We are proud to announce the 2018 Children’s Book of the Year Awards, highlighting the extraordinary creativity and talent of Australia’s children’s authors and illustrators.
Professor Margot Hillel OAM, Chair of the CBCA National Board says, “This is our 72nd Book of the Year Awards and the high number of engaging, imaginative and inspiring stories that continue to be published for young Australians each year is very encouraging, particularly in an age where digital technologies compete for their time and attention.”
“Young people will always need well-crafted stories and information books to help them understand themselves and other people and navigate the world around them.”
Of the 444 entries and 36 shortlisted titles, judges have selected one winner and two honour books for the five Book of the Year Award categories and one winner for the Crichton Award for New Illustrators.
Professor Hillel says, “The 2018 winning and honour books entertain, challenge and inform their readers through powerful narratives, vibrant language, vivid characters and in the case of picture books, stunning illustrations in a broad variety of style and media.”
Judges for the 2018 CBCA Book of the Year Awards commented on the wide range of themes including contemporary realism in the Older Readers entries, magical realism and historical fiction for Younger Readers, Indigenous themes and traditional outback settings in the Early Childhood category, and two high quality books with deaf children as their central characters.
The 2018 CBCA Book of the Year Awards announcement held today, Friday 17 August at the State Library of Queensland, heralds the start of CBCA Book Week which runs from 18 to 24 August.
This year’s CBCA Book Week theme Find Your Treasure will inspire schools, libraries and communities across the country to celebrate Australian children’s books and reading through book character parades, creative displays and engaging activities.
For the full list of the CBCA 2018 Book of the Year Winner and Honour Books please visit our website here.
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