title: The Green Laurel
text: # The Green Laurel
  
  The Green Laurel (1963) is a novel for children by Australian author Eleanor Spence; it was illustrated by Geraldine Spence. It won the Children's Book of the Year Award: Older Readers in 1964.
  
  ## Story outline
  
  The novel centres on a girl whose father runs a fair-ground train at a holiday resort. Illness forces him to give up his job and the family move to a Sydney suburb close to a migrant camp.
  
  ## Critical reception
  
  Writing in The Canberra Times K. Masterman noted: "The interesting and fascinating story brings out well the character of the two contrasted environments, and without any suggestion of preaching establishes the sound values that are felt without needing to be expressed in this writer's work."
  
  ## Awards
  
  * 1964 – winner Children's Book of the Year Award: Older Readers
  