Winners announced for 2012 Environment Award

Alison Lester (left) and Coral Tulloch (centre), author and illustrator of One Small Island receive their Environment Award for Children’s Literature from Wilderness Society campaigner, Liz Johnstone in Hobart. Photo: Doug O’Neil.

On World Environment Day, we are proud to announce the winners of the Wilderness Society’s Environment Award for Children’s Literature.

The winners of the 2012 Award are Hairy Nose, Itchy Butt by Elizabeth Frankel and Garry Duncan and One Small Island by Alison Lester and Coral Tulloch.

Lester and Tulloch’s One Small Island tells the story of Macquarie Island – a remote and precious World Heritage site. The book explores the island’s unique geological beginnings, its discovery and degradation at the hands of humans, and attempts to protect and restore it today.

Meanwhile, Hairy Nose, Itchy Butt follows the plight of a Southern Hairy-Nosed Wombat on a mission to track down his favourite scratching tree. The book was inspired by a desire to help protect South Australia’s faunal emblem from threats such as disease, habitat loss, and death on the roads.

“Proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to help with on-ground work that some dedicated SA scientists are doing with wombat conservation”, explains Frankel.

Elizabeth Frankel and Garry Duncan, author and illustrator of Hairy Nose, Itchy Butt share their Environment Award for Children’s Literature with Napoleon the wombat. Photo: Courtesy of The River News.

The Wilderness Society's annual Environment Award for Children’s Literature is designed to encourage children to take an interest in nature and to feel a sense of responsibility for our wild places and unique wildlife. And in this instance, it seems to be working.

“I regularly visit schools and do book readings, and I talk to class groups about the importance of literacy, and also of taking care of the environment”, says Frankel.

“I often take the opportunity to read Hairy Nose, Itchy Butt and, each time I do, the children get really involved in the story, chanting along. Their little faces light up and they laugh out loud… I can’t wait to see lots more children enjoying it”.

This year, the Environment Award for Children's Literature attracted submissions from all over the country. Fifteen books – both fiction and non-fiction – were shortlisted, and winners and shortlisted titles will now carry special Wilderness Society medals on their covers.

See the full list of shortlisted children's books for the 2012 Environment Award.

Know a parent or teacher?

Point them in the direction of these wilderness-friendly educational resources for kids:

Hairy Nose, Itchy Butt teacher resources (free download courtesy of NRM Education)

Animal conservation awareness activity (free download courtesy of NRM Education)

Threatened species colouring-in sheets (free download)