Readings.com.au: CBCA Shortlist 2008 - Picture Book of the Year

The Peasant Prince

'This is your one chance. You have your secret dreams. Follow them! Make them come true . . . '

In a poor village in northern China, a small boy is about to be taken away from everything he's ever known. He is so afraid, but his mother urges him to follow his dreams. For soon he will become a dancer, one of the finest dancers in the world . . .

So begins The Peasant Prince, The true story of Li Cunxin's extraordinary life. Based upon his internationally best-selling memoir, Mao's Last Dancer, this remarkable picture book captures the essence of one of the most inspiring stories to come from China in many years.

With hauntingly beautiful illustrations by award-winning artist Anne Spudvilas, Li's journey of courage and determination is simply told, and as powerful as any fairytale

The Island

In the morning the people of the island found a man sitting on the shore, there where fate and the ocean currents had set him and his frail raft in the night. When he saw them coming towards him, he rose to his feet.

He was not like them.

This internationally acclaimed, award-winning picture book is astonishing, powerful and timely.

Ziba Came On A Boat

Ziba came on a boat. A soggy old fishing boat that creaked and moaned as it rose and fell, rose and fell, across the endless sea.

Requiem For A Beast

Requiem for a Beast is a multi modal work, consisting of the formats of graphic novel, picture book, novella, and musical work.

There are two main narratives within the book; one, is the story of a young stockman as he pursues a wild bull, and the other the reminiscences of an elderly woman on the Stolen Generations.

The musical work is a Requiem for chamber ensemble, scored for a narrator, two singers, string quartet plus double bass, piano and harpsichord. The music contains both original material composed by Matt Ottley, and traditional Aboriginal music.

Dust

In a perfect world, this book would not exist. But we do not live ina perfect world. At any given moment of any given day, there are people dying from natural disasters over which we have no control. Beyond natural disasters we add disasters of our making, but even if we all learn to live in peace, there will still be millions of people who need help.

The illustrators who have contributed to this startling book have all done so for free. All royalties earned will be donated to the Save the Children organisation in Australia.

Illustrations by Colin Thompson, Tohby Riddle, Gaye Chapman, Richard Yot, Kim Gamble, Judy Horacek, Tom Byrne, Terry Denton, Emma Quay, Bruce Whatley, Dee Texidor, Anna Pignataro, David Legge and Chris Mould.