At Red Kangaroo Books, we take great pride in celebrating the Karajia and Environment Awards for Children’s Literature.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Environment Award for Children’s Literature, which kicked off in 1994 by a group of environmental educators teaming up with the Wilderness Society to share a love for nature through books. This year's judging panel featured conservation biologist Dr. Kylie Soanes, actor Zindzi Okenyo, and last year's winner, Jess McGeachin.
The Karajia and Environment Awards are close to our hearts at Red Kangaroo Books because they honour stories that highlight the beauty of Australian landscapes and Indigenous cultures—values that align perfectly with our bookstore’s mission to uplift both Indigenous and non-Indigenous voices.
Local Karajia and Environment Awards Winners on Our Shelves
2024 Environment Award for Children’s Literature (picture fiction) winner:
Hope is the Thing
By Johanna Bell & Erica Wagner
SHORT-LISTED: 2024 CBCA Book of the Year, Award for New Illustrator
A 2023 Listener NZ Top Children's Book
Hope is a kookaburra singing the sun
Hope is the emu learning to run ...
Let your imagination soar in this joyful ode to the world of birds and the healing power of nature.
Sparked by the Emily Dickinson poem 'Hope is the thing with feathers', this lyrical text accompanied by glorious mixed media collages reflects and celebrates the diversity, ingenuity and wonder of birds.
2024 Karajia Award (non-fiction) winner:
In My Blood It Runs
By Dujuan Hoosan / Margaret Anderson / Carol Turner / Blak Douglas
This is the story of Dujuan Hoosan, a 10-year-old Arrernte and Garawa boy. A wise, funny, cheeky boy. A healer.
Out bush, his healing power (Ngangkere) is calm and straight. But in town, it's wobbly and wild, like a snake.
He's in trouble at school, and with the police. He thinks there's something wrong with him.
Dujuan's family knows what to do: they send him to live out bush, to learn the ways of the old people, and the history that runs straight into all Aboriginal people.
So he can be proud of himself.
Illustrated by Blak Douglas, winner of the Archibald Prize 2022
2024 Environment Award for Children’s Literature (non fiction) winner:
The Trees
By Victor Steffensen
Take a walk with Uncle Kuu in The Trees, a picture book about caring for Country and respect for Indigenous knowledge.
Looking after the trees is important for keeping Country happy and healthy. First Nations People have cared for the trees on Country for thousands of years. In return, the trees look after the people and provide them with gifts of seeds, flowers, wood and more. This creates the balance between giving and taking from the land.
Featuring stunning artwork by Sandra Steffensen, The Trees is a powerful and timely story to help future generations manage our landscapes and ensure that they thrive. At the back of the book, you will find lyrics to a song written by author Victor Steffensen with the title, 'We are the Trees', and a QR code to watch the song's YouTube video.
Victor also wrote Fire Country.
Delving deep into the Australian landscape and the environmental challenges we face, Fire Country is a powerful account from Indigenous land management expert Victor Steffensen on how the revival of Indigenous fire practices, including improved ’reading’ of country and undertaking ’cool burns’, could help to restore our nation.
For a full list of Karajia and Environment Awards shortlist, visit the Wilderness Society’s website.
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
FAQs about the Karajia and Environment Awards for Children's Literature
What are the Karajia and Environment Awards for Children's Literature?
These awards celebrate children's books that promote nature.
Who can participate?
Authors and illustrators of children's literature can submit their works for consideration.
How are the winners chosen?
A panel of judges, including experts in literature and conservation, evaluates the submissions based on creativity, engagement, and design quality.
Why does Red Kangaroo Books celebrate these awards?
Red Kangaroo Books, based in Alice Springs, aims to highlight local talent and celebrate Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian cultures through literature.
