About the Children's Book Council of Australia

The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) is a national not-for-profit, volunteer-run organisation that aims to engage the community with literature for young Australians.

Our Purpose

To enrich young lives through Australian stories.

Our Vision

To see a thriving creative world embracing the transformational power of stories, across generations.

Our Mission

To connect, communicate, celebrate, and advocate for the value of stories.

The CBCA presents annual awards to Australian books of literary merit for outstanding contribution to Australian children’s literature.

The CBCA was founded in 1945 in a when Australian children’s books were few, and Australian authors and illustrators were virtually unknown. The following year, 1946 the The Book of the Year Awards, an annual award to promote books of high literary and artistic quality was established. These awards are now the most influential and highly respected in Australia.

Each year, across Australia, the CBCA brings children and books together celebrating Children’s Book Week. Throughout the year, the CBCA works in partnership with authors, illustrators, publishers, booksellers and other organisations in the children’s book world to bring words, images and stories into the hearts and minds of children and adults.

Australian children’s literature enriches our nation and reaches children across the world through international editions.

The CBCA is made up of state branches that work to promote literature and literacy in their state. The branches each send a representative to the judging panel for the Book of the Year Awards.

Members of the CBCA’s National Board are nominated by their state/territory branches or sit as independent directors.

Our core values

Equity

Diversity

Quality

Integrity

Respect

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