KOALA
The shortlist for 2025 has been announced (watch the announcement on YouTube at https://youtu.be/zqFPelZ-xWc) and voting has concluded. Thank you to everyone who participated across the region.
It's time to get ready for Awards Day! Awards Day takes place at St. Andrew’s Cathedral School on Thursday 13 November 2025 (toward the end of term 4) and you'll be able to watch the recorded event shortly after. Stay tuned!Make sure you follow the library on Facebook and Instagram when we join KOALA in announcing the winners!
The 2025 KOALA Timeline
| Nominations | CLOSED Friday 4 April 2025. |
| Shortlist (Time to read!) | The 2025 shortlist of nominated books was announced at the beginning of term 2. Read the list below and choose your favourites! |
| Voting | Voting CLOSED at the end of term 3. |
| Awards Day | Online and at St. Andrew’s Cathedral School Thursday 13 November (toward the end of term 4). |
The KOALA shortlist 2025!
Picture Story Books
Fiction for Younger Readers
Fiction for Older Readers
Fiction for Years 7-9
About KOALA
KOALA stands for Kids Own Australian Literature Awards and every year, young readers from all over New South Wales judge their very own literature awards! By voting in KOALA you can reward the Australian children's books that have most inspired, amused, terrified, enlightened, and engaged you! There are four award categories, Picture Book, Younger Readers, OIder Readers, and Years 7-9. One lucky author will also be awarded the KOALA Legend for 2025!KOALA aims to promote and encourage the enjoyment and appreciation of Australian literature for children and young adults. It also hopes to involve young readers in NSW in the process of selecting the most popular books. The awards assist in developing readers' critical appreciation skills and gives recognition to Australian authors and illustrators.
KOALA gives students a voice regarding the books they love to read and involves them in the voting process—encouraging them to discuss and debate their views on literature.
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