Children's Book Council of Australia Awards 2021

August 2021

Below is the shortlist of books for the CBCA Children's Book of the Year Awards. Further information can be found on the CBCA website. Click on the links to be taken to their entries in our catalogue and place a hold.

Alternatively, Storybox has many of these books in their catalogue, along with activity for each book. You will need your library card and PIN to access the site. Storybox is an online resource where you can have your favourite stories read by Australia's best storytellers.

Book of the Year - Older Readers

Entries 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

 

Caitlin, our Youth and Children's Coordinator, read When Rain turns to Snow by Jane Godwin. Find out what she thought of the story.

 


 

 

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.

 

Caitlin, our Youth and Children's Coordinator, read We Are Wolves by Katrina Nannested. Find out what she thought of the story.

 


 

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.

 


 

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.

 

Illustrator Matt Ottley shares what Meg McKinlay's text means to him and talks more about two of the illustrations in How to Make a Bird (published by Walker Books Australia), which won 2021 CBCA Picture Book of the Year.

 


 

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.


 

CBCA Award for New Illustrator

This Award aims to recognise and encourage new talent in the field of Australian children's book illustration. Ages 0-18 years.