Australian children's picture book 'Magic Beach' by Alison Lester has taken the top spot in Guardian Australia's poll to find the country's best children's picture book. With over 100,000 votes cast after polling opened on January 27, Magic Beach edged out Possum Magic by Mem Fox and illustrator Julie Vivas, which had initially taken an early lead.
Lester's beloved rhyming picture book from 1990 follows the adventures children can have at the beach, exploring both the natural environment and the power of imagination. The book has been instantly recognised through its unique watercolour style, illustrated by Lester herself.
The news came as a thrill to Lester, who was informed about her win while visiting Magic Beach in Walkerville South, Victoria, the very same spot that inspired the picture book. "That is fabulous news," she said, expressing gratitude to everyone who voted for her book. "I think I owe a lot to my family and friends who were all in there voting for me as well."
Magic Beach won with 2,557 votes on the final day of voting, almost 800 votes ahead of Possum Magic. While it was previously thought that Lester would be happy to have just one win, being included in the top four was still seen as a "miracle" by her.
Lester's humble and down-to-earth approach was evident when she said she would celebrate her win with a swim at the beach, and suggested sharing the prize with fellow authors. The former Australian children's laureate attributed the book's success to its unique portrayal of an authentic Australian experience – that is, the country's approach to visiting the beach.
As for the competition, Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox and illustrator Judy Horacek came in third with 1,609 votes, followed closely by Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French and illustrator Bruce Whatley. Other notable mentions included My Shadow is Pink, Animalia, Room on Our Rock, There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake, Come Over to My House, All the Ways to Be Smart, and Kissed by the Moon – all four of which were authored by Lester.
The poll was shaped by Guardian readers who initially voted in December to shape the top 50 best Australian children's picture books list. With roughly 15,000 votes cast every single day, it was a fierce competition that left many popular titles on the outside looking in before the final round.
Lester's beloved rhyming picture book from 1990 follows the adventures children can have at the beach, exploring both the natural environment and the power of imagination. The book has been instantly recognised through its unique watercolour style, illustrated by Lester herself.
The news came as a thrill to Lester, who was informed about her win while visiting Magic Beach in Walkerville South, Victoria, the very same spot that inspired the picture book. "That is fabulous news," she said, expressing gratitude to everyone who voted for her book. "I think I owe a lot to my family and friends who were all in there voting for me as well."
Magic Beach won with 2,557 votes on the final day of voting, almost 800 votes ahead of Possum Magic. While it was previously thought that Lester would be happy to have just one win, being included in the top four was still seen as a "miracle" by her.
Lester's humble and down-to-earth approach was evident when she said she would celebrate her win with a swim at the beach, and suggested sharing the prize with fellow authors. The former Australian children's laureate attributed the book's success to its unique portrayal of an authentic Australian experience – that is, the country's approach to visiting the beach.
As for the competition, Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox and illustrator Judy Horacek came in third with 1,609 votes, followed closely by Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French and illustrator Bruce Whatley. Other notable mentions included My Shadow is Pink, Animalia, Room on Our Rock, There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake, Come Over to My House, All the Ways to Be Smart, and Kissed by the Moon – all four of which were authored by Lester.
The poll was shaped by Guardian readers who initially voted in December to shape the top 50 best Australian children's picture books list. With roughly 15,000 votes cast every single day, it was a fierce competition that left many popular titles on the outside looking in before the final round.
so i'm thinking magic beach winning this poll is actually pretty cool 
but also kinda weird? like, who would've thought alison lester's 1990 book would still be beating out newer stuff from other talented authors? 
it says something about how timeless and relatable her storytelling is, i guess. the fact that she was inspired by visiting magic beach herself in victoria is pretty sweet too 
. and kudos to her for staying humble and wanting to share the prize with fellow authors! 
! I mean, 'Magic Beach' has been a fave of mine since I was little. It's amazing to see how it's still resonating with Aussie kids and adults alike after all these years. The watercolour style is just iconic 
. And you know what's even more awesome? That she'll be celebrating her win with a swim at the beach - can you imagine?! 
I think it's cool that she's down-to-earth and wants to share the prize with fellow authors too. It's all about spreading love and inspiring creativity, right? 
I'm not surprised Possum Magic made it to second place, but still, 800 votes behind is a pretty big gap 
. And can you imagine celebrating with a swim at the beach? What a perfect way to unwind after being recognized for such an amazing achievement 
what's up with this magic beach winning all of a sudden? I mean don't get me wrong, Alison Lester is amazing and all, but possum magic was pretty popular too! 
100k votes is crazy tho, that's like half the population of australia voting for one book lol. I guess it's great that she's humble and doesn't forget where she came from though. A swim at the beach to celebrate? Sounds about right. 
. I'm pretty sure this win will inspire a whole new generation of Aussie kids (and adults!) to get outside and explore 
!
And I love that she wants to share the prize with other authors - that's what it's all about 
Alison Lester's win is like proof that with dedication and passion, your dreams can come true! 
I mean, she was inspired by her own visit to Magic Beach in Walkerville South, Victoria, so it's all about being connected to what inspires you. 
The thing that really got me is how down-to-earth she was after winning - it's all about being humble and kind. That's what makes her win even more special! 
I'm not surprised that Magic Beach took the top spot! It's like my niece always says, "You can't beat a good story with beautiful pictures." Alison Lester's watercolour style is just so captivating. I've seen it on repeat with her grandkids and they still love it to this day. 
Plus, have you noticed how many of Alison Lester's books made it into the top four? It's almost like they're tryin' to make her look like the ultimate children's author or somethin'. 
and I love that she said she'll celebrate with a swim at the same beach where the book was inspired 
sharing the prize with fellow authors is so classy too 
, but congrats to alison on that! 
Talk about down-to-earth! 
! It's such an iconic book that has captured the hearts of Aussie kids and parents alike since its release back in 1990 
. It just goes to show that children's books are all about surprise and delight, keeping readers engaged and eager for more 
– it's all about fostering a love of reading and creativity!