Top authors awarded

AUSTRALIA – Speech Pathology Australia has awarded four authors for excellence in the development of children’s speech, language and literacy skills.

Pamela Allen (Is your Grandmother a Goanna?), Nadia Wheatley and illustrator, Ken Searle (Going Bush), and Jenni Overend (Stride’s Summer) each received one of Speech Pathology Australia’s 2008 Book of the Year Awards.

“The alarming decline in literacy skills in Australia over the past decade highlights the importance of developing children’s language and literacy from an early age,” said Speech Pathology Australia’s national public affairs co-ordinator, Natalie Ellston.

“As the peak professional body for speech pathologists, we are in a unique position to recommend books to parents that can assist children’s speech, language and literacy development,” she said.

Each year they select three children’s books based on their appeal to children, educational value, graphics and design, as well as their ability to facilitate communication, interaction and discussion.

“An engaging story encourages children to develop their imagination and curiosity, and to explore new ideas, which is vital for language and literacy,” Ms Ellston said.

A panel of expert paediatric speech pathologists judge the Book of the Year Awards in three categories: Young Children, Lower Primary and Upper Primary.

BOOK OF THE YEAR 2008 WINNERS

Author – Book – Award

Pamela Allen – Is your Grandmother a Goanna? – Entertaining and heart warming, Pamela Allen’s Is your Grandmother a Goanna? is a fun, noisy, and surprising journey to visit Grandmother – Young Children.

Nadia Wheatley and Ken Searle – Going Bush – A story of harmony and friendship, this innovative collaboration between artist and writer documents 16 children (from eight schools in south-west Sydney) exploring their local environment – Lower Primary.

Jenni Overend – Strides Summer – An evocative and beautifully observed coming-of-age narrative, capturing the world of Stride and his pet cockatoo, as he deals with the death of his father, love, fear and friendships, all on the cusp of adolescence – Upper Primary.