Vote for the children's book you'd like to see transformed into the next sculpture at Storybook Walk in Thalassa Park.
The sculpture will become the eighteenth permanent artwork at the Walk, joining characters such as Grug, Mr Percival, Grandma Poss and Hush, and Snugglepot and Cuddlepie.
Four fantastic Australian books for children aged 8 to 12 have been shortlisted in this year’s vote:
- The 13-storey treehouse by Terry Denton
- Black cockatoo by Carl Merrison and Hakea Hustler
- Nevermoor, a series of books by Jessica Townsend
- Deltora quest, a series of books by Emily Rodda.
The 13-storey treehouse has 13 storeys, a bowling alley, a tank full of man-eating sharks and a marshmallow machine. A typical day involves flying cats, sea-monkeys, mermaids and giant gorillas.
Black cockatoo follows Mia, a 13-year-old Aboriginal girl, as she explores the fragile connections of family and culture in a remote community in the Kimberley.
Deltora quest is the collective title for 3 fantasy books about the quest of 3 companions as they travel across the land of Deltora in search of seven magical gems.
Nevermoor is a series of fantasy books about Morrigan Crow, a cursed child, who is saved from death and whisked away to the city of Nevermoor where she is meets those with supernatural abilities.
Once the winning book is selected, the council will seek expressions of interest from artists to create a sculpture based on the book’s central character.
Storybook Walk in Thalassa Park in Aberfoyle Park was created by the City of Onkaparinga in 2007 and is funded in partnership with the Thalassa Parks and Gardens Trust. It is designed to promote Australian authors and foster a love of literature in children.
Every 2 years a new sculpture is added to the Walk to make the park an even more magical experience.
You can vote on the council’s Your Say webpage or at one of Onkaparinga’s libraries. The council will also be visiting local schools to invite students to have their say.
Voting is open until 19 May 2026.