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.
Comes the Night by Isobelle Carmody (A & U Books for Children and Young Adults)
I’m Not Really Here by Gary Lonesborough (A & U Books for Children and Young Adults)
The Skin I’m In by Steph Tidsell (Macmillan 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.
Mess Up! (Fluff #2) by Matt Stanton (ABC Books)
Laughter is the Best Ending by Maryam Master (Pan Australia)
Tigg and the Bandicoot Bushranger by Jackie French (HarperCollins AU) (first review by Maureen Mann)
Tigg and the Bandicoot Bushranger by Jackie French (HarperCollins AU) (second review by Julie Deane)
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.
Don’t Worry, Felix by Yohann Devezy & Katharine Alice (Illustrator Zoe Bennett) New Frontier Books
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about the Tooth Fairy (and Some Things You Didn’t) by Briony Stewart Lothian Children’s Books
How to Move a Zoo by Kate Simpson (Illustrator Owen Swan) A & U Children
One Little Dung Beetle by Rhian Williams (Illustrators Heather Potter & Mark Jackson) Wild Dog Books
Spiro by Anna McGregor Scribble Books
The Wobbly Bike by Darren McCallum (Illustrator Craig Smith) Walker Books Australia
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).
A Leaf Called Greaf Text and illustration by Kelly Canby Fremantle Press
Afloat Freya Blackwood with text by Kirili Saunders Little Hare
The Garden of Broken Things Text and illustration by Freya Blackwood HarperCollins AU
The Truck Cat Danny Snell with text by Deborah Frenkel Bright Light
We Live in a Bus Text and illustration by Dave Petzold Thames & Hudson
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: Books in this category are for mature readers and some may deal with particularly challenging themes including violence and suicide. Parental guidance is recommended.
Always Was Always Will Be by Aunty Fay Muir and Sue Lawson Magabala Books
Flora Australia’s Most Curious Plants by Tania McCartney NLA Publishing
South with the Seabirds by Jess McGeachin A & U Children’s
The New Illustrator Award
This Award aims to recognise and encourage new talent in the field of Australian children’s book illustration. Ages 0-18 years.
A Teaspoon of Light Illustrated by Nisaluk Chantanakom Dirt Lane Press
Peek-a-Boo Lottie Illustrated by Kristen Willis Five Mile Press
Raymangirrbuy Dhawu When I was a Little Girl Illustrated by Kylie Gatjawarrawuy Mununggurr Magabala Books
