Congratulations to the following authors, illustrators and publishers on being recognised on this year’s lists. Shortlists will be announced on March 28. Check local branch websites and social media for events discussing these lists, and join us to celebrate the diversity of books written for children and young adults. Links on titles are to reviews on Reading Time.
The National CBCA website has links to all books in their categories as PDFs to download
Book of the Year: Older Readers
Entries in this category may be fiction, drama or poetry and should be appropriate in style and content for readers in their secondary years of schooling. Ages 13 – 18 years.
Note: Books in this category are for mature readers and some may deal with particularly challenging themes including violence and suicide. Parental guidance is recommended.
| Author | Illustrator | Title | ISBN | Publisher |
| Eva Collins | Ask No Questions | 9781922571342 | Puncher & Wattmann | |
| Biffy James | Completely Normal (and Other Lies) | 9781760508746 | Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing | |
| Sarah Winifred Searle | The Greatest Thing | 9781761067655 | Allen & Unwin | |
| Pamela Rushby | Interned | 9781760653019 | Walker Books Australia | |
| Avery McDougall | Invisibly Grace | 9780645292886 | Forty South Publishing | |
| Ellie Marney | The Killing Code | 9781760526535 | Allen & Unwin | |
| Jodi McAlister | Libby Lawrence is Good at Pretending | 9781743059043 | Wakefield Press | |
| Barry Jonsberg | A Little Spark | 9781760526924 | Allen & Unwin | |
| Lauren Draper | The Museum of Broken Things | 9781922458537 | Text Publishing | |
| Tom Taylor | Jon Sommariva |
Neverlanders | 9781761049071 | Penguin Random House Australia |
| Kate Emery | The Not So Chosen One | 9781922458605 | Text Publishing | |
| Hayley Lawrence | The Other Side of Tomorrow | 9781760976453 | Scholastic Australia | |
| Martin Chatterton | Scorpion Falls | 9781922696090 | Ford Street Publishing Pty. Ltd. | |
| Meg Caddy | Slipping the Noose | 9781922458544 | Text Publishing | |
| Allison Rushby | The Stand In | 9781761290558 | Scholastic Australia | |
| Katy Warner | Triple Threat | 9781760509101 | Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing | |
| Nina Kenwood | Unnecessary Drama | 9781922458896 | Text Publishing | |
| Claire Saxby | The Wearing of the Green | 9781760653583 | Walker Books Australia | |
| Katy Warner | We Who Hunt the Hollow | 9781760508920 | Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing | |
| Mike Lucas | What We All See | 9781761045936 | Penguin Random House Australia | |
| Rhiannon Wilde | Where You Left Us | 9780702265600 | University of Queensland Press |
Book of the Year: Younger Readers
Entries in this category may be fiction, drama or poetry and should be appropriate in style and content for readers from the middle to upper primary years. 7 – 12 years.
Note: Some of the titles in this category may only be suitable for readers who are in the upper primary years as they may contain mature themes, including violence. Parental guidance is recommended.
| Author | Illustrator | Title | ISBN | Publisher |
| Shirley Marr | All Four Quarters of the Moon | 9781760899554 | Penguin Random House Australia | |
| Pip Harry | August and Jones | 9780734420350 | Hachette Australia | |
| Sarah Armstrong | Big Magic | 9781760508432 | Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing | |
| Deborah Abela | The Book of Wondrous Possibilities | 9781761044021 | Penguin Random House Australia | |
| Kate Foster | The Bravest Word | 9781760654719 | Walker Books Australia | |
| Rhiannon Williams | Dusty in the Outwilds | 9781760509507 | Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing | |
| Neridah McMullin | Astred HIcks | Evie and Rhino | 9781760654207 | Walker Books Australia |
| Skye McKenna | Hedgewitch | 9781801300087 | Welbeck Publishing | |
| Nova Weetman | The Jammer | 9780702265426 | University of Queensland Press | |
| Dianne Wolfer | Brian Simmonds | The Last Light Horse | 9781760991302 | Fremantle Press |
| Marion Roberts | Mikki and Me and the Out-of-Tune Tree | 9781760526795 | Allen & Unwin | |
| Jackie French | Ming and Flo Fight for the Future | 9781460760208 | HarperCollins Publisher | |
| Maryam Master | No Words | 9781760983529 | Pan Macmillan Australia | |
| Zana Fraillon and Bren MacDibble | The Raven’s Song | 9781761065798 | Allen & Unwin | |
| Craig Silvey | Runt | 9781761067846 | Allen & Unwin | |
| Charlee Archbold | The Sugarcane Kids and the Red-Bottomed Boat | 9781922458520 | Text Publishing | |
| Katrina Nannestad | Cheryl Orsini | The Travelling Bookshop: Mim and the Woeful Wedding |
9780733341663 | HarperCollins Publishers |
| Katrina Nannestad | Waiting for the Storks | 9780733342271 | HarperCollins Publishers | |
| Zana Fraillon | Sean Buckingham | The Way of the Dog | 9780702265563 | University of Queensland Press |
| Nat Amoore | Mike Barry | We Run Tomorrow | 9781760897697 | Penguin Random House Australia |
| Oliver Phommavanh | What about Thao? | 9781760897161 | Penguin Random House Australia | |
| Kat Appel | What Snail Knows | 9780702265464 | University of Queensland Press | |
| Melanie La’Brooy | The Wintrish Girl | 9780702265631 | University of Queensland Press | |
| Kate Gordon | Xavier in the Meantime | 9780645218091 | Riveted Press | |
| Gabrielle Wang | Zadie Ma and the Dog Who Chased the Moon | 9781761046513 | Penguin Random House Australia |
Book of the Year: Early Childhood
Entries in this category may be fiction, drama or poetry and should be appropriate in style and content for children who are at pre-reading or early stages of reading. Ages 0 – 6 years.
