Tag: competition

Reader’s Choice 2023

The most popular book in 2023, as voted by you, was

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus!

Garmus’ runaway bestseller has been borrowed hundreds of times since its release in 2022, and it continues to be an extremely popular title with many borrowers keen to see what all the fuss is about!

Here’s what voters loved about it: 

“A true depiction of life for a single mother & working woman in the 1950’s. Well written and touched on relatable themes such as inequity, loneliness, and courage. Relevant for so many individuals.” 

“It was quirky, humorous and such a good read that I bought a copy and loaned it to friends. My favourite quote in the book is on the first page. It says ….’ it’s not your imagination. Most people are awful’” 

“Page turning, funny, poignant” 

“Very intelligent, dark sense of humour, inspiring, and fantastic characters. Kept me hooked the whole time and was exactly what I needed to get me out of my reading rut.” 

“It was completely empowering and tackled sexism in an interesting way.” 

“The characters were beautifully detailed & the story was captivating.” 

Congratulations to Author Bonnie Garmus, and to all the other nominees!

Our voter prize of a $150 Readings voucher, was awarded to Your Library member, Laura. Congratulations, Laura – happy reading! 

Lessons in chemistry book cover
Borrow now

Browse the 2023 Reader’s Choice collection

View in the catalogue

BIG Summer Read

Big Summer Read logo and banner. Vibrant coloured circles against a blue sky.

Keep the kids reading BIG this summer!

The BIG Summer Read is a statewide summer reading campaign for children and young people, open to anyone ages 0-18. It aims to encourage kids to read for pleasure and beat the ‘summer slide’ – the loss of literacy development over the long summer break when kids aren’t exposed to books or reading at school.

Track reading and complete challenges

Visit Beanstack to register now! Download the Beanstack app to collect your registration badge and meet this year’s cast of quirky characters.

Register now
BIG Summer Read character Red the book
BIG Summer Read character Connie the Ice-Cream Cone

Open from 1 December – 31 January

Keep reading in whatever format you choose! Book or audiobook – physical or digital – novel or comic book – it’s completely up to you.

Statewide prize winner announced 12 February

Winners will receive book packs donated by James Bennett.

  • Ages 0-4 – Board books
  • Ages 5-8 – Picture books
  • Ages 8-12 – Junior fiction/graphic novels
  • Ages 12-18 – YA fiction/graphic novels

Winners will be notified via email.

Pick up a Reading Log

You can also choose to grab a printed Reading Log from your local library. Completing a printed Reading Log doesn’t automatically enter you into the statewide prize draw – but it does enter you into the Your Library prize draw!

Win a Prize Pack from Your Library!

Submit your completed printed Reading Log to your local library by 31 January to go in the draw. The lucky winner will be announced on 12 February.

Big Summer Read character Bob the Apple

Start your BIG Summer Read journey with these red hot kids titles!

Keep reading... by listening! Check out these great eAudiobooks on BorrowBox.

BIG Summer Read slogan in bold yellow font: JOIN BORROW READ WIN

Brought to you by

BIG Summer Read creator logo for Public Libraries Victoria
BIG Summer Read sponsor logo Bolinda BorrowBox
BIG Summer Read sponsor logo James Bennett
BIG Summer Read sponsor logo Story Box Library
BIG Summer Read sponsor logo School Library Association of Victoria

Subscribe to our Children's Newsletter

Keep up to date with the latest children’s news with this seasonal newsletter. Events, resources, announcements, competitions and much more – sign up now!

Warm Winter Read

WWR 2024 banner

Warm Winter Read

Winter is here! It’s time to get cosy and make time for yourself with some amazing reads.

Reading is vital to a healthier, happier, more connected nation. The significant benefits of reading for pleasure include reducing depression, loneliness and dementia, and increasing empathy, self-esteem and awareness of other cultures.

The Warm Winter Read aims to encourage adult readers (16+) across Victoria to create healthy reading habits by tracking the days participants read over June, July, and August 2024. As the temperature drops, we want you to make time for yourself and your chosen story every day.

It’s easier to find time to read than you think. Listen to an audiobook on your commute to work, walking the dog, or while completing household chores; swap scrolling time for reading time; or simply replace one episode of a binge-watch with a chapter (or two) of a great book.

We’ll even help you find your next great read by celebrating fantastic books recommended by authors you love!

While reading is its own reward, you’ll also be in the running to win some great bookish prizes!

The Warm Winter Read campaign will run between 1 June and 31 August 2024.

Track your reading

To get started in this challenge, register for an account through the Vic Reads website or by using the paper tracking logs available at all branches of Your Library. Ages 16+

Register now

Not sure what to read next?

