“Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West” wins 2026 Crystal Kite Award

Author Jacinta Liu and illustrator Freda Chiu have won the Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and Oceania division of this year’s Crystal Kite Member Choice Awards, presented by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

Liu and Chiu’s book Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West (Lothian Children’s Books) was announced as the Crystal Kite winner.

Emmie Builds Something New (Marjorie Crosby-Fairall, Red Comet Press) was announced as the honour book for the region.

The Crystal Kite Awards are peer-given awards presented annually across North American and international divisions, aiming to showcase “exceptional storytelling, imaginative illustration, and creative excellence, representing the very best of children’s literature produced by SCBWI members worldwide”.

A full list of winners is available on the SCBWI website.

Category: Awards Local news