COOL Award


The COOL Awards is an annual children's choice award voted on by students in Canberra, the Australian Capital Territory, Australia. Children are encouraged to read and vote for their favourite books. The votes are tallied and the awards made.
The COOL Award name is an acronym, standing for Canberra’s Own Outstanding List.
The ACT Public Library currently convenes the awards and they are administered by a committee representing ACT Government, Catholic and Independent Schools, the ACT Public Library and the Children's Book Council of Australia, ACT Branch. The award was first made in 1991.

Award categories and descriptions

There are four categories of the COOL awards:
  • for most popular Picture Book
  • for most popular Fiction for Younger Readers
  • for most popular Fiction for Older Readers
  • for most popular Fiction for Years 7–9

    List of COOL Award winners

Picture Book Award

YearAuthorBookCitation
1993WindowWinner
1994Possum MagicWinner
1995TobyWinner
1996Billy the PunkWinner
1997Billy the PunkWinner
1998Winner
1999Grandad’s TeethWinner
2000BamboozledWinner
2003Diary of a WombatWinner
2004Mr McGee and the Biting FleaWinner
2005Mutt Dog!Winner
2006Dougal the Garbage Dump BearWinner
2007Annie's ChairWinner
2008Where is the Green Sheep?Winner
2009Jungle DrumsWinner
2010FearlessWinner
2011Mr Chicken Goes to ParisWinner
2012, illus by Andrew JoynerThe Terrible PlopWinner
2013MirrorJoint Winners
2013The Very Cranky BearJoint Winners
2014A Bus Called HeavenWinner

Fiction for Younger Readers Award

YearAuthorBookCitation
1991Round the TwistWinner
1992Winner
1993Unreal!Winner
1994Winner
1995Winner
1996Belly FlopWinner
1997Belly FlopWinner
1998WickedWinner
1999BumfaceWinner
2000Bob the Builder and the ElvesWinner
2003Deltora Quest 2 seriesWinner
2004Deltora Quest 3 seriesWinner
2006Tashi and the Forbidden RoomWinner
2007Winner
2008Just Shocking!Winner
2009Go Girl! Two Sides: #1 Track Stars!Winner
2010Winner
2011Winner
2012, Barbara Fienberg and Kim GambleTashi and the GolemWinner
2013Pizza CakeWinner
2014Andy Roid and the Tracks of DeathWinner

Fiction for Older Readers Award

YearAuthorBookCitation
1991People Might Hear YouWinner
1992Came Back to Show You I Could FlyWinner
1993Del-DelWinner
1994Playing Beatie BowWinner
1995Tomorrow, When the War Began and So Much to Tell You Winner
1996Paw ThingWinner
1997Paw ThingWinner
1998Winner
1999Winner
2000Winner
2003Just Disgusting!Winner
2004Zombie Bums from UranusWinner
2005Winner
2006Bumageddon: The Final PongflictWinner
2007Zombie Bums from UranusWinner
2008Spookiest StoriesWinner
2009Give Peas a ChanceWinner
2010Winner
2011Ranger's ApprenticeWinner
2012, illus by Terry DentonThe 13-Storey TreehouseWinner
2013, illus by Terry DentonThe 26-Storey TreehouseWinner
2014, illus by Terry DentonThe 39-Storey TreehouseWinner

Fiction for Years 7-9 Award