Australian Children's Books: 1989-2000

Book excerpt: All Australian children's books published from 1989 to 2000 are listed in this essential reference for those who appreciate the richness of Australian writing for children. Following the same format as volumes 1 and 2 in this series chronicling books published as early as 1774, entries include publishing details, the number of illustrations, and the awards received for each book. This third volume follows the continuing careers of authors such as Mem Fox, Bob Graham, Robin Klein, and Paul Jennings, and traces changes in the popularity of Australian themes and settings to identify publishing trends. Varied cultural aspects of modern-day life are shown, from globalization, commercialism, and the rise of the middle class in Asia to desktop publishing, outcome-based school curricula, and the modern obsession with celebrities all of which are reflected in the type and quantity of books produced by Australian writers and publishers. The wealth of included material will extend researchers' understanding of the range of Australian children's books. "