Entry into the 2024 CBCA Book of the Year Awards is still open. The closing date for ALL books published in 2023 is Thursday, 30 November. The cut off date for final receipt of physical copies is COB Thursday, 14 December.
Ready to enter?
To enter your book in one or multiple categories head across to the awards entry portal: awards.cbca.org.au.
You can view past winners and shortlist recipients from the top menu item "Book of the Year". 2023 Book of the Year winner and honour books can be found at cbca.org.au/winners-2023.
We receommend checking out the eligibility requirements of the awards before completing your entry.
Enjoy the official 2023 Sun Project: Shadow Judging Book of the Year Winners announcement on the CBCA National YouTube channel, or by clicking on the video above. Special thanks to the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP).
We're thrilled to introduce you to the 2022 CBCA Book of the Year: Picture Book of the Year winner, illustrator Jess Racklyeft as our feature 2024 Children's Book Week® artist, bringing to life the theme "Reading is Magic!".
Watch the short theme announcement video to meet Jess and learn what inspired next year's magical theme.
Presented by young people, for young people!
Watch on our YouTube channel with link https://youtu.be/ce5xpWvFBt4 or by clicking play on the video above.
Established in 1945, the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) is a not-for-profit, volunteer run organisation which aims to engage the community with literature for young Australians.
To enrich young lives through Australian stories.
A thriving creative world embracing the transformational power of stories across generations.
To connect, communicate, celebrate and advocate for the value of stories.
In 1946 the CBCA established annual book awards to promote children's books of high literary and artistic quality. These awards are now the most influential and highly respected in Australia.
Each year, schools and public libraries across Australia spend a week celebrating books, and Australian authors and illustrators. Teachers and librarians conduct activities relating to a theme to highlight the importance of reading.
The CBCA produces a range of promotional items, including stickers for publishers to place on winning and honour books, and support materials for teachers, teacher librarians and public librarians. The range is always changing and developing.
Launching nationwide in 2022, this innovative program brings Australia's young readers directly into the CBCA Book of the Year Awards conversation. Rolled out through schools, libraries and book clubs, the professionally judged Shortlist is "shadowed" with the same criteria to find the Book of the Year voiced by the target readers themselves.
Throughout the year, we work in partnership with authors, illustrators, publishers and booksellers to bring literature into the hearts and minds of children. Your donation will help us continue this important work.
The CBCA has a strong commitment and a long history of reviewing Australian children's books. For many of the seventy years CBCA has been in existence reviews were presented in our print journal Reading Time.