Magic Beach by Alison Lester named Australia’s best children’s picture book
Lester’s 1990 classic about the wonders of nature wins Guardian Australia poll ahead of Possum Magic in second placeAlison Lester interview: ‘Everything I do looks a bit like a stuffed toy’Children on their favourite picture book: ‘I also like that the dad cries’Magic Beach by Alison...
<p>Lester’s 1990 classic about the wonders of nature wins Guardian Australia poll ahead of Possum Magic in second place</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/feb/03/australian-childrens-author-illustrator-alison-lester-studio-interview">Alison Lester interview: ‘Everything I do looks a bit like a stuffed toy’</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/feb/05/children-favourite-australian-picture-book">Children on their favourite picture book: ‘I also like that the dad cries’</a></p></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781760293437/9781760293437#rac:asffercwyonk">Magic Beach</a> by Alison Lester has won Guardian Australia’s poll to find Australia’s best children’s picture book of all time.</p><p>More than 100,000 votes were cast after polling opened on 27 January. Aside from the first day, when <a href="https://www.readings.com.au/product/9781761294624/possum-magic-40th-anniversary-edition--fox-mem--2023--9781761294624#rac:asffercwyonk">Possum Magic</a> by Mem Fox and illustrator Julie Vivas took an early lead, Magic Beach was the most voted for book every other day of the count.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/feb/05/alison-lester-magic-beach-best-australia-children-picture-book">Continue reading...</a>
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