Congratulations to Aunty Far Muir, Sue Lawson and Leanne Mulgo Watson, creators of Sharing, and Sally Morgan and Johhny Warrkatja Malibirr, creators of The River for their joint win of the children's picture book category of the Environment Award for Children's Literature.

Congratulations also to Aunty Far Muir, Sue Lawson and Leanne Mulgo Watson, creators of Sharing, for co-winning the inaugural Karajia Award for First Nations storytelling.

The Environment Book Awards are hosted by the Wilderness Society and held during Nature Book Week, a time to celebrate nature writing in its many forms. Beginning 5 September, Nature Book Week culminates in the announcement of our Karajia and Environment Awards for Children's Literature winners.

The Karajia and Environment Awards for Children’s Literature were announced on 8 September at Gleebooks in Sydney, in what was a great celebration of the many talented creators sharing stories of the natural world. Leanne Mulgo Watson, accepted the awards on behalf of all Magabala creators. 

Of the win, Aunty Fay Muir said:

'I'm absolutely thrilled to receive both these awards with my fellow collaborators, it's so special. To be awarded the first ever Karajia award just blows my mind! My inspiration comes from my beautiful country which has many attributes, the ocean, the Bay, mountains, rivers, the diversity of trees that grow on my traditional land and the myriad birds and their chorus that echo throughout my country home.'

Sue Lawson thanked the judges and the Wilderness Society, saying :

'I’m delighted and overwhelmed. Working on this book with Aunty Fay and Leanne has been such a treat and honour. I’m thrilled that their important message has been recognised, especially in the Karajia award.' 

Leanne Mulgo Watson said:

'Winning these awards for me is a wonderful acknowledgement to our culture of sharing in our environment, for my people we are part of our environment and winning shows me that our story telling is really important and to keep doing what we are doing.'

Both the Karajia and Environment Awards for Children’s Literature are presented by the Wilderness Society. Since 1994, the Wilderness Society has been recognising the talents of authors and illustrators whose creativity is inspiring a love of nature in the next generation.