Announcing the 2023 CBCA Book of the Year Awards Shortlist

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. 

Reviews

Completely Normal (and Other Lies) by Biffy James Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing

Neverlanders by Tom Taylor (text) and Jon Sommariva (Illustrator) Penguin Books Australia

The Other Side of Tomorrow by Hayley Lawrence Scholastic Australia

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.

Reviews

August & Jones by Pip Harry Hachette Australia

Evie and Rhino by Neridan McMullin Illustrated by Astred Hicks Walker Books Australia
Another review of Evie and Rhino

The Raven’s Song by Zana Fraillon and Bren MacDibble Allen & Unwin

Xavier in the Meantime by Kate Gordon Riveted Press

Runt by Craig Silvey Allen & Unwin

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.

Reviews

Bev and Kev by Katrina Germein and Mandy Foot Little Book Press

Jigsaw: A Puzzle in the Post by Bob Graham Walker Books Australia

Lionel and me by Corrine Fenton and Tracie Grimwood New Frontier Press

Market Day by Carrie Gallasch and Hannah Sommerville Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing

Where the Lyrebird Lives by Vikki Conley Illustrated by Max Hamilton Windy Hollow Books

Snap! by Anna Walker Scribe Publications

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).

Reviews

Dirt by Sea Illustrated by Tom Jellett, text by Michael Wagner Random Penguin House Australia

Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall Hachette Australia

Frank’s Red Hat by Sean E Avery Walker Books Australia

My Strange Shrinking Parents by Zeno Sworder Thames & Hudson

Our Dreaming illustrated by Dub Leffler, text by Kirli Saunders Scholastic Australia

Paradise Sands: A Story of Enchantment by Levi Pinfold Walker Books Australia

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: Books in this category are for mature readers and some may deal with particularly challenging themes including violence and suicide. Parental guidance is recommended. 

Reviews

A is for Australian Reefs by Fane Lessac Walker Books Australia

Amazing Animal Stories by Jennifer Cossins Hachette Australia

Come Together Text by Isaiah Firebrace, illustrated by Jaelyn Buimaiwai, design by Keisha Leon

DEEP: Dive into Hidden Worlds by Jess McGeachin Welback Editions

Opal and Dart Text by Vianne Brian, illustrated by Claire Bradley Forty South Publishing

Wild Australian Life Text by Leonard Cronin, illustrated by Chris Nixon Allen & Unwin

CBCA New Illustrator’s Award

This Award aims to recognise and encourage new talent in the field of Australian children’s book illustration. Ages 0-18 years.

Reviews

Australia: From dawn to dusk by Brentos Affirm Press

The BEST hiding place Illustrated by Sylvia Morris, text by Jane Godwin Affirm Press

Naturopolis Illustrated by Ingrid Bartkowiak, text by Deborah Frenkel Storytorch Press

There’s no such book Illustrated by Jake A Minton, text by Jessica Dettmann Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing

Tiny wonders Illustrated by Sally Soweol University of Queensland Press

We are Australians Illustrated by Jandamarra Cadd, text by Duncan Sith and Nicole Godwin Wild Dog Books

 

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