The Moon Story’ shines bright: ILF book wins 2025 Karajia Award for children’s literature

The Moon Story, a bilingual picture book written by Marshia Cook and illustrated by Cook and her son Tamua Nuggett, has won the 2025 Karajia Award for Children’s Literature in the picture fiction category.

Announced on 11 October at the launch of Nature Book Week in Sydney, the Karajia Award is presented by the Wilderness Society and celebrates First Nations storytellers whose work honours connections to Country, culture and Community.

Set on Country in Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia, The Moon Story draws from Marshia Cook’s childhood memories of winter camping trips with her family. Written in both English and Kriol, the story follows a family camping under the stars, watching the moon rise beside a beloved old gum tree.

“The Moon Story is about a camping spot we used to go every winter time when we were small with our families,” said Marshia. “It’s a nice camping place near that old gum tree telling stories watching the moon rising.”

Her message to children: “Keep writing stories, keep your language strong, keep your culture strong while you got your Elders still around. That’s really important to know who you are, where you come from. To be a future role model.”

The Moon Story is published by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) through its Community Publishing program, which supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in remote Communities to write, illustrate and publish their own stories in languages of their choice.

Samantha Mansell, ILF Publishing Project Editor, celebrated the award win: “Seeing The Moon Story, a bilingual book in both Kriol and English, winning this award is an incredible achievement that highlights the strength of First Nations’ cultures, languages and storytelling.”

The Moon Story was one of three ILF-published books shortlisted for the 2025 Karajia Award, demonstrating the breadth and impact of Community-led storytelling. The other shortlisted titles were:

• ngayawanj bagan-nggul, ngayawanj barra barra-nggul: we belong to the land, we belong to the sea Written and illustrated by Vincentia High School with Kirli Saunders and Jaz Corr
• bagan, barra barra, mirriwarr: The Boys Who Found Their Way Written by Tyran Uddin and Kayden Wellington with Kirli Saunders and Jaz Corr, illustrated by Vincentia High School

ILF CEO Ben Bowen said the awards celebrate the stories First Nations people want to tell: “Country isn’t just a piece of land; it is everything, language, culture, mob and more. These books reflect just that.”

Established in 2022 by the Wilderness Society, the Karajia Award sits alongside the long-standing Environment Award for Children’s Literature, recognising stories that inspire a love of nature and respect for Country. The Karajia Award specifically honours First Nations authors and illustrators and their unique cultural storytelling.

Marshia Cook lives in Fitzroy Crossing, WA. The Moon Story is her second book, following Jarrampa, published by ILF in 2021. Her son, Tamua Nuggett, contributed illustrations, continuing a powerful intergenerational collaboration.

The Indigenous Literacy Foundation is a national charity working with remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities to deliver books, early literacy programs, and publishing opportunities. In 2024, ILF was awarded the prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award for its global contribution to children’s literature.

Photo credit: ILF Supplied – Marshia Cook with her son Tamua Nuggett from Fitzroy Crossing, have created an award winning bilingual children’s bedtime story written in English and Kriol.