Wollongong educators able to win books by celebrating Book Week 2020

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) professionals living in Wollongong, a coastal town south of Sydney, New South Wales, have been invited to participate in a competition for a chance to win a book prize pack for themselves and for their school, pre-school, day care or fellow home school student.

The competition has been announced in line with “the favourite time of the book-lover calendar”, Book Week. In 2020, the Book Week theme is Curious Creatures, Wild Minds, and in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions, Book Week will be celebrated during Term Four this year, with celebrations beginning 17 October, and carrying through until 23 October. 

Prize packs will include titles from the 2020 shortlist, with Wollongong City Libraries offering opportunities to vote for a favourite children’s book, author or illustrator.

“Although we celebrate reading every day of the year, Book Week gives us an excellent excuse to recognise some of Australia’s most beloved children’s authors and illustrators. We love this year’s shortlist of children’s and youth fiction and we think you will too,” Wollongong City Council Library and Community Services Manager Jenny Thompson said.

“We want to know what you think about this year’s shortlisted children’s books. You can vote for your favourite books and go in the draw to win a prize by visiting the Wollongong Library website.”

The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book Week is an annual event that has brought together children and books since 1945. Each year schools and public libraries spend “one glorious week” celebrating books and Australian children’s authors and illustrators.

In 2021, CBCA anticipates that the annual Book of the Year Awards, and Book Week celebrations, will return to their normal schedule, with Awards announced on the third Friday in August, with Book Week commencing the following day.

To vote, visit the Wollongong City Libraries website. Voting closes 5pm Sunday 18 October 2020.

There are three different prize packs to win:

Book Pack 1: your own copy of some of the Early Childhood shortlist, including My Friend Fred; Bat vs Poss; Goodbye House, Hello House; One Runaway Rabbit; and When Billy Was a Dog.

Book Pack 2: books from a mix of categories, including Magnolia Moon; Tilly; We’re Stuck!; I Need a Parrot; and Young Dark Emu.

Book Pack 3: a book mix including Magnolia Moon; Ghost Bird; The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Ugly Animals; Young Dark Emu; and Baby Business.