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The 2023 CBCA Book of the Year Award Shortlist is