Since 1945 the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) has brought children and books together across Australia by celebrating Children's Book Week. During this joyous, special week schools, public libraries, bookshops and families across Australia celebrate books and the Australian children's authors and illustrators that create them. 

As part of Children's Book Week classroom teachers, teacher librarians and public librarians create colourful displays, develop activities, run competitions and tell stories to highlight the importance of developing a love of reading. Children and grown-ups across the country dress as their favourite literary characters and the Book Week Parade has been firmly established as a right of passage for Australian children and a much-loved part of the celebration.

2026 is a milestone year as we celebrate 80 years of the CBCA Book of the Year Awards. For eight decades, CBCA has been dedicated to inspiring young minds to journey through the countless worlds that books offer and this year's theme of 'Symphony of Stories' shares a musical approach. 

The artwork for 2026 has been created by talented and award-winning illustrator Briony Stewart, who has brilliantly captured the theme's musical appeal with gorgeous characters taking part in an amazingly diverse orchestra. 

'I decided to try and show what stepping into a symphony of stories might be like. A huge colourful collection of characters bursting out of a book representing their different stories with weird and wonderful instruments.’ – Briony Stewart

Join the CBCA SA in 2026 as we celebrate 80 years of bringing children and books together.