| Author | Illustrator | Title | ISBN | Publisher |
| Emily Bruce | Leanne Mulgo Watson | Australian Animals Indigenous Discovery Big Book | 9781922377432 | Learning Media |
| Helen Milroy | Backyard Beasties | 9781760991203 | Fremantle Press | |
| Kerri Day | Jess Racklyeft | Beside the Sea | 9780645323580 | Windy Hollow Books |
| Katrina Germein | Mandy Foot | Bev and Kev | 9780645027051 | Little Book Press |
| Annie White | Clementine’s Treasure | 9781922326577 | New Frontier Publishing | |
| Eliza Hull | Daniel Gray-Barnett | Come Over to My House | 9781761210082 | Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing |
| Sue Whiting | Cate James | The Echidna Near My Place | 9781760652401 | Walker Books Australia |
| Meg McKinlay | Karen Blair | Ella and the Useless Day | 9781760653095 | Walker Books Australia |
| Rhiân Williams | Tom Jellett | Emergency! Emergency! Vehicles to the Rescue |
9781742036106 | Wild Dog Books |
| Phil Cummings | Danny Snell | The Garden on Red Gum Road | 9780645027075 | Little Book Press |
| Ashleigh Barton | Martina Heiduczek |
How Do You Say I Love You? | 9780733342172 | HarperCollins Publishers |
| Sara Acton | Jack’s Jumper | 9781760654054 | Walker Books Australia | |
| Bob Graham | Jigsaw: A Puzzle in the Post | 9781529503319 | Walker Books Australia | |
| Corrine Fenton | Tracie Grimwood | Lionel and Me | 9781922326607 | New Frontier Publishing |
| Carrie Gallasch | Hannah Sommerville | Market Day | 9781760504076 | Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing |
| Scott Stuart | My Shadow is Purple | 9781922503817 | Larrikin House | |
| Coral Vass | Tull Suwannakit | Please Handle with Care | 9781922503817 | New Frontier Publishing |
| Jane Godwin | Evie Barrow | Polly’s Grand Party Plan | 9781922400857 | Affirm Press |
| Margaret Hamilton | Anna Pignataro | Rainbow Days | 9781761210242 | Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing |
| Mal Webster | Ship Ahoy! Box Boy | 9780645323597 | Windy Hollow Books | |
| Anna Walker | Snap! | 9781922585387 | Scribble Kids’ Books | |
| Sally Morgan | Johnny Warrkatja Malibirr |
Thank You Rain! | 9781922613646 | Magabala Books |
| Renee Treml | This Little Joey | 9781761046537 | Penguin Random House Australia | |
| Vicky Conley | Max Hamilton | Where the Lyrebird Lives | 9781761046537 | Windy Hollow Books |
The Picture Book of the Year.
Entries in this category should be outstanding books of the Picture Book genre in which the author and illustrator achieve artistic and literary unity or, in wordless texts, where the story, theme or concept is unified through the illustrations. Ages 0 – 18. Note: Some books may be for mature readers).
