The Crichton Award for Children's Book Illustration

In 1985 Mr Wallace Raymond Crichton left a legacy to the Children's Book Council of Australia (Victorian Branch).

The Branch decided to establish an award to recognise and encourage new talent in the field of Australian children's book illustration. It was first awarded in 1988.

Although administered by the Victorian Branch, it is a CBCA National award and the results are announced with The Book of the Year Awards.

 Raymond Meeks and the Crichton family at the inaugral Crichton Award presentation in 1988

• The award will be known as the Crichton Award for Children's Book Illustration.
• The award will be an annual event.
• The winner of the Crichton Award will be announced during Children's Book Week.
• The winner will receive a presentation certificate and a monetary award of $1,500.
• The judging panel of three people will be nominated and elected by the executive of the Children's Book Council of Australia (Victorian Branch) Inc. The panel will consist of :
  1. The convenor - a representative of the Victorian Branch executive;.
  2. An established illustrator or artist with a knowledge of children's books;
  3. A children's literature representative chosen from the following; children's librarian, teacher librarian, teacher of children's literature, bookseller or a person from another related field as nominated by the Victorian Branch executive.
• The judges will be invited to serve for two years. The illustrator and the children's literature representative will be replaced in alternate years.
• The judges will usually select one winner but reserve the right to make no award if, in their opinion, no illustrator displays a high enough standard in the work submitted.
• The judges will issue a report.

1. The artist must be emerging or new to the field of children’s book illustration.
2. The artist must be an Australian citizen or have resided in Australia for the two years prior to December 31 of the year of publication of the book entered.
3. The entry must be the artist's first illustrated book published by a trade publisher, where the illustrations form a significant part of the book's narrative or information content.
4. Books entered must have been first published in Australia between January 1 and December 31 of the year prior to the award.

NOTE: the illustrator MAY enter ONLY once.

1. Publishers are requested to send four (4) copies of the artist's book with the completed entry form signed by the illustrator.
2. The entry fee is $88.00 (including GST). Books entered become the property of the CBCA (Victorian Branch) Incorporated.
3. Entries should be sent in one parcel to the address on the entry form.
4. Entries must be postmarked on or before 31 December in the year prior to the award.

For further information, please contact:

Crichton Award Convenor
CBCA Victorian Branch

PO Box 781 Kew Vic 3101

Telephone 1300-360-436  Fax 1300-717-990

Email  vic@cbca.org.au

Entry Forms

1988 - Raymond Meeks "The Pheasant and the Kingfisher"
1989 - Marilyn Pride "Australian Dinosaurs"
1990 - Jeanie Adams "Pigs and Honey"
1991 - Grace Fielding "Bip, the Snapping Bungaroo"
1992 - Kim Gamble "The Magnificent Nose & Other Marvels"
1993 - Donna Leslie "Alitiji in Dreamland"
1994 - Jenny Sands "Is it True Grandfather?"
1995 - Joint Winners
            Astri Baker "I Wish I'd Gone to the Moon with Neil Armstrong"
            Geoff Kelly "Power and Glory"
1996 - Anne Spudvilas "The Race"
1997 - Sally Rippin "Fang Fang's Chinese New Year"
1998 - Joint Winners
            Shaun Tan "The Viewer"
            Anna Pignataro "I'm in the Sky and I Can't Come Back"
1999 - No winner this year
2000 - Lorette Broekstra "Baby Bear goes to the Zoo"
2001 - Caroline Magerl "Grandma's Shoes"
2002 - Mini Goss "When Mum was Little"
2003 - Naomi Mairou "The Dugong Meadow"
2004 - Freya Blackwood "Two Summers"
2005 - Declan Lee "Wings"
2006 - Jeremy Geddes "The Mystery of Eilean Mor"
2007 - Vince Agostino "When elephants lived in the sea"
2008 - Anna Walker "Santa’s Aussie Holiday"
2009 - Sarah Davis "Mending Lucille"
2010 - Joint Winners
            Andy Geppert "Little Big Tree"
            Andrew Joyner "The Big Plop"
2011 - Clare McFadden "The Flying Orchestra"