Former Australian Antarctic Arts Fellow, Alison Lester’s latest book, Sophie Scott Goes South, published by Penguin Australia (2012), has won a string of awards and short-listings. The book draws on Alison’s own travels to Antarctica and tells a story of adventure through the eyes and diary of nine year old Sophie, whose father is the captain of the ship, Aurora Australis.
The book won the Australian Publisher’s Association best designed children’s book (2013), Speech Pathology Australia’s best book for language and literacy development, lower primary, and a Children’s Book Council of Australia Honour for Picture Book of the Year (2013). The book was also a finalist for the Australian Book Industry Awards (2013) Book of the Year for younger children, and was shortlisted for the Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards (2012) for best children’s book. It is also listed in the White Ravens international catalogue for exceptional children’s books.