Magic Beach Crowned Australia's Best Children's Picture Book in Guardian Poll
Alison Lester's Classic Wins with Over 100,000 Votes
Poll Results Unveiled
Alison Lester's beloved picture book, Magic Beach, has won Guardian Australia's poll for Australia’s best children’s picture book of all time. The poll, which opened on January 27, recorded an impressive over 100,000 votes.
Magic Beach maintained the lead for most of the voting period, only briefly surpassed by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas's Possum Magic on the first day. On the final day, Magic Beach secured 2,557 votes, approximately 800 votes ahead of Possum Magic's 1,782 votes.
"The poll recorded over 100,000 votes after opening on January 27."
About the Winning Book
Published in 1990, Magic Beach is a rhyming picture book by Alison Lester. It vividly depicts children's adventures at the beach through natural wonders and imagination, characterized by Lester's distinct watercolour illustrations. The book was inspired by a beach in Walkerville South, Victoria.
Author's Reaction
Alison Lester was informed of her win while at the very beach that inspired the book. She expressed her delight at the news and extended her thanks to all voters, including her family and friends. Lester noted that Magic Beach has been translated into fewer languages compared to her other works, attributing this possibly to its specific Australian portrayal of beach culture. She also expressed her thrill that the book continues to be loved by the public.
Top-Ranking Books Revealed
Following Magic Beach and Possum Magic, other high-ranking books in the poll included:
- Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek (1,609 votes)
- Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley (1,556 votes)
- My Shadow is Pink by Scott Stuart (1,436 votes)
- Animalia by Graeme Base (1,340 votes)
- Room on Our Rock by Kate and Jol Temple (1,290 votes)
- There’s a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake by Hazel Edwards and Deborah Niland (1,267 votes)
- Come Over to My House by Sally Rippin, Eliza Hull, and Daniel Gray-Barnett (1,008 votes)
- All the Ways to Be Smart by Davina Bell and Allison Colpoys (1,002 votes)
Polling Process Explained
The polling process began in December, when Guardian readers initially voted to create a list of the top 50 Australian children’s picture books. Alison Lester impressively had four books, including Magic Beach, on this initial list. Subsequent rounds saw approximately 15,000 votes cast daily, with the bottom five books eliminated before votes were reset for each new round.