The Notable Australian Children's Books 2024 is the perfect guide to share with young people. Compiled from critiques submitted by our expert judges, this document can aid their discovery of good stories to read, a reported reason they give for not reading. So share it, discuss it, and let’s continue to grow our reading culture!
The CBCA Book of the Year Awards, 2024 Notables List
Congratulations to all CBCA Book of the Year Award Notable authors, illustrators and publishers for 2024. Please enjoy our annual video presentation.
Happy reading!
Notable Australian Children's Books 2024, critiques for all 2024 Notable titles.
(PDF 17 Mb.)
Book of the Year Award Notables, complete list (PDF 264 Kb.)
Select a button and jump straight to that award category.
Book of the Year: Older ReadersEntries 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.
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A Hunger of Thorns
Lili Wilkinson
A & U Children
an imprint of Allen & Unwin ISBN: 9781760526948
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Blind Spot
Robyn Dennison
Text Publishing
ISBN: 9781922790347
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Borderland
Graham Akhurst
UWA Publishing
ISBN: 9781760802646
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Eleanor Jones is Not a Murderer
Amy Doak
Penguin Random House Australia
ISBN: 9781761342417
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Eta Draconis
Brendan Ritchie
UWA Publishing
ISBN: 9781760802615
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Grace Notes
Karen Comer
Lothian Children's Books
an imprint of Hachette Australia ISBN: 9780734421722
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I Am the Mau and other stories
Chemutai Glasheen
Fremantle Press
ISBN: 9781760992576
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If You Tell Anyone, You're Next
Jack Heath
Scholastic Australia
ISBN: 9781761292019
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Inkflower
Suzy Zail
Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781760653736
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Let's Never Speak of This Again
Megan Williams
Text Publishing
ISBN: 9781922790392
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Nightbirds
Kate J. Armstrong
A & U Children
an imprint of Allen & Unwin ISBN: 9781760526900
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One Song
A.J. Betts
Pan Macmillan Australia
ISBN: 9781761264900
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Picasso and the Greatest Show on Earth
Anna Fienberg
A & U Children
an imprint of Allen & Unwin ISBN: 9781760296988
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Stuck Up & Stupid
Angourie Rice & Kate Rice
Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781760658281
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The Isles of the Gods
Amie Kaufman
A & U Children
an imprint of Allen & Unwin ISBN: 9781761180064
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The Quiet and the Loud
Helena Fox
Pan Macmillan Australia
ISBN: 9781760983024
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The Sinister Booksellers of Bath
Garth Nix
A & U Children
an imprint of Allen & Unwin ISBN: 9781761180002
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This Time It's Real
Ann Liang
Penguin Random House Australia
ISBN: 9781761049804
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Two Can Play That Game
Leanne Yong
A & U Children
an imprint of Allen & Unwin ISBN: 9781761063374
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We Could Be Something
Will Kostakis
A & U Children
an imprint of Allen & Unwin ISBN: 9781761180170
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We Didn't Think It Through
Gary Lonesborough
A & U Children
an imprint of Allen & Unwin ISBN: 9781760526931
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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 contain mature themes, including violence. Parental guidance is recommended.