We’re here to help you find a story to snuggle up with as the temperature drops. So stay warm and get reading this winter!

Reading Challenges

Cosy up with a good book in your very own reading nook! ☕

Start a new series, or read the next book in your current series. 📚

Listen to an audiobook while doing something else – running, cleaning, driving – it’s up to you! 👟

Whether you’ve whipped up a recipe straight from the pages of a book or paired a meal or drink with your latest read, we want to see it all. Share your culinary creations and literary adventures with us and let’s inspire each other to sink our teeth into the world of literature and gastronomy😍

Embark on a journey beyond imagination – read a book that transports your mind! 🚀

Return your recommendation slip to Your Library’! Whether you’ve been swept away by a captivating novel, delved into a thrilling mystery, or explored the depths of fantasy, we want to hear all about it! ❤️

Reading Recommendations

Your favourite Australian authors have given us lists of their top reads this year.

Alison Goodman

Garry Disher

Michael Earp

Dr. Ahona Guha

Matt Preston

Melissa Lucashenko

Pip Williams

Shelley Parker-Chan

Picture This! Comic Book Comp

Art by Dean Rankine.

We want to see your comic books

Kids and teens – create your own comic stories and submit them to Your Library!

Entries open Thursday 12 January 2023 and close Friday 31 March 2023. No matter where you are from in Victoria, get creative and submit your entry!

Art supply prizes will be awarded to the winners.

Submission guidelines

Submissions invited from all children and teens, from foundation/prep to Year 12 (18 years old).

Comics must be limited to a maximum length of 6­­ pages.

Entries can be submitted digitally as PDF, JPEG, PNG, or on physical paper to be scanned in at the library.

Submissions must be the original work of the submitting author – no copyrighted material.

Open to all subjects and themes – though entries should be library appropriate.

Your Library reserves the right to reproduce your work.

One entry per participant.

Please don’t write your name on your comic – it will be included on the entry form.

How to enter

Upload your entry

OR

Email your entry
(Learn more here)

OR

Submit at your local library

Please note – Entries will not be accepted at our Community Reading Rooms.

Judging your entries

Entries will be judged on overall story, originality, creativity, and illustrations by a panel of library and comic book professionals.

Art supplies will be awarded to the winning entry in each of the following brackets. A set will also be awarded to the best local entry: a child that is a resident or goes to school within Yarra Ranges Council, Knox Council or Maroondah Council.

Brackets

  • Lower Primary: Prep/Foundation–Grade 4
  • Upper Primary: Grade 5-Grade 6
  • Lower Secondary: Year 7-Year 9
  • Upper Secondary: Year 10-Year 12.

Terms & conditions

The judges’ decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Entry is free and open to anyone under 18 or in or below Year 12 in 2023.

All entries must be the original, unpublished work of the entrant.

Entry into the competition confers permission to publish the entry if selected as a winner.

Submissions must not exceed 6 pages.

A selection of comics will be published by Your Library. This selection will be made by the judges, assisted by Your Library staff. No guarantee is made that any comics, including the winners, will be published.

Copyright will remain with the writer and is not taken over by Your Library.

What is happening at Your Library to help you create?

We made this

Dean Rankine is a Ledger and Stanley Award winning comic book artist, illustrator and writer best known for his work on Simpsons Comics, The Riverdale Diaries: Starring Veronica graphic novel (Archie Comics/Buzzpop) and as illustrator on the the Timmy the Ticked-Off Pony series – written by Magda Szubanski.

Dean is the illustrator on the Funny Thing Happened to Simon Sidebottom series and On The First Day of School (Scholastic), The Mad Scientist (Pearson), the Stuff Happens series, A Lot of Stuff Happens omnibus and Morris Gleitzman’s Extra Time and Help Around the House (Penguin Random House) Pac-Man : The First Animated TV Show Based Upon a Video Game (BearManor Media) and Superhero Therapy For Anxiety and Trauma (Jessica Kingsley Publishers). He also contributed illustrations to Bartman: The Superhero’s Handbook (Matt Groening Productions). 

Sabina Wills is the Team Leader at Healesville Library and writes comics in her spare time. She writes Bil+Bot comics for beginner readers and is excited to share her love of storytelling, drawing and being silly. She is inspired by the amazing creativity of the children who come to her workshops and the incredible comics they come up with.

Entries have now closed

Any questions?

Submit here - we'll get back to you ASAP!

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Keep up to date with the latest children’s news with this monthly newsletter. Events, resources, announcements, competitions and much more – sign up now!

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