Book of the Year Award history and past winners

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The first Australian Children's Book of the Year Award was made in 1946. At that time and until 1952, there was only one award.

The Picture Book of the Year Award was established in 1952.

Until 1982, there was no distinction between Older and Younger Readers.

The Eve Pownall Award for information books was presented by Eve Pownall's family in 1988, then by the Children's Book Council of Australia from 1993.

The Early Childhood Award was introduced in 2001.

In 1985 Mr Wallace Raymond Crichton left a legacy to The Children's Book Council of Australia (Victorian Branch). The Branch decided to establish an award to recognise and encourage new talent in the field of Australian children's book illustration. It was first awarded in 1988 and each year's winner receives a certificate and a monetary reward. In 2017 it was agreed that the Crichton Award for New Illustrators, previously administered by the Victorian Branch would be incorporated into the National CBCA Book of the Year Awards. From 2019 this award will be named the CBCA New Illustrator award.

Notable Australian Children’s Books gives prominence and recognition to those entries for the Book of the Year Awards which display commendable standards in the criteria set down for the Awards. The Notables list of books is selected from all of the entries submitted for final judging in the Awards for each particular year. It has been published every year since 1992.

Previous Book of the Year Winners

Year	Winners & Honours	Shortlist List	Notable List
2023	Visit the 2023 Winners web page, or download the critique document (PDF. 4.1 Mb.)	Visit the 2023 Shortlist web page, or download the critique document (PDF. 5.1 Mb.)	Visit the 2023 Notables List web page, or download the Notables List (PDF. 237 Kb.)
2022	Visit the 2022 Winners web page, or download the critique document (PDF. 551 Kb.)	Visit the 2022 Shortlist web page, or download the critique document (PDF. 1.7 Mb.)	Visit the 2022 Notables List web page, or download the Notables List title critiques (PDF. 3.9 Mb.)