library, Emma Baker also from the State Library, Sarah Mayor Cox from La Trobe Uni in Bendigo. A couple of other scheduled speakers were unable to be there but their presentations were 'channeled' by CBCA members. 

This photo shows Big Red Kangaroo being presented to the room of teachers and librarians by Sarah Mayor Cox. Thanks Sarah! (It was tricky - nay - impossible to get a good screen shot but it IS Big Red up there )

We were introduced to a closer look at many books that I've seen and/or read over the past 12 months, and some I'll be searching out. Most presenters were unable to stick to the six titles they were supposed to present. I think all snuck extras in, not that anyone in the room was complaining.

The dinners at the Clayton's night are always fabulous and this one was no exception. Moroccan-themed and delicious. 

Clayton's Night

Last night Catriona Hoy and I joined Pam McIntyre, Susanne Thwaites and Pam Horsey (channelling her inner Bec Kavanagh) presented our Clayton's shortlist titles to a gathering of bookpeople at the CBCA Vic Clayton's Night. I was presenting the Early Childhood section and Catriona, the non fiction.

Knowing that it's almost impossible to catch a closed-mouth photo of a speaker, these are two shots we prepared earlier.



And here are our shortlists:

Early Childhood Award

In the Lion, James Foley Walker Books
Peggy, Anna Walker Scholastic
Pooka, Carol Chataway and Nina Rycroft Working Title Press
Too Many Elephants in This House, Ursula Dubosarsky Penguin
Ships in the Field, Susanne Gervay and Anna Pignataro Ford Street Publishing
Lily and the Fairy Tree, Jane Tanner Penguin

Eve Pownell (Non-fiction) Award

Kevin Thinks by Gail Watts
Python by Christopher Cheng & Mark Jackson
Lone Pine by Susie Brown & Margaret Warner illus. by Sebastian Ciaffaglione
Life on the Goldfields by Doug Bradby
Sophie Scott Goes South by Alison Lester
Catriona's own book 'The Little Dinosaur' is also entered in this category

Picture Book Award

Herman & Rosie by Gus Gordon
Peggy by Anna Walker
The Terrible Suitcase by Emma Allen & Freya Blackwood
Tree by Danny Parker & Matt Ottley
Unforgotten by Tohby Riddle
Lightning Jack by Glenda Millard & Patricia Mullins

Younger Readers Award

The Forgotten Pearl by Belinda Murrell
Star by Catherine Bateson
Louis Beside Himself by Anna Fienberg
Miss Understood by James Roy
The Beginner's Guide to Revenge by Marianne Musgrove
The Horses didn't come Home by Pamela Rushby

Older Readers Award

The Shiny Guys by Doug McLeod
Night Beach by Kirsty Eager
The interrogation of Ashala Wolf by Amberlin Kwaymullina
City by James Roy
Friday Brown by Vikki Wakefield
The Ink Bridge by Neil Grant