16 August 2024: Updated with the CBCA Award Winners and Honour Books, and the Sun Project: Shadow Judging Award Winners

The Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year Awards recognise quality Australian children's books in six categories. First established in 1946, the annual awards aim to:

  • promote quality literature for young Australians;
  • support and encourage a wide range of Australian writers and illustrators of children’s books and;
  • celebrate contributions to Australian children’s literature.

The Sun Project: Shadow Judging is where groups of young people (supported by a facilitator and CBCA mentor) read the six shortlisted titles for a single category and then vote for a winner in the Shadower's Choice Award.

Some publishers have released teacher notes on these titles so we have added links to this page for easy reference.

Older Readers (ages 13-18)

WINNER

  1. Grace Notes
    Grace Notes
    Now: $16.99 Was: $19.99
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HONOUR BOOK

  1. A Hunger of Thorns
    A Hunger of Thorns
    Now: $20.99 Was: $24.99
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HONOUR BOOK

  1. Let's Never Speak of This Again
    Let's Never Speak of This Again
    Now: $20.99 Was: $24.99
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SHORTLIST

SHADOW JUDGING WINNER

  1. Inkflower
    Inkflower
    Now: $19.49 Was: $22.99
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SHORTLIST

  1. The Quiet and the Loud
    The Quiet and the Loud
    Now: $16.99 Was: $19.99
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SHORTLIST

  1. Two Can Play That Game
    Two Can Play That Game
    Now: $16.99 Was: $19.99
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Younger Readers (ages 7-12)

WINNER

SHADOW JUDGING WINNER

  1. Scar Town
    Scar Town
    Now: $15.29 Was: $17.99
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HONOUR BOOK

  1. Huda Was Here
    Huda Was Here
    Now: $13.49 Was: $15.99
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HONOUR BOOK

  1. Real Pigeons #11: Flap Out
    Real Pigeons #11: Flap Out
    Now: $13.99 Was: $16.99
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SHORTLIST

  1. Being Jimmy Baxter
    Being Jimmy Baxter
    Now: $14.19 Was: $16.99
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SHORTLIST

  1. Scout and the Rescue Dogs
    Scout and the Rescue Dogs
    Now: $14.99 Was: $17.99
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SHORTLIST

  1. The Sideways Orbit of Evie Hart
    The Sideways Orbit of Evie Hart
    Now: $14.99 Was: $17.99
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Early Childhood (ages 0-6)

WINNER

  1. Gymnastica Fantastica!
    Gymnastica Fantastica!
    Now: $20.99 Was: $24.99
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HONOUR BOOK

  1. Grace and Mr Milligan (paperback)
    Grace and Mr Milligan (paperback)
    Now: $14.39 Was: $15.99
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HONOUR BOOK

  1. Bear and Duck are Friends
    Bear and Duck are Friends
    Now: $12.99 Was: $24.99
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SHORTLIST

SHADOW JUDGING WINNER

  1. The Concrete Garden
    The Concrete Garden
    Now: $12.99 Was: $27.99
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SHORTLIST

  1. One Little Duck
    One Little Duck
    Now: $19.49 Was: $22.99
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SHORTLIST

  1. Can You Teach a Fish to Climb a Tree?
    Can You Teach a Fish to Climb a Tree?
    Now: $20.99 Was: $24.99
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Picture Books (ages 0-18)

WINNER

  1. Timeless
    Timeless
    Now: $20.99 Was: $24.99
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HONOUR BOOK

  1. Paper-flower Girl
    Paper-flower Girl
    Now: $22.95 Was: $26.95
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HONOUR BOOK

  1. That Bird Has Arms!
    That Bird Has Arms!
    Now: $20.99 Was: $24.99
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SHORTLIST

SHADOW JUDGING WINNER

  1. Every Night At Midnight
    Every Night At Midnight
    Now: $20.99 Was: $24.99
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SHORTLIST

  1. Bowerbird Blues
    Bowerbird Blues
    Now: $17.99 Was: $19.99
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SHORTLIST

  1. If I Was a Horse
    If I Was a Horse
    Now: $20.99 Was: $24.99
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Eve Pownall Award (ages 0-18)

WINNER

  1. Country Town
    Country Town
    Now: $24.95 Was: $29.95
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HONOUR BOOK

SHADOW JUDGING WINNER

  1. Australia: Country of Colour
    Australia: Country of Colour
    Now: $20.99 Was: $24.99
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HONOUR BOOK

  1. Our Country: Where History Happened
    Our Country: Where History Happened
    Now: $22.99 Was: $26.99
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SHORTLIST

  1. Eww Gross: Foul Facts and Putrid Pictures [Out of stock]
    Eww Gross: Foul Facts and Putrid Pictures [Out of stock]
    Now: $24.99 Was: $29.99
    Out of stock
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SHORTLIST

  1. Tamarra: A Story of Termites on Gurindji Country
    Tamarra: A Story of Termites on Gurindji Country
    Now: $24.99 Was: $29.99
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SHORTLIST

  1. This Book Thinks Ya Deadly!
    This Book Thinks Ya Deadly!
    Now: $29.49 Was: $34.99
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CBCA New Illustrator Award (ages 0-18)

WINNER

  1. Hope is the Thing
    Hope is the Thing
    Now: $20.99 Was: $24.99
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SHORTLIST

  1. Etta and the Shadow Taboo
    Etta and the Shadow Taboo
    Now: $23.49 Was: $27.99
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SHORTLIST

  1. Grace and Mr Milligan (paperback)
    Grace and Mr Milligan (paperback)
    Now: $14.39 Was: $15.99
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SHORTLIST

  1. Phonobet
    Phonobet
    Now: $20.99 Was: $24.99
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SHORTLIST

  1. Raised by Moths
    Raised by Moths
    Now: $24.99 Was: $29.99
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SHORTLIST

  1. When You're a Boy
    When You're a Boy
    Now: $20.99 Was: $24.99
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Find out more about the CBCA Awards at their official website here.