Literacy Update
Scholastic Book Fair
The Book Fair has arrived and is now set up in the School Hall, ready for families to visit. It will be open from Tuesday, 18 August to Friday, 21 August.
Opening times:
- Tuesday, 18 August: 3:30pm–3:45pm
- Wednesday, 19 August: 8:30am–8:45am and 3:30pm–3:45pm
- Thursday, 20 August: 8:30am–8:45am and 3:30pm–3:45pm
- Friday, 21 August: 8:30am–8:45am and 3:30pm–3:45pm
Families are encouraged to use card payment, as change may not be available. The Scholastic Tap & Go option is also available for iPhone users.
Families can also prepay using the QR code on the Book Fair flyer sent home with your child. Prepay for your Book Fair purchases
Children’s Book Week
2026 Book Week Theme – Symphony of Stories
The theme Symphony of Stories celebrates the way different stories, voices, characters, ideas, words and illustrations come together, much like the different instruments in a symphony, to create a shared and meaningful reading experience.
Earlier this year, the Children’s Book Council of Australia announced the shortlisted books for the 2026 Book of the Year Awards.
Each year, a panel of judges carefully reads and reviews hundreds of Australian children’s books before selecting the shortlist. These books are recognised for their outstanding writing, illustrations and storytelling.
The shortlisted books provide wonderful opportunities for students to explore new ideas, discover new authors and illustrators, and continue to develop their love of reading. Over the coming weeks, these books will be used in classrooms to support literacy learning, encourage discussion, and provide opportunities for students to respond to and engage with a range of high-quality texts.
Below are the shortlisted books from five of the six CBCA award categories. The sixth category, Older Readers, is designed for secondary students and is not included in this selection.
Shortlisted books
Younger Readers
Run, Sarah Armstrong
Something Terrible: Tim Tie-Your-Shoelaces, Sally Barton, illustrated by Christopher Nielsen
Little Bones, Sandy Bigna
Spirit of the Crocodile, Aaron Fa’aoso & Michelle Scott Tucker with Lyn White
The Paperbark Tree Committee, Karys McEwen
Inked, Karen Wasson, illustrated by Jake A Minton
Early Childhood
The Thing About Christmas, Jo Dabrowski, illustrated by Briony Stewart
Derek, Anne Donaldson, illustrated by Matt Shanks
Frogs Are Our Friends, Toni D’Alia, Madeline White
My Nonno Loves, Adelle Frittitta, illustrated by Claudia Frittitta
The Colours of Home, Sally Soweol Han
The Emperor’s Egg, Rae Tan
Picture Book of the Year
Bob and Dob, Sean E Avery
Tiwi in Paris, Glen Farmer Illortaminni
Dear Broccoli, Cate James, text by Jo Dabrowski
Dawn, Marc Martin
The Frog’s First Song, Jason Phu, text by Jazz Money
Once I was a Giant, Zeno Sworder
Eve Pownall Award
There’s a Prawn in Parliament House: The Kids’ Guide to Australia’s Amazing Democracy, Annabel Crabb, illustrated by First Dog on the Moon
A Loo of One’s Own, Eleri Harris
Peculiar Parents, Stephanie Owen Reeder, illustrated by Ingrid Bartkowiak
The Thylacine and the Time Machine, Renée Treml
Caution! This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles, Corey Tutt, Ben Williams
Ningaloo, Tim Winton, illustrated by Cindy Lane
New Illustrator
Save the Gum Trees, Bees and Big Blue Seas, Luke John Matthew Arnold
Beyond the Shore, Mark Chester Harding, text by Kirli Saunders
A Loo of One’s Own, Eleri Harris
Prayer for a River, Uncle Glenn Loughrey, text by Andrew Kelly & Uncle Glenn Loughrey
A Farm by the Sea, Jillian Packer
Being Indy, Estee Sarsfield, text by Zoe Gaetjens
Reminder - Book Week Assembly and Parade - Friday 28th August 9am in the School Hall
Premiers’ Reading Challenge
A reminder to students that the 2026 Premiers’ Reading Challenge closes on Friday, 4 September 2026.
Thank you to all the students who have taken part in the Challenge. It has been a fantastic effort, with an incredible 1,733 books read so far. Congratulations to everyone who has participated!
Please note that Friday, 21 August 2026 is the final day for students to add books to their reading record.
Bernadette Parnis | Literacy Leader bparnis@sfmoreland.catholic.edu.au