August 21 - 27th
Each year since 1945 the Children’s Book Council of Australia has brought children and books together across Australia through CBCA Book Week. This year is no exception and although some ways of celebrating book week may be a little different, here are some suggestions for how you can be involved.
Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds
This year’s theme may be particularly poignant for people living with MND, so we have put together some suggestions for books to relax with, personal stories about MND and disability, children’s books and some self-care resources too.
Miles Franklin Literary Award - 2021 shortlist
The Miles Franklin Award was first awarded in 1957 and It distinguishes a novel "of the highest literary merit" which presents "Australian life in any of its phases". The winner of the Miles Franklin in 2020 was Tara June Winch for The Yield and in 2021 it was won by Amanda Lohrey for The Labyrinth.
To see the full shortlist of this year’s books, visit: Miles Franklin Literary Award 2021 shortlist
Stella Prize - 2021 shortlist
The 2021 Stella Prize shortlist showcases the extraordinary ingenuity and expertise on offer within the Australian book industry. Spanning fiction and non-fiction, the six titles shortlisted for the 2021 Stella Prize invite readers to reach beyond their own perceptions, to question social and political systems, and to examine their place in the world.
To see the full shortlist visit: Announcing the 2021 Stella Prize Shortlist
Book Riot - The Best Books Of 2021
Book Riot is the largest independent editorial book site in North America, and home to a host of media, from podcasts to newsletters to original content, all designed around diverse readers and across all genres.
The Best Books Of 2021 (So Far)
Books on MND
Tuesdays with Morrie: an old man, a young man & life’s greatest lesson
1997, Mitch Albom
Personal story of a student who rediscovered his college professor Morrie during the last months of the professor’s life. Morrie had MND at this time and the rekindled relationship turned into one final lesson in “how to live”.
Silent Body, Vibrant Mind: Living with Motor Neurone Disease
2012, Peter Anderson
This is the memoir of an Australian man who has lived with motor neurone disease, although written with physical difficulty, it is imbued with the author's intelligence, positivity, and humour.
Children & Young Adults
To find out what events, ideas and books are helping celebrate book week in 2021, please visit the Children’s Book Council of Australia website here: CBCA
The 2021 Children’s Book Council of Australia Shortlist is a treasure trove of some of the best Australian children's books published over the past year. See the full shortlist of books for 2021 here: CBCA
Here are some books the IDEAS team have on their bookshelves!
- Amazing Australian Women: Twelve Women Who Shaped History - This includes Tilly Aston's story, a blind Australian writer and teacher, who founded the Victorian Association of Braille Writers.
- Find out About Families - Meet lots of different families in this fun lift-the-flap book. This includes families where members have a disability and some illustrations.
- Two Mates - The true story of the special mateship between two boys who have grown up together in Broome in Australia’s northwest. Jack is Indigenous and Raf is a non-Indigenous boy who has Spina bifida.
- Break the Mould - Sinead Burke - From the power of being different and discovering things you love about yourself, to using your voice to be an ally and show friendship to others, it's time to break the mould and find your place in the world.
New Zealand based disability consultant, activist and blogger Robyn Hunt suggests 21 books for children, from picture books to young adult, that illuminate experiences of disability. Book List: A disability book list (thesapling.co.nz)
A monster calls - Book and film adaptation
2015, by Patrick Ness
Costa Award winner Patrick Ness spins a tale from the final idea of much-loved Carnegie Medal winner Siobhan Dowd, whose premature death from cancer prevented her from writing it herself. Darkly mischievous and painfully funny, A Monster Calls is an extraordinarily moving novel of coming to terms with loss from two renowned writers for young adults.
Purchase the book from local stockists or watch the movie on Netflix - A Monster Calls | Netflix
The Self-Care Project: How to let go of frazzle and make time for you
2017, Jayne Hardy
Everything you need to know about self-care; what it is, why it’s important, why it’s such a struggle and how to integrate it into day-to-day life in a practical, achievable and realistic way. Jayne Hardy, founder and CEO of The Blurt Foundation, argues that it is the best preventative measure available to us to combat overwhelmedness, stress and ill health, in our hectic, modern world.
Self-care starter kit
The Blurt Foundation have put together a free kit to help you get your self-care mojo back. The kit includes the following:
- What is self-care? And why is it so important?
- 5 instant self-care things which can be done from your bed
- Self-care alphabet – breaking it down into teensy tiny bites
- Looking after yourself on a budget
- Caring for yourself from the inside out
- Self-care worksheet – to help you discover what self-care looks like for YOU
View the PDF here: Free-Self-Care-Starter-Kit.pdf (blurtitout.org)
The Self Care Project - printable worksheets
Free PDF of printable worksheets that you can print and follow as part of your self-care. 32 pages of different activities and resources to help you think about what’s important to you and how you can make time for yourself.
Print here: The-Self-Care-Project-worksheets.pdf (blurtitout.org)