HONOUR BOOK: 2025 CBCA Book of the Year, Early Childhood

It was still dark when Mr Miller opened the gates of the old zoo, but he wasn't scared because he wasn't alone. He was with Jessie the elephant and together they were going to walk from Moore Park, through the city streets, to the ferry at Fort Macquarie. Jessie was moving to her spacious new home in the soon-to-be-opened Taronga Zoological Park.

Jessie's surprising journey was unlike any other and it brought a little warmth to the city on that brisk September morning in 1916.

The incredible true story of Jessie the elephant from the bestselling author of Anzac Girl: The War Diaries of Alice Ross-King and the highly acclaimed illustrator of Anzac Biscuits.

Prizes

Short-listed for Indie Book Awards 2025 (Australia),Long-listed for Best Children's Fiction 2025 (Australia)

Kate Simpson was raised on a diet of children's books, but it was her fascination with science that led her to her first career as a chemical engineer. Following the birth of her children, Kate re-discovered her love of picture books and soon decided to try her hand at writing them. She was quickly hooked. Kate now juggles a full-time job as an engineer with her writing work. Her books feature Australian history, science, curious kids and powerful women. How To Move a Zoo is Kate's fifth picture book.

Owen Swan is an award-winning Australian illustrator whose work includes Out by Angela May George (Picture Book of The Year CBCA Shortlist & winner of the AAFT Book Award for Children's Literature), My Friend Tertius by Corinne Fenton (a CBCA Notable); the bestselling picture book Anzac Biscuits, along with Newspaper Hats by Phil Cummings (winner of the Chronos Prize for Literature in France). As well as his picture book collaborations, Owen is also a musician and animator. He lives in Sydney, Australia.