Announcing the 2025 DAMNZ Children’s Book Award longlist of 29 books, which were selected by 110 children and teenagers from Australia and New Zealand from 135 entries that consisted of graphic novels, non-fiction, poetry and young adult books. Several I have read, and there are a few others I am hoping to get to soon for something else – lots of great choices here chosen by kids!
Graphic Novel Category
Hairy Holes by Brenton E McKenna (Magabala Books)
Ghost Book by Remy Lai (Allen & Unwin)
The Greatest Thing by Sarah Winifred Searle (Allen & Unwin)
Neverlanders by Tom Taylor and Jon Sommariva (Penguin Random House)
When the World Was Soft by Juluwarlu Group Aboriginal Corporation (Allen & Unwin)
The Sweetness Between Us by Sarah Winifred Searle (Allen & Unwin)
Non-Fiction Category
Always Was, Always Will Be by Aunty Fay Muir & Sue Lawson (Magabala Books)
Ask Aunty: Seasons by Aunty Munya Andrews and illustrated by Charmaine Ledden-Lewis (Hardie Grand Explore)
Design & Building on Country: First Knowledges for younger readers by Paul Memmott & Alison Page and illustrated by Blak Douglas (Thames & Hudson Australia)
Brilliant Minds by Shannon Meyerkort & Amy Blackwell (Affirm Press)
In My Blood It Runs by Dujuan Hoosan, Margaret Anderson & Carol Turner and illustrated by Blak Douglas (Pan Macmillan Australia)
Gurawul the Whale by Max Dulumunmun Harrison and illustrated by Laura La Rosa (Magabala Books)
Our Mob by Taylor Hampton & Jacinta Daniher and illustrated by Seantelle Walsh (Ford Street Publishing)
Looking After Country with Fire by Victor Steffensen and illustrated by Sandra Steffensen (Hardie Grant Explore)
The Wonder of Little Things by Vince Copley & Lea McInerney (HarperCollins)
The Trees by Victor Steffensen and illustrated by Sandra Steffensen (Hardie Grand Explore)
Poetry Category
Pasifika Navigators by 52 Pasifika Student Authors (Mila’s Books)
It’s the Sound of the Thing by Maxine Beneba Clarke (Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing)
Young Adult Novels Category
A Way Home by Emily Brewin (MidnightSun Publishing)
Catch a Falling Star by Eileen Merriman (Penguin Random House New Zealand)
Maria Petranelli is Prepared for Anything (Except This) by Elisa Chenoweth (Hardie Grant)
Liar’s Test by Ambelin Kwaymullina (Text Publishing)
Into the Mouth of the Wolf by Erin Gough (Hardie Grant)
Robert Runs by Mariah Sweetman (Magabala Books)
Inkflower by Suzy Zail (Walker Books Australia)
Slipping the Noose by Meg Caddy (Text Publishing)
Two Can Play That Game by Leanne Yong (Allen & Unwin)
The Quiet and the Loud by Helena Fox (Pan Macmillan Australia)
White Noise by Raelke Grimmer (UWA Publishing)
Shortlist announced 3rd May 2025 and winners at ASLA dinner on the 30th of May.
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