Friday, 1 April 2022

And the winner is….

The Ena Noël Award is IBBY Australia’s Encouragement Award for young creators of Children’s and Young Adult Literature. The Award started in 1994, and Nella Pickup provides us with an overview and the 2022 recipient which has just been announced.


The nominated creator must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident and be under the age of 35 at the time the title (or titles) for which they are nominated was published. Many of the winners have become household names including Markus Zusak, Sonya Hartnett and Tasmania’s own Kate Gordon. Visit IBBY Australia for a complete list of recipients.


To be eligible for the 2022 Ena Noël Award, books had to be published in Australia between 1st July 2019–30th June 2021. The submission closing date was November 30th, 2021 and judging was completed by the end of January 2022. 


The judging panel comes from varied backgrounds in children’s literature – creators, editors, publishers, librarians and booksellers and usually from different states, in 2022, from Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania. Panellists shared their notes and then met on Zoom. 


In 2022, the panel decided to release the shortlist.  These are the cream of young emerging Australian children’s and young adult book creators. Wish them a long literary future by purchasing their books.


Freda Chiu, A Trip to the Hospital (Allen & Unwin)

Kay Kerr, Please Don’t Hug Me (Text Publishing)

Gary Lonesborough, The Boy from the Mish (Allen & Unwin)

Jessica Miller, The Republic of Birds (Text Publishing)

Kamsani Bin Salleh, What do you call a baby…? (Magabala Books)

Kirli Saunders, Bindi Illustrated by Dub Leffler (Magabala Books)


And the Ena Noël Award medallist for 2022 is Gary Lonesborough, The Boy from the Mish (Allen & Unwin).


You can read more about Gary’s writing in this Kirkus review with Tom Beer.



Nella Pickup

CBCA Tasmania Life Member and IBBY Australia Executive Committee member

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