Just like a walk in the great outdoors, there’s so much to explore at the free Nature Book Week events across Australia. Grab your sense of adventure and love of landscapes and dig into all the earthy goodness on offer!
Now in its third year, Nature Book Week is The Wilderness Society’s annual all-ages celebration of the best nature-themed children’s books, featuring beloved Australian authors, illustrators and storytellers.
Running from 5–12 September 2022, Nature Book Week coincides each year with Threatened Species Day, commemorated across the country on 7 September to raise awareness of plants and animals at risk of extinction.
It’s a time for readers of all ages to celebrate nature writing in its many forms–from non-fiction to fantasy, poetry to prose, and science writing to personal tales.
You’re invited to a series of talks and events–both online and in libraries, bookstores and the great outdoors—culminating in the announcement of the Karajia and Environment Awards for Children’s Literature for 2022!
FREE NATURE BOOK WEEK EVENTS 2022
ONLINE EVENTS (NATIONAL)
What: Virtual read-aloud of shortlisted book One Potoroo by Penny Jaye, illustrated by Alicia Rogerson. Read by author, teacher-librarian and Environment Award for Children’s Literature judge Megan Daley
When: 11am, Monday 5 September
Where: Facebook RSVP
What: Virtual read-aloud of shortlisted book Saving Seal: The Plastic Predicament by Diane Jackson Hill, illustrated by Craig Smith. Read by author and Environment Awards for Children’s Literature judge Nat Amoore
When: 10am, Tuesday 6 September
Where: Facebook RSVP
What: Wilderness Society CEO, Matt Brennan, talks with First Nations author and astronomer Karlie Noon, who recently co-authored Astronomy: Sky Country with Krystal De Napoli
When: 12:30pm, Tuesday 6 September
Where: Facebook RSVP
What: Better Reading’s Nature Book Week-themed Facebook Live hosted by Adrian Beck, featuring special guest authors Samone Amba and Nat Amoore.
When: 8pm, Tuesday 6 September
Where: Facebook RSVP
What: Ask a scientist: Kids’ nature questions answered! With ecologists Professor Jen Martin, Dr Euan G. Ritchie and Dr Kylie Soanes
When: 12:30pm, Wednesday 7 September
Where: Facebook RSVP
What: Virtual read-aloud of Somebody’s Land by Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing, illustrated by David Hardy. Read by author, Karajia Award judge, and founder of Deadly Science, Corey Tutt
When: 10:30am, Thursday 8 September
Where: Facebook RSVP
What: Why we need stories: In conversation with Uncle Bunna Lawrie and Boori Monty Pryor
When: 12:30pm, Friday 9 September
Where: Facebook RSVP
What: Virtual read-aloud of Sharing by Aunty Fay Muir and Sue Lawson, illustrated by Leanne Mulgo Watson, and The River by Sally Morgan, illustrated by Johnny Warrkatja Malibirr. Read by kindergarten teacher Anita Dye
When: 10am, Saturday 10 September
Where: Facebook RSVP
MELBOURNE, VICTORIA
What: Nature Book Week launch with nature-themed activity stations, storytime and speakers
When: 10am–12pm, Saturday 3 September
Where: Sam Merrifield Library, Moonee Ponds
What: Nature Book Week-themed storytime (recorded)
When: 10:30–11am, Monday 5 September
Where: State Library of Victoria, Melbourne VIC + online via Zoom
What: Storytime in nature
When: 10:30–11:30am, Monday 5 September
Where: Boeing Reserve, Strathmore Heights
What: Storytime in nature
When: 10:30–11:30am, Wednesday 7 September
Where: Rosehill Park, Keilor East
What: Panel talk for Threatened Species Day—Telling stories to save nature. Featuring authors Alison Binks, Danielle Clode, Andrew Kelly and Claire Saxby
When: 6pm, Wednesday 7 September
Where: RSVP Readings Hawthorn
What: Storytime in nature
When: 10:30–11:30am, Thursday 8 September
Where: Fairbairn Park, Ascot Vale
BRISBANE, QLD
What: Panel talk for Threatened Species Day—Telling stories to save nature. Featuring author/illustrator Caroline Magerl, and authors Samantha Wheeler, Dr Sarah Pye and Fiona McMillan-Webster
When: 6–7pm, Wednesday 7 September
Where: RSVP Where the Wild Things Are, West End
ADELAIDE, SA
What: Nature Book Week-themed storytime
When: 10:30am, Tuesday 6 September
Where: Hutt Street Library, Adelaide
What: Nature Book Week-themed storytime
When: 10:30am, Wednesday 7 September
Where: Tynte Street Library, Adelaide
What: Nature Book Week-themed storytime
When: 10:30am, Thursday 8 September
Where: City Library, Adelaide
What: Nature Book Week-themed storytime
When: 10:30am, Saturday 10 September
Where: Hutt Street Library, Adelaide
HOBART, TAS
What: Nature Book Week-themed storytime
When: 10am, Wednesday 7 September
Where: Hobart City Library, Hobart
PERTH, WA
What: Nature Book Week-themed storytime
When: 2pm, Thursday 8 September
Where: RSVP Perth City Library, Perth
SYDNEY, NSW
What: Winners announcement: 2022 Karajia and Environment Awards for Children’s Literature ceremony. All welcome!
When: 6pm, Thursday 8 September
Where: RSVP Gleebooks, Glebe, Sydney
The books shortlisted for this year’s awards are:
Karajia Award (the inaugural children’s literature award for First Nations stories):
Sharing written by Aunty Fay Muir and Sue Lawson and illustrated by Leanne Mulgo Watson
The River written by Sally Morgan and illustrated by Johnny Warrkatja Malibirr
Sea Country written by Aunty Patsy Cameron and illustrated by Lisa Kennedy
Warna-Manda Baby Earth Walk written by Susan Betts and illustrated by Mandy Foot and Susan Betts
Wiradjuri Country written and illustrated by Larry Brandy
Somebody’s Land: Welcome to Our Country written by Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing and illustrated by David Hardy
The Story Doctors written by Boori Monty Pryor and illustrated by Rita Sinclair
Walking in Gagudju Country: Exploring the Monsoon Forest written byDiane Lucas and Ben Tyler and illustrated by Emma Long
Environment Award for Children’s Literature:
Fiction
Fish Kid and the Turtle Torpedo written by Kylie Howarth
Bailey Finch Takes a Stand written by Ingrid Laguna
The Good Times of Pelican Rise: Save the Joeys written by Samone Amba
Non-fiction
The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature written by Sami Bayly
The Australian Climate Change Book written by Polly Marsden and illustrated by Chris Nixon
The Way of the Weedy Seadragon written by Anne Morgan and illustrated by Lois Bury
The Gentle Genius of Trees written and illustrated by Philip Bunting
Picture fiction
The Accidental Penguin Hotel written by Andrew Kelly and illustrated by Dean Jones
9 things to remember (and one to forget) written and illustrated by Alison Binks
Sharing written by Aunty Fay Muir and Sue Lawson and illustrated by Leanne Mulgo Watson
One Potoroo: A Story of Survival written by Penny Jaye and illustrated by Alicia Rogerson
The River written by Sally Morgan and illustrated by Johnny Warrkatja Malibirr
Saving Seal: The Plastic Predicament written by Diane Jackson Hill and illustrated by Craig Smith