Hold On… The 2021 CBCA Book of the Year Shortlist is Here

March 30th, 2021

We are delighted to announce that Hold On! Saving the Spotted Handfish, written by Gina Newton and illustrated by Rachel Tribout, has been shortlisted for the 2021 Children's Book Council of Australia Awards!
A copy of the book Hold On! Saving the Spotted Handfish situated on rocks on sea front.

Hold On! Saving the Spotted Handfish has been Shortlisted in the 2021 CBCA Book of the Year Awards!

 

Each year the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) celebrate the best in Australian children’s literature by announcing the CBCA Book of the Year Awards. We are excited to announce that Hold On! Saving the Spotted Handfish written by Gina Newton and illustrated by Rachel Tribout, has been selected as a Shortlist title in the Eve Pownall Information Book category.

This is the story of a quirky and primitive little fish that is famous for two reasons: walking on its ‘hands’ (pectoral fins), and being one of the first marine fish in the world to be listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

 

Hold On! Saving the Spotted Handfish
Learn about handfish in this delightful story
The critically endangered Spotted Handfish (photo: Barry Bruce)

 

 

Head shot of author Gina Newton

Author Gina Newton (photo: David Wallace)

Author Gina M Newton is a scientist, science communicator and Past National President of the Australian Marine Sciences Association. She has also had success in this category before, as her book Amazing Animals of Australia’s National Parks (NLA Publishing) won the Eve Pownall Information category in the 2017 CBCA Awards.

You can read more about what inspired Gina to write Hold On! Saving the Spotted Handfish and her love of nature writing in this blog story.

 

Head shot of illustrator Rachel Tribout against an orange background

Illustrator Rachel Tribout (photo: Andrew Wilson)

Rachel Tribout is an illustrator and graphic designer originally from France, now based in Australia. Along with Hold On! Saving the Spotted Handfish she also illustrated The Heartsong of Wonder Quinn (University of Queensland Press) a 2021 CBCA Notable title in the Younger Readers category.

Rachel has shared her insights on the scientific illustration process in this blog story, and also provided some great tips for aspiring illustrators too.

 

 

We’d like to congratulate Gina and Rachel, and all the authors, illustrators and publishers of the CBCA shortlisted titles. We also want to offer our thanks and appreciation for the Children’s Book Council of Australia, and all the work they do in promoting the importance of children’s literature.

 

Cover of 'Hold on!' featuring an illustration of a spotted handfish on the ocean floor, surrounded by seaweed.

Hold On! Saving the Spotted Handfish

 

Hold On! Saving the Spotted Handfish is available to purchase from our website and from all good bookstores.

You can also check out all of our titles that have been honoured in previous years in this CBCA Book of the Year Awards Showcase on our website.