It should not come as a surprise that author Tom Taylor has won a children's book award: he has superhero powers at his disposal.
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Taylor has penned dozens of adventures for both Marvel and DC Comics, including The Justice League/Power Rangers, X-Men, Iron Man, Star Wars and Wolverine.
Superman's son coming out in a landmark comic-book moment? Taylor wrote that too.
Now his graphic novel Neverlanders, with pictures by Jon Sommariva, has been named the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year for Older Readers.
It's the first time a graphic novel has won the award in its 77-year history, and Taylor says it's an honour.
"I've grown up as a child in Australia reading those books with the little gold logo, (so) to have that plus the penguin on the spine is very exciting," he told AAP.
The book works as a Peter Pan sequel, with the last of Pan's Lost Boys taking a group of homeless kids to fight for the future of Neverland.
There are greedy adults, hints of environmental destruction and gun violence... and there's a "sweary fairy", Tinkerbell.
So, older readers then?
Taylor says Neverlanders has attracted readers of all ages, from people in their 60s to children as young as six years old.
Speaking from his weekly writing session with two fellow authors at a Melbourne cafe, Taylor explains that while comics are big in Japan and the United States, in Australia people have looked down on the medium for years.
"I feel like it's an attempt to appear high-brow, but their brows go so high their minds are closed off," he said.
Taylor said local readers are finally showing an interest in graphic novels thanks to manga, and Marvel and DC comics.
Comic books are a no-brainer for reluctant readers, Taylor says, because they can rip through stories that are exciting and age-appropriate.
The author is also the co-creator of the all-ages adventure graphic novels The Deep: Here Be Dragons, which have been adapted into a BAFTA-nominated animated series that has screened on Netflix, the BBC and ABC.
Not all of Taylor's many stories are hits, but he feels his efforts over the years have culminated in Neverlanders.
"Creating this massive world, this really exciting book and having been recognised in this way is wonderful," he said.
Other graphic novels that have seen recent success include Still Alive, which won the Eve Pownall Award for information books in 2022, and The Greatest Thing, which was shortlisted in the Older Readers category in 2023.
WINNERS OF THE CBCA BOOK OF THE YEAR
* Older Readers: Neverlanders by Tom Taylor
* Younger Readers: Runt by Craig Silvey
* Early Childhood: Where the Lyrebird Lives by Vikki Conley, illustrated by Max Hamilton
* Picture Book: My Strange Shrinking Parents by Zeno Sworder
* The Eve Pownall Award: DEEP: Dive into Hidden Worlds by Jess McGeachin
* Award for New Illustrator: Sally Soweol Han for Tiny Wonders
CBCA Book Week runs from August 19-25.
Australian Associated Press