| Illustrator | Author | Title | ISBN | Publisher |
| Maxine Beneba Clark | Randa Abdel-Fatah | 11 Words for Love | 9780734421203 | Hachette Australia |
| Briony Stewart | Accidentally Kelly Street | 9781922848055 | Affirm Press | |
| Gabriel Evans | A Job for Kingsley | 9781761210211 | Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing | |
| Michelle Pereira | Sandhya Parappukkaran |
Amma’s Sari | 9781760509910 | Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing |
| Sher Rill Ng | Alice Pung | Be Careful, Xiao Xin! | 9781922033932 | HarperCollins Publishers |
| Shane DeVries | Phil Cummings | Crumbs | 9781760970086 | Scholastic Australia |
| Tom Jellett | Michael Wagner | Dirt by Sea | 9781760894061 | Penguin Random House Australia |
| Harrison Vial | Clare Atkins | Egg | 9780702265594 | University of Queensland Press |
| Sophie Blackall | Farmhouse | 9780734421654 | Hachette Australia | |
| Sean E Avery | Frank’s Red Hat | 9781760654283 | Walker Books Australia | |
| Bob Graham | Jigsaw: A Puzzle in the Post | 9781529503319 | Walker Books Australia | |
| Nicky Johnston | Coral Vass | Jørn’s Magnificent Imagination |
9781922539144 | EK Books |
| Stephen Michael King | Koala Ark | 9781761128257 | Scholastic Australia | |
| Zeno Sworder | My Strange, Shrinking Parents | 9781760761233 | Thames & Hudson Australia | |
| Jasmine Seymour | Open Your Heart to Country | 9781922613769 | Magabala Books | |
| Dub Leffler | Kirli Saunders | Our Dreaming | 9781742995113 | Scholastic Australia |
| Levi Pinfold | Paradise Sands: A Story of Enchantment | 9781406383942 | Walker Books Australia | |
| Caroline Magerl | Piano Fingers | 9781760652616 | Walker Books Australia | |
| Marjorie Crosby-Fairall | Trudie Trewin | Summer Blue | 9781743837405 | Scholastic Australia |
| Sally Soweol Han | Tiny Wonders | 9780702263477 | University of Queensland Press | |
| Matt Ottley | The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness |
9780648023852 | Westwords | |
| Hilary Jean Tapper | Davinia Bell | What to Say When You don’t Know What to Say | 9780734421142 | Hachette Australia |
| Judy Watson | Sofie Laguna | When You’re Older | 9781760291341 | Allen & Unwin |
| Phil Lesnie | Jordan Collins | Where? | 9781760526382 | Allen & Unwin |
| Jess Racklyeft | Claire Saxby | Whisper on the Wind | 9781760526887 | Allen & Unwin |
The Eve Pownall Award for Information Books
Entries in this category should be books which have the prime intention of documenting factual material with consideration given to imaginative presentation, interpretation and variation of style. Ages 0 – 18 years.
Note: Some books in this category are for mature readers and may deal with particularly challenging themes including violence and suicide. Parental guidance is recommended.
| Author | Illustrator | Title | ISBN | Publisher |
| Frane Lessac | A is for Australian Reefs | 9781760652258 | Walker Books Australia | |
| Jennifer Cousins | Amazing Animal Journeys | 9780734421432 | Hachette Australia | |
| Edith Wright | Charmaine Ledden-Lewis |
Charlie’s Swim | 9781922613103 | Magabala Books |
| Isaiah Firebrace | Jaelyn Biumaiwai | Come Together: Things Every Aussie Kid Should Know about the First Peoples |
9781741178166 | Hardie Grant Explore |
| Jess McGeachin | DEEP: Delve into Hidden Words | 9781803380155 | Welbeck Publishing | |
| Sue Whiting | Cate James | The Echidna Near My Place | 9781760652401 | Walker Books Australia |
| Sandra Severgnini | Grub | 9781922539267 | EK Books | |
| Eddie Jaku | Nathaniel Eckstrom | The Happiest Boy on Earth | 9781760985608 | Pan Macmillan Australian |
| Samantha Curcio | Hello Every Body! | 9781760509903 | Hardie Grant Children’s Books | |
| Claire Orrell | In an Artist’s Garden | 9781760761479 | Thames & Hudson Australia | |
| Jess McGeachin | Kind | 9781761066047 | Allen & Unwin | |
| Phillip Bunting | The Marvellous Manner of Water | 9781760975180 | Scholastic Australia | |
| Deborah Frenkel | Ingrid Barkowiak | Naturopolis | 9780645191530 | Storytorch Press |
| Tracey Gray | Oceans of Plastic: Understanding and Solving a Pollution Problem | 9781486312573 | CSIRO Publishing | |
| Alice Oehr | Off to the Market | 9781925849790 | Scribble Kids’ Books | |
| Rohan Cleave | Julian Teh | On the Trail of the Plainswanderer: A Precious Australian Bird | 9781486314478 | CSIRO Publishing |
| Vianne Brain | Clare Bradley | Opal and Dart | 9780645510119 | Forty South Publishing |
| Andrew Kelly & Sue Lawson | Dean A Jones | Peregrines in the City | 9781742036519 | Wild Dog Books |
| Jackie Kerin | Milly Formby | A Shorebird Flying Adventure | 9781486314492 | CSIRO Publishing |
| Mark Wilson | Votes for Women! The Story of Nellie, Rose and Mary | 9780734420138 | Hachette Australia | |
| Vanessa Pirotta | Samantha Metcalfe | The Voyage of Whale and Calf | 9781486315109 | CSIRO Publishing |
| Heath McKenzie | Where do Babies Come From? | 9780655226680 | Lake Press Pty. Ltd. | |
| Leonard Cronin | Chris Nixon | Wild Australian Life | 9781760637224 | Allen & Unwin |
| Tai Sanith | Wonders Under the Sun | 9781760762438 | Thames & Hudson Australia | |
| Phillip Bunting | The World’s Most Ridiculous Animals | 9781761210594 | Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing |