National Year of Reading 2012
Our Story
Readers have had the opportunity to vote and have their say about which of the shortlisted books best reflects our State.
The shortlisted titles for Western Australia were:
Elizabeth Jolley, The Newspaper of Claremont Street
Sally Morgan, My Place
Howard Pederson & Banjo Woorunmurra: Jandamarra and the Bunuba Resistance
Kim Scott, True Country
Craig Silvey, Jasper Jones
Tim Winton, Cloudstreet
and the winning books for each State and Territory will be announced on Tuesday 14 February at the official launch of the National Year of Reading.
Readers can then take a journey around Australia through the pages of the eight books and come away with an even greater depth of understanding about what it means to be Australian.
The National Year of Reading: what's it all about?
Australian libraries and library associations are supporting the National Year of Reading in 2012, linking together all the great things that are already happening around books, reading and literacy and giving them an extra boost, with inspirational programs and events taking place across the country.
Libraries are partnering with government, the media, writers, schools, publishers, booksellers, employers, child care providers, health professionals and a whole host of other organisations that share our passion for reading.
Margaret Allen (second from left),
Chair of the National Year of Reading
Founding Partners, and staff of the State
Library of WA, show off the range of
e-book readers available.
The National Year of Reading 2012 is about children learning to read and keen readers finding new sources of inspiration.
It's about supporting reading initiatives while respecting the oral tradition of storytelling.
It's about helping people discover and rediscover the magic of books. And most of all, it's about Australians becoming a nation of readers.
The State Library of Western Australia is proud to be a founding partner of the National Year of Reading 2012.
For more information, or to sign up for the monthly e-newsletter, please see: http://www.love2read.org.au/
Western Australian Ambassadors
Shaun Tan
Shaun has recieved worldwide acclaim as an illustrator and author of such works as The Red Tree and Tales from Outer Suburbia. His illustrated work The Arrival is an international best seller.
Frane Lessac
Frane is an author/illustrator with over thirty-five children's books published throughout the world. She constantly shares the process of writing and illustrating books at schools, libraries and festivals in metropolitan, rural and remote communities in Australia.
Janet Holmes á Court
Janet is one of the nation's most influential women in business and the arts. She is well known as a philanthropist and as a campaigner for the environment and social justice issues.
Fiona Wood
Professor Fiona Wood is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon specialising in acute burn care and scar reconstruction. In 2005 Fiona won the Western Australian Citizen of the Year award for her contribution to Medicine in the field of burns research.
Lisa Scaffidi
Lisa Scaffidi, the Lord Mayor of Perth is proud to be an ambassador for Western Australia. She believes that the sheer simplicity of reading is something we can and all should cherish.
Perth Wildcats
The Perth Wildcats are the most successful team in the National Basketball League having won a record five championships and playing in a remarkable 25 straight finals series. The Wildcats are proud to be involved with the community in furthering literacy in primary schools.
Troy Cook
Troy is a former AFL player for the Sydney Swans and the Fremantle Dockers. He is currently working at the David Wirrpanda Foundation, which promotes role models and healthy life choices to young Aboriginal people.
Adam Gilchrist
Adam was awarded the Order of Australia (AM) for his services to cricket and his contribution to charity. He has added his support to the National Year of Reading as a proud ambassador for Western Australia.
Isme Stubbs
Isme started a blog dedicated to reviewing and recommending books in 2009, at the age of 13. She is spreading word of the power of reading and raising awareness of the importance of literacy via her blog.
Page last updated: Wednesday 16 May 2012
