Speech Pathology Australia - Book of the Year Awards 2013

Speech Pathology Australia - Book of the Year Awards turn 10! The awards aim to clebrate children's books that promote good oral language and literacy skills. This year's winners contain some of the best known and loved children's authors in Australia.

2013 award winners are:

Best Book for Language & Literacy Development - Young Children (ages 2-5 years)
Seadog by Claire Saxby

Best Book for Language & Literacy Development - Lower Primary (ages 5-8 years)
Sophie Scott Goes South by Alison Lester

Best Book for Language & Literacy Development - Upper Primary (ages 8-12 years)
After by Morris Gleizman




Best Book for Language & Literacy Development - Indigenous Children 
Two Mates by Melanie Prewett

Back to School.....

The Summer school holidays are over and it's time for children to go back to school.
For some children they are starting school for the first time. Some children may be very excited about this whilst others may be a little anxious.

Below is a selection of fiction and non-fiction books that you might find useful to assist in preparing your child, and yourself, for their first day of school and help make their transition as smooth as possible.

FICTION BOOKS

The first day of school / Toby Forward; illustrated by Carol Thompson

First Day / Dandi Daley Mackall; illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke

It's your first day at school, Annie Claire / Nancy White Carlstrom; illustrated by Margie Moore

Bella goes to school / Ian Whybrow; illustrated by Rosie Reeve

Countdown to kindergarten / Alison McGhee; illustrated by Harry Bliss

Jojo's first day jitters / Jane O'Connor; illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser

Off to kindergarten / by Tony Johnston ; illustrated by Melissa Sweet.


NON - FICTION BOOKS

Ready, set, go? / Kathy Walker.

Ready, set ... go! : off to school : fun learning activities for 4-year-olds / Becky Daniel.

Starting school : how to help your child be prepared / Sue Berne.

Thriving at school : a practical guide to help your child enjoy the crucial school years / Dr John Irvine and John Stewart.

Getting ready to start school: parents and experts share advice and experience / Netmums with Hilary Pereira and Hollie Smith

Speech Pathology Australia - 2012 Book of the Year Awards

The Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards raise awareness of the role speech pathologists play in assisting people of all ages to develop their language and literacy skills.

The awards have selected the best books for language and literacy development.

THE WINNERS ARE:

Young Children

Come Down, Cat! by Sonia Harnett

Lower Primary

The Little Refugee by Anh and Suzanne Do

Upper Primary

The Invisible Hero by Elizabeth Fensham

Indigenous Children

The Snake and the Boy by Azmen Sebastian

Reading Magic

Reading Magic by Mem Fox is an introduction for parents about reading aloud to their children. In this book Fox explains that babies are born learners, discusses the importance of books in the home, and stresses the value of a read-aloud ritual.

Reading Magic is thought to be a must for every parent and for anyone who would like to know how children learn to read.

Starting School and Dinosaurs!

Is your child starting school? Does your child love dinosaurs?

If you answered yes to both of these questions, then Harry and the Dinosaurs Go to School by Ian Whybrow is the book for you.

This book is the perfect story about starting school from the much loved Harry and his bucketful of dinosaurs.