CBCA SA is celebrating 80 Years of CBCA Book of the Year Awards in 2026.

The Children's Book Council of Australia SA Branch is celebrating the 80th anniversary of the CBCA Book of the Year Awards in 2026.

This celebration recognises eight decades of Australian children’s literature and the enduring contribution of Australian authors, illustrators, educators, and libraries to young readers across Australia.

After celebrating its 80th birthday in 2025 CBCA SA will continue to promote quality Australian children's literature, inspiring a love of reading, and bringing children and books together.

Make sure you sign up as a CBCA SA member to be a part of this milestone year and help us to promote children's literature far and wide.

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2026 Premier's Reading Challenge

In 2025 CBCA SA joined forces with the Premier’s Reading Challenge to promote our shared passion – encouraging South Australian children to read more books and develop their love of reading. We hope to continue this valuable partnership in 2026

The Premier’s Reading Challenge is an amazing program that reaches children all over South Australia. It supports them to find books they love and helps them to uncover a love of reading.

Visit the Premier’s Reading Challenge website to sign your school up for this year's challenge, or explore their excellent reading related resources for parents and teachers.

During the year CBCA SA will be offering secondary schools who are completing the challenge with additional support via the Shadow Judging Program - contact us for more information and how to register.

Visit Premier's Reading Challenge Website Here

Contact CBCA SA To Find Out More About Shadow Judging

CBCA Book of the Year Shortlist Announced!

Congratulations to South Australian creatives Danny Snell, Tania Ingram and Sharon Kernot for being shortlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year Awards!

The annual CBCA Book of the Year Awards aim to promote quality literature for young Australians, support and encourage Australian writers and illustrators of children’s books, and celebrate contributions to Australian children’s literature.

The shortlisted books were selected from the full Notables List announced last month, which included books by a number of South Australian members and creatives, including Mem Fox, Sharon Kernot, Tania Ingram, Datsun Tran, Danny Snell, Elisa Chenoweth, and Beverly McWilliams.

CBCA SA congratulates all the authors from across the country whose work has been acknowledged or shortlisted this year. We are so proud to be a part of such a vibrant Australian children's literature community.

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