17/06/2026
đđĽ CHILDRENâS BOOKSELLER OF THE YEAR đĽđ
We literally could not be any prouder or more excited to announce that our very own Kasey Chambers has been crowned Childrenâs Bookseller of the Year for 2026.
Presented by at the gala dinner, Kasey has been a stalwart of our childrenâs programs since she started here in 2020, she convenes our kids book clubs, runs our Monday story time sessions and is entirely responsible for a new and exciting initiative around literacy that we canât wait to share details with you.
But, as always, the best words come from .chambers herself, these below are taken from her acceptance speech.
âWhat a privilege it is to be named the Childrenâs Bookseller of the Year for 2026. Thank you to the ABA and to Hardie Grant for recognising the importance of childrenâs specialists in indie bookshops. It is an honour to be recognised alongside Fiona, Janine and Mischa - congratulations to you all.
Our work as Childrenâs Specialists is important. Not because building readers today ensures the longevity of our industry.
But because in elevating the stories and talents of brilliant authors and artists we show our children what it means to be human. To love deeply, to act courageously, to demand truth and justice for the oppressed, to think independently and to act with integrity. We show them that we value the types of creativity and artistry that donât come from a chat bot, and we value the voices of those who have been silenced. May we never underestimate the power of a child, a book, and the imagination that connects them to a bigger, kinder and more just world.â
