CBCA Book of the Year Awards
The Children's Book Council of Australia's Book of the Year Awards are the most influential and highly respected awards for children's books in Australia. They have been presented since 1946 to promote children's books of high literary and artistic quality and they affirm the quality of some of Australia's most creative people and provide a boost to their capacity to devote time to their craft.
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CBCA Book of the Year Awards aim to:
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promote quality literature for young Australians;
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support and encourage a wide range of Australian writers and illustrators of children’s books;
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and, celebrate contributions to Australian children’s literature.
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There are six categories in the CBCA Book of the Year Awards and each category acknowledges Notable Books, Shortlisted Titles, Honour Books and Award Winners. The six categories are:
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CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers
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CBCA Book of the Year: Younger Readers
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CBCA Book of the Year: Early Childhood
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CBCA Picture Book of the Year
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Eve Pownall Award for information books
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CBCA Award for New Illustrator ​​​
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2026 CBCA Book of the Year Awards - Notables
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.
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There are six categories of Awards, five of which are included in the Notables list:
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Older Reader
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Younger Reader
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Early Childhood
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Picture Book of the Year
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Eve Pownall Award for information books
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This year’s Notable Books feature a number of South Australian members and creatives and we are delighted to see them recognised for their literary and creative work on a national scale. CBCA SA congratulates all the creatives whose work has been recognised in these awards.
​South Australian CBCA Notables 2026
CBCA Older Readers
The Locked Room by Adam Cece Penguin Random House Australia
Tenderly, I Am Devoured by Lyndall Clipstone Penguin Random House Australia
This Stays Between Us by Margot McGovern Penguin Random House Australia
CBCA Early Childhood
Derek by Anne Donaldson Matt Shanks Little Hare
Going Fishing With Nana by Frances Haji-Ali & Lindsay Haji-Ali Illustrated by Karen Briggs (SA Illustrator) Magabala Books
CBCA Eve Pownall
Diary of a Marine Biologist by Anita Thomas Illustrated by Sarah Wilkins Walker Books Australia
The Great Shark Egg Case Hunt by Kasey Whitelaw Illustrated by Sylvia Morris (SA Illustrator) CSIRO Publishing
​The CBCA SA also recognises many of the SA creatives whose books were not part of the 2026 Notables list and thank them for their valued and important ongoing contribution to Children's Literature in South Australia.
Awards Foundation
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The original prize given to winners of the Children's Book of the Year Awards was a camellia if you were a female, or a handshake if you were a male. After many years of commercial and government sponsorship, the Awards Foundation was established to raise money to fund prizes for the Children's Book of the Year Awards, in perpetuity.  You can find out more about the Awards Foundation and ways you can support their work by following the link below.