Rapee wins CBCA 2025 Nan Chauncy Award

The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) has announced Wendy Rapee as the recipient of the 2025 Nan Chauncy Award, which ‘honours a person, or a collaborative partnership, who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of Australian children’s literature over a period of years’, said the organisation.

Rapee has held several roles in librarianship and the educational publishing sector. She founded an editorial, design, and production business and has worked with the Australian Museum, the School Magazine, Scholastic Australia, and the NSW  Independent Education Union (IEU). Rapee served as CBCA national chair between 2020 and 2024.

Rapee ‘embodies the spirit of this award and deserves to be widely recognised for her passionate advocacy, courageous leadership, and sustained contribution to children’s literature and literacy in Australia spanning more than four decades,’ said the organisers. ‘Driven by her belief in the power of stories to foster strong culture and social cohesion, Wendy is committed to helping young people access quality stories, and ensuring that creators are heard and celebrated. Through her education, publishing, and volunteer roles she has developed strong connections and is a compelling voice for inclusive storytelling and the transformative power of reading.’

The award coordinator was Mark Macleod, and the judging committee included Terry Fahy, Bec Pease and Rachael Hind.

The biennial award is named after Australian children’s author Nan Chauncy who won the CBCA Book of the Year several times and ‘was the first Australian author to receive the Hans Christian Anderson Award diploma of merit’.

The previous winner was Jenny Stubbs.

More information about the award is available on the CBCA website.

Category: Awards Local news