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.