Twenty-nine books have made the longlist for the 2025 ASLA DANZ Children’s Book Awards, selected by over 110 children and teenagers from across Australia and New Zealand. The longlist came from an outstanding field of 135 books made up of Graphic Novels, NonFiction, Poetry, and Young Adult Novels celebrating diverse people and communities in a balanced and authentic way.
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)
The shortlists will be announced online on Thursday, 3rd of April and the winners crowned at this year’s ASLA Conference Dinner on Friday, 30th May held at the iconic GMHBA Stadium in Geelong.
The 2024 and 2025 longlists are being made available as a valuable resource spotlighting quality diverse literature for educators, booksellers, parents and carers. The colourful brochures are designed and distributed by BookPeople Kids. Online versions will also be made available.
This project is supported by The Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund.
Visit www.thedanzchildrensbookaward.com to learn more about the award. Any queries or concerns can be directed to the DANZ committee at thedanzchildrensbookaward@gmail.com
Since the award does not charge an entry fee, support in all forms, from monetary donations and the sharing of services, is welcomed and encouraged to help take the award to the next level. Please reach out to Kate at thedanzchildrensbookaward@gmail.com or Martha at president@asla.org.au to discuss how you can make a difference.
For more information or interviews, contact Kate at thedanzchildrensbookaward@gmail.com