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Aggie Flea is Not a Liar
Tania Ingram
ill. Anne Yi Scholastic Australia
ISBN: 9781760972547
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Being Jimmy Baxter
Fiona Lloyd
Puffin AU
an imprint of Penguin Random House Australia ISBN: 9781760148515
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Bored: Evie Dreams Big
Matt Stanton
ABC Books AU
an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers ISBN: 9780733342066
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Dirrarn
Carl Merrison & Hakea Hustler
ill. Dub Leffler Magabala Books
ISBN: 9781922777027
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Harriet Hound
Kate Foster
ill. Sophie Beer Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781760654702
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Huda Was Here
H. Hayek
A & U Children
an imprint of Allen & Unwin ISBN: 9781761068430
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Meet Me at the Moon Tree
Shivaun Plozza
University of Queensland Press
ISBN: 9780702266171
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Ming and Hilde Lead a Revolution
Jackie French
HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN: 9781460763445
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Pearly and Pig and the Lost City of Mu Savan
Sue Whiting
ill. Rebecca Crane Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781760655457
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Real Pigeons Flap Out
Andrew McDonald
ill. Ben Wood Hardie Grant Children's Publishing
ISBN: 9781761211546
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Running With Ivan
Suzanne Leal
HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN: 9781460761335
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Saving Charli
Di Walker
Scholastic Australia
ISBN: 9781761297311
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Scar Town
Tristan Bancks
Puffin (AU)
an imprint of Penguin Random House Australia ISBN: 9780143791812
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Scout and the Rescue Dogs
Dianne Wolfer
ill. Tony Flowers Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781760655860
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So That Happened . . . But Maybe You Already Knew That
Tami Sussman
Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781760656010
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Sunshine on Vinegar Street
Karen Comer
A & U Children
an imprint of Allen & Unwin ISBN: 9781761180132
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The Great Gallipoli Escape
Jackie French
HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN: 9781460764176
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The Mud Puddlers
Pamela Rushby
Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781760655808
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The Odds: The Power of Being Odd
Matt Stanton
ABC Books AU
an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers ISBN: 9780733340659
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The Sideways Orbit of Evie Hart
Samera Kamaleddine
HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN: 9781460762653
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The Unlikely Heroes Club
Kate Foster
Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781760655969
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Uncle Xbox
Jared Thomas
Magabala Books
ISBN: 9781922613363
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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.
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Anchored
Debra Tidball
ill. Arielle Li EK Books
an imprint of Exisle Publishing ISBN: 9781922539496
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Bear and Duck are Friends
Sue deGennaro
Little Hare
an imprint of Hardie Grant Children's Publishing ISBN: 9781761210327
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Big Dog is a Big Help
Sally Rippin
ill. Lucinda Gifford Little Hare
an imprint of Hardie Grant Children's Publishing ISBN: 9781761210839
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Can You Teach a Fish to Climb a Tree?
Jane Godwin
ill. Terry Denton Bright Light
an imprit of Hardie Grant Children's Publishing ISBN: 9781760508661
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Duckling Runs Away
Margaret Wild
ill. Vivienne To A & U Children
an imprint of Allen & Unwin ISBN: 9781761065804
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Grace and Mr Milligan
Caz Goodwin
ill. Pip Kruger Marshall Cavendish International
ISBN: 9789815009811
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Gurril, Storm Bird
Trevor Fourmile
ill. Jingalu Magabala Books
ISBN: 9781922613455
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Gymnastica Fantastica!
Briony Stewart
Lothian Children's Books
an imprint of Hachette Australia ISBN: 9780734421852
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Hair!
Mike Dumbleton
ill. Lucinda Gifford Little Book Press
ISBN: 9780645401325
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In the Rockpool
Andrea Rowe
ill. Hannah Sommerville Little Hare
an imprint of Hardie Grant Children's Publishing ISBN: 9781761213014
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Ladybirds Do Not Go to Day Care
Ali Rutstein
ill. Niña Nill Bright Light
an imprint of Hardie Grant Children's Publishing ISBN: 9781761213113
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Nedingar: Ancestors
Isobel Bevis
ill. Leanne Zilm Fremantle Press
ISBN: 9781760992712
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One Little Duck
Katrina Germein
ill. Danny Snell HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN: 9781460761649
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Our Mob
Jacinta Daniher & Taylor Hampton
ill. Seantelle Walsh Ford Street Publishing
ISBN: 9781922696236
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Ruby's Repair Cafe
Michelle Worthington
ill. Zoe Bennett New Frontier Publishing
ISBN: 9781922326805
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Run Pups Run
Kerri Day
ill. Nicky Johnston Windy Hollow Books
ISBN: 9781921136092
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Shadow Catchers
Kirsty Murray
ill. Karen Blair A & U Children
an imprint of Allen & Unwin ISBN: 9781760526955
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The Concrete Garden
Bob Graham
Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781529512649
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The Little Things
Penny Harrison
ill. Hannah Sommerville Little Hare
an imprint of Hardie Grant Children's Publishing ISBN: 9781761211263
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The Trees
Victor Steffensen
ill. Sandra Steffensen Hardie Grant Explore
ISBN: 9781741178876
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The Wheelbarrow Express
Sue Whiting
ill. Cate James Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781760654627
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These Little Feet
Hayley Rawsthorne
ill. Briony Stewart Albert Street Books
an imprint of Allen & Unwin ISBN: 9781761069017
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We're Moving Away
Niña Nill
Bright Light
an imprint of Hardie Grant Children's Publishing ISBN: 9781761212321
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When I'm Big
Karen Blair
Puffin AU
an imprint of Penguin Random House Australia ISBN: 9781761045813
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Where Will the Sleepy Sheep Sleep?
