Grandma’s Sandals Shortlisted for the 2026 Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards

5 June, 2026

This is one I’m especially proud to share. ❤️

Grandma’s Sandals has been shortlisted for the 2026 Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards!

The annual awards celebrate quality Australian children’s books that support children’s language and literacy development and encourage a love of reading. What makes this recognition particularly meaningful is that nominated books are judged by a panel of Certified Practising Speech Pathologists with specific knowledge and expertise in children’s language and literacy development. Books are considered for their appeal to children, interactive qualities and their potential to support communication and literacy development, as well as the quality of their design, illustrations and production. As both a children’s author and a teacher, having Grandma’s Sandals recognised in this way feels incredibly special.

The story was inspired by my experiences teaching migrant and refugee children in an Intensive English Centre, where language is so much more than words on a page. It is how children begin to communicate, connect, build confidence, share their stories and find their place in a new community.

Through Long’s journey, Grandma’s Sandals explores culture, identity, memory, empathy and belonging, while opening opportunities for children to talk about their own families, experiences and the things that connect them to the people and places they love.

Of course, a picture book is the marriage of words and pictures. I’m so grateful to Ana Rodic for the beautiful illustrations that give children so much more to notice, discuss, question and discover as they journey through Long’s two worlds. To know that Grandma’s Sandals has been recognised by professionals who work every day to support children’s communication, language and literacy makes this shortlist particularly meaningful to me.

Thank you to Speech Pathology Australia and the judging panel for including Grandma’s Sandals among the wonderful Australian books shortlisted for 2026.

Now we wait until 28 October, when the winners will be announced! 🤞❤️

2026 Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards

Shortlisted: Grandma’s Sandals

Written by Jodie Barton | Illustrated by Ana Rodic | Winterpaw Books