Magic Beach Crowned Australia’s Best Children’s Picture Book After Landmark Vote
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More than 100,000 Australians participated in a nationwide poll conducted by The Guardian to determine the country’s all-time favorite children’s picture book, and alison Lester’s Magic Beach emerged victorious.The voting, which began on January 27th, saw an impressive turnout, with Magic Beach consistently leading the count after an initial surge for Mem Fox’s Possum Magic on the first day.
A Timeless Tale of Inventiveness and the Australian Coast
Published in 1990, Magic Beach has captivated generations with its lyrical prose and vibrant watercolor illustrations. the book, characterized by the repeating refrain “at our beach, at our magic beach,” invites young readers on a series of adventures fueled by both the natural wonders of the Australian coastline and the boundless power of imagination.
“I owe a lot to my family and friends who were all in there voting for me as well … There was such a huge number of beautiful books, so I am very, very thrilled,” she stated. Lester also noted that Magic Beach has seen comparatively fewer translations than some of her other works, attributing this to its uniquely Australian setting and themes.
Victory by a Significant Margin
On the final day of voting, Magic Beach secured its position with 2,557 votes, a considerable lead of nearly 800 votes over Possum Magic, which finished in second place with 1,782 votes. Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem fox and Judy Horacek claimed third place with 1,609 votes, followed by Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley with 1,556.
A Strong Showing for Australian Children’s Literature
The poll highlighted the wealth of talent in Australian children’s literature. My Shadow is Pink by Scott Stuart garnered 1,436 votes, while Graeme Base’s Animalia received 1,340. Room on Our Rock by Kate and Jol Temple earned 1,290 votes, closely followed by Hazel Edwards’ There’s a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake with 1,267. The 2022 title Come Over to My House, co-written by Sally Rippin and Eliza Hull, and All the Ways to Be Smart by Davina Bell and Allison Colpoys received 1,008 and 1,002 votes respectively.
A Legacy of Storytelling
The Guardian‘s initial phase involved readers voting in December to establish a top 50 list of Australian children’s picture books, from which the final contenders emerged. Remarkably, four books by Alison Lester – Kissed by the Moon, Are we There Yet?, Imagine, and Magic Beach – made the initial cut.”I would be happy to have one, but to have four seems to be a bit of a miracle,” Lester remarked in january. Approximately 15,000 votes were cast daily throughout the competition, with the lowest-performing books eliminated in each round.
Lester, with a touch of humor, expressed a desire to share a similar accolade with the tawny frogmouth – the winner of The Guardian‘s Australian Bird of the Year poll last year. When asked about her plans to celebrate, she indicated a simple yet fitting gesture: “I’ll have to thank all the people first who stuck up for me, which is really nice. I’ll probably have a swim … I think that will be a nice way to celebrate.” Lester also graciously offered to share her prize with her fellow authors, acknowledging the collective strength of the Australian children’s book community, stating, “That is much easier to share!”
You can watch Alison Lester find out about her win here: .
