Children's Book Week

Since 1946 the Children’s Book Council of Australia awards the Book of the Year to Australian authors.
The annual CBCA Book of the Year Awards aim to:

promote quality literature for young Australians;
support and encourage a wide range of Australian writers and illustrators of children’s books and;
celebrate contributions to Australian children’s literature.

There are 6 categories in the CBCA Book of the Year Awards

CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers
CBCA Book of the Year: Younger Readers
CBCA Book of the Year: Early Childhood
CBCA Picture Book of the Year
Eve Pownall Award
CBCA Award for New Illustrator

Read the full 2024 shortlist

Visit the Children’s Book Council of Australia to learn more.

CBCA 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.
Click on a book cover to reserve a copy.

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 contain mature themes, including violence. Parental guidance is recommended
Click on a book cover to reserve a copy.

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 picture books, where the story, theme or concept is unified through illustrations. Ages 0-18 years.
(Note: Some of these books may be for mature readers).
Click on a book cover to reserve a copy.

Eve Pownall Award

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: Books in this category are for mature readers and some may deal with particularly challenging themes including violence and suicide. Parental guidance is recommended.
Click on a book cover to reserve a copy.