David Metzenthen
ill. Jonathan Bentley A & U Children
an imprint of Allen & Unwin ISBN: 9781761066160
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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 picture books, where the story, theme or concept is unified through illustrations. Ages 0-18 years.
Note: some of these books may be for mature readers.
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Anchored
Arielle Li
text. Debra Tidball EK Books
an imprint of Exisle Publishing ISBN: 9781922539496
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Bowerbird Blues
Aura Parker
Scholastic Australia
ISBN: 9781760269609
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City of Light
Mark & Heather Jackson
text. Julia Lawrinson Wild Dog Books
ISBN: 9781742036304
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Desert Jungle
Jeannie Baker
Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781406387872
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Dorrie
Tania McCartney
HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN: 9781460760109
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Every Night at Midnight
Peter Cheong
Affirm Press
ISBN: 9781922992383
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Good Morning, My Deer!
Sophie Beer
text. Mel Amon Scribble Kid's Books
an imprint of Scribe Publications ISBN: 9781761380358
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If I Was a Horse
Sophie Blackall
Lothian Children's Books
an imprint of Hachette Australia ISBN: 9780734422712
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Ladybirds Do Not Go to Day Care
Niña Nill
text. Ali Rutstein Bright Light
an imprint of Hardie Grant Children's Publishing ISBN: 9781761213113
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Leaf-light
Trace Balla
A & U Children
an imprint of Allen & Unwin ISBN: 9781760526207
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Little Treasure
Jennifer Goldsmith
text. Chanelle Gosper Lothian Children's Books
an imprint of Hachette Australia ISBN: 9780734421494
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Mizuto and the Wind
Luisa Gioffre-Suzuki
text. Kaye Baillie MidnightSun Publishing
ISBN: 9781922858023
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Paper-flower Girl
Mateja Jager
text. Margrete Lamond Dirt Lane Press
and imprint of WestWords ISBN: 9780645352399
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Plague
Bruce Whatley
text. Jackie French Scholastic Australia
ISBN: 9781743834824
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Raised by Moths
Michelle Conn
text. Charlie Archbold MidnightSun Publishing
ISBN: 9781922858184
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Satin
Lorena Carrington
text. Sophie Masson MidnightSun Publishing
ISBN: 9781922858016
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Stay for Dinner
Michelle Pereira
text. Sandhya Parappukkaran Bright Light
an imprint of Hardie Grant Children's Publishing ISBN: 9781761211966
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That Bird Has Arms
Ronojoy Ghosh & Niharika Hukku
text. Kate Temple & Jol Temple Little Hare
an imprint of Hardie Grant Children's Publishing ISBN: 9781761210310
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The Black Cockatoo With One Feather Blue
Eloise Short
text. Jodie McLeod Wollemi Press
ISBN: 9780646874708
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The Concrete Garden
Bob Graham
Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781529512649
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The Garden at the End of the World
Briony Stewart
text. Cassy Polimeni University of Queensland Press
ISBN: 9780702265693
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The Lucky Shack
Jennifer Falkner
text. Apsara Baldovino Working Title Press
an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers ISBN: 9781922033154
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Timeless
Kelly Canby
Fremantle Press
ISBN: 9781760992323
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World
Anna Read
text. Martine Murray Parachute Press
ISBN: 9780645039528
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Your Head's Not the Place to Store Problems
Stephen Michael King
text. Josh Pyke Scholastic Australia
ISBN: 9781761293023
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Eve Pownall Award
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.
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All About the HEART
Remi Kowalski
ill. Tonia Composto Berbay Publishing
ISBN: 9781922610591
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Australia: Country of Colour
Jess Racklyeft
Affirm Press
ISBN: 9781922863881
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Australian Animals: From Beach to Bush
Brentos
Affirm Press
ISBN: 9781922930408
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Australian Backyard Birds
Myke Mollard
Woodslane Press
ISBN: 9781922800237
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Bidhi Galing
Anita Heiss
ill. Samantha Campbell Simon & Schuster Australia
ISBN: 9781761105258
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Caroline
Mark Wilson
Windy Hollow Books
ISBN: 9781922081018
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Country Tells Us When...
Tsheena Cooper, Mary Dann, Dalisa Pigram-Ross, Sheree Ford, Yawuru Ngan-ga Language Centre (trans.)
Indigenous Literacy Foundation
ISBN: 9781922592460
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Country Town
Isolde Martyn & Robyn Ridgeway
ill. Louise Hogan Ford Street Publishing
ISBN: 9781922696342
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Democracy!
Philip Bunting
Little Hare
an imprint of Hardie Grant Children's Publishing ISBN: 9781761211478
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Eat My Dust!
Neridah McMullin
ill. Lucia Masciullo Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781760654191
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Eww Gross: Foul Facts and Putrid Pictures
Dan Marshall
Lost the Plot
an imprint of Pantera Press ISBN: 9780645624564
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High
Jess McGeachin
Welbeck Publishing
ISBN: 9781803380278
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How We Came to Be: Creatures of Camouflage and Mimicry
Sami Bayly
Lothian Children's Books
an imprint of Hachette Australia ISBN: 9780734421371
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Last Man Out
Louise Park
Wild Dog Books
ISBN: 9781742036427
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Our Country: Where History Happened
Mark Greenwood
ill. Frané Lessac Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781760653576
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River to Bay - Victoria's Maritime History
Carole Wilkinson
ill. Prue Pittock Wild Dog Books
ISBN: 9781742036168
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Songlines: First Knowledges for Younger Readers
Margo Neale & Lynne Kelly
ill. Blak Douglas Thames & Hudson Australia
ISBN: 9781760763480
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Tamarra
Violet Wadrill, Topsy Dodd Ngarnjal, Leah Leaman, Cecelia Edwards, Cassandra Algy, Felicity Meakins, Briony Barr, Gregory Crocetti
Hardie Grant Explore
ISBN: 9781741178302
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The Forgotten Song: Saving the Regent Honeyeater
Coral Vass
ill. Jess Racklyeft CSIRO Publishing
ISBN: 9781486316403
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The World's Most Atrocious Animals
Philip Bunting
Little Hare
an imprint of Hardie Grant Children's Publishing ISBN: 9781761212604
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This Book Thinks Ya Deadly!
Corey Tutt
ill. Molly Hunt Hardie Grant Explore
ISBN: 9781741178159
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Universal Guide to the Night Sky
Lisa Harvey-Smith
ill. Sophie Beer Thames & Hudson Australia
ISBN: 9781760763121
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Wildlife Compendium of the World
Tania McCartney
Hardie Grant Explore
ISBN: 9781741177473
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Wildlife of Australia's Great Barrier Reef
Myke Mollard
Woodslane Press
ISBN: 9781922800367
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Wollemi: Saving a Dinosaur Tree
Samantha Tidy
ill. Rachel Gyan CSIRO Publishing
ISBN: 9781486316083
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2024 Book of the Year Award Notable list quick references
Please help yourself to any of these handy Notable list document downloads for individual awards, or download the list in full.
| Category | PDF download | Word document download |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Notable Books critiques 2024 | (PDF 178 Kb.) |
blank |
| Book of the Year Award Notables, complete list | (PDF 178 Kb.) |
 (DOC. 76 Kb.) |
| Book of the Year: Older Readers | (PDF 178 Kb.) |
(DOC. 53 Kb.) |
| Book of the Year: Younger Readers | (PDF 185 Kb.) |
(DOC. 53 Kb.) |
| Book of the Year: Early Childhood | (PDF 177 Kb.) |
(DOC. 55 Kb.) |
| Picture Book of the Year | (PDF 176 Kb.) |
(DOC. 55 Kb.) |
| Book of the Year: Eve Pownall Award | (PDF 191 Kb.) |
(DOC. 54 Kb.) |
Click on a button below to return to that category.
Young voices are welcome here
The 2024 Sun Project: Shadow Judging Book of the Year Awards national reading program is an excellent opprtunity to encourage young readers to explore the CBCA Bok of the Year Award Shortlisted titles in greater depth.
Register a group/s today!
2024 Children's Book Week® merchandise
Your official 2024 catalogue is now available. This year's catalogue is bursting with regular favourites, dynamic display items, and a range of new surprises. Download the PDF( 7.7 Mb.) version now or visit our store for more product details.