Karajia and Environment Awards for Children's Literature

Karajia and Environment Awards for Children's Literature

The Wilderness Society's annual celebration of the best new nature-themed children's books

Since 1994, we've been celebrating the best new fiction, non-fiction and picture books written for children that promote a love of nature.

Environment Award for Children’s Literature: 2024 winners

We're thrilled to announce the winners of this year's Karajia and Environment Awards for Children's Literature! 🌱📚

2024 Environment Award for Children’s Literature (fiction category) winner:

The Littlest Penguin: and the Phillip Island Penguin Parade
The Penguin Foundation / Jedda Robaard

2024 Environment Award for Children’s Literature (picture fiction) winner:

Hope is the Thing
Johanna Bell / Erica Wagner

2024 Environment Award for Children’s Literature (non fiction) winner:
The Trees: Learning Tree Knowledge with Uncle Kuu
Victor Steffensen / Sandra Steffensen

2024 Karajia Award (picture fiction) winner:
Nedingar: Ancestors
Isobel Bevis / Leanne Zilm

2024 Karajia Award (non fiction) winner:

In My Blood It Runs
Dujuan Hoosan / Margaret Anderson / Carol Turner / Blak Douglas

Our partner bookseller, Harry Hartog, is donating 10% of all shortlisted book sales back to us to protect nature for future generations. Get your copies today!
Print exhibition and auction

Print exhibition and auction

Celebrate the 30th anniversary of our Environment Award for Children’s Literature with this exhibition and auction of prints from books shortlisted over the three decades. 🌱📚

Environment Award for Children’s Literature: 2024 shortlist



The Wilderness Society’s Environment Award for Children’s Literature, now in its 30th year, recognises books that inspire a love for nature—from the soil below to the canopy above.

Click any of the book covers below to purchase your own copies from Harry Hartog—who are donating 10% of shortlist sales back to the Wilderness Society!

Hope is the Thing
Johanna Bell / Erica Wagner
Buy a copy!

Wollemi
Samantha Tidy / Rachel Gyan
Buy a copy!

The Forgotten Song
Coral Vass / Jess Racklyeft
Buy a copy!

The Turtle and the Flood
Jackie French / Danny Snell
Buy a copy!

Desert Jungle
Jeannie Baker
Buy a copy!

The Littlest Penguin: and the Phillip Island Penguin Parade
The Penguin Foundation / Jedda Robaard
Buy a copy!

Ruby and The Pen
David Lawrence / Cherie Dignam
Buy a copy!

The Trees
Victor Steffensen / Sandra Steffensen
Buy a copy!

Australian Animals: From Beach to Bush
Brentos
Buy a copy!

The Frog Book - Nature's Alarm
Sue Lawson / Guy Holt
Buy a copy!

Life in a Hollow
David Gullan / Suzanne Houghton
Buy a copy!

How We Came to Be: Creatures of Camouflage and Mimicry
Sami Bayly
Buy a copy!

“Storytelling is one of the ways that the Wilderness Society helps to protect nature. Using photographs, illustrations, and stories is how we connect people to nature. And it has been from the very beginning of our organisation's history, when a simple photo of a river bend in the Franklin River galvanised a nation.”—Matt Brennan, CEO

Karajia Award: 2024 shortlist

The Karajia Award, launched 2022, honours First Nations storytellers sharing tales of connection to Country, language and community.

Click any of the book covers below to purchase your own copies from Harry Hartog—who are donating 10% of shortlist sales back to the Wilderness Society!

Nedingar: Ancestors
Isobel Bevis / Leanne Zilm
Buy a copy!

Gurril Storm Bird
Trevor Fourmile / Jingalu
Buy a copy!

Ask Aunty: Seasons
Aunty Munya Andrews / Charmaine Ledden-Lewis
Buy a copy!

The Trees
Victor Steffensen / Sandra Steffensen
Buy a copy!

In My Blood It Runs
Dujuan Hoosan / Margaret Anderson / Carol Turner / Blak Douglas
Buy a copy!

Tamarra
Violet Wadrill / Topsy Dodd / Leah Leaman / Felicity Meakins / Briony Barr / Gregory Crocetti / Cecelia Edwards / Cassandra Algy
Buy a copy!

Gurawul the whale
Max Dulumunmun Harrison (deceased) / Laura La Rosa
Buy a copy!

“Stories become a part of us, and a part of our shared history. Which is why in 2022 we added the Karajia Award for Children’s Literature to celebrate this continent's First Nations authors and/or illustrators. These books honour stories about connection to Country, language and culture."—Matt Brennan, CEO

Who picks the shortlist?

Celebrating its 30th year, the Environment Award for Children’s Literature was started in 1994 by a group of environmental educators who wanted to work with the Wilderness Society to promote a love of nature through books. The judging panel this year includes Australian conservation biologist Dr Kylie Soanes, actor and Playschool presenter Zindzi Okenyo, and last year’s Environment Award for Children’s Literature winner Jess McGeachin.

Launched in 2022, the Karajia Award for Children’s Literature celebrates and recognises the important message of First Nations authors and illustrators that honour a connection to Country – sharing stories exploring land, community, culture and language. Judges for this year’s Karajia awards include previously shortlisted author Jasmine Seymour, educator Danae Coots, and academic and author Dr Amy Thunig.

Judges, appointed by the Wilderness Society, assess the shortlisted entries based on originality of concept; with engaging language appropriate for the theme, style and audience of the work; and quality design (including illustrations where applicable).

Environment Award for Children’s Literature:
encourages a caring attitude towards the natural environment and/or promotes an awareness of environmental issues.
    Karajia Award for Children’s Literature: promotes themes that honour Connection to Country and tell stories exploring land, community, culture and/or language.

      2023 winners

      Last year, 21 books were shortlisted across both Awards and the judging panel had a tough job picking these winners!

      Karajia Award for Children’s Literature: Looking after Country with Fire by Victor Steffensen, illustrated by Sandra Steffensen, published by Hardie Grant Explore

      Environment Award for Children’s Literature
      Non-fiction: The ABC Guide to Loving the Planet by Jaclyn Crupi, illustrated by Cheryl Orsini, published by ABC Books an imprint of Harper Collins

      Picture fiction (co-winners): Kind by Jess McGeachin, published by Allen & Unwin, and The Tree at Number 43 by Jess McGeachin, published by Penguin Random House Australia

      Fiction: Berani by Michelle Kadarusman, published by Allen & Unwin

      Congratulations Jessica Hay from Queensland who won the full 2023 shortlist!

      Nature Book Week

      Nature Book Week

      Our annual, all-ages celebration of nature-themed storytelling returns 14 October!

      3 decades of nature stories

      Explore nearly 30 year’s worth of the very best winning and shortlisted kids' nature books.