Guardian Australia has unveiled the shortlist for its best Australian children’s picture book poll, featuring 50 titles nominated by readers. The oldest book on the list dates back to 1973, while the newest was published in 2022.
The poll, which opens for voting on 27 January at theguardian.com/bestpicturebook, focuses on picture books intended to be read aloud to pre-literate children. These are distinct from graphic novels or illustrated chapter books, typically taking only a few minutes to read.
Notable nominees include classics such as The Bunyip of Berkeley’s Creek by Jenny Wagner and Ron Brooks, and Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas. Contemporary titles like 11 Words for Love by Randa Abdel-Fattah and Maxine Beneba Clarke also feature.
Other shortlisted works include Come Over to My House by Eliza Hull, Sally Rippin and Daniel Gray-Barnett, and There’s a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake by Hazel Edwards and Deborah Niland. The full list is available on the Guardian website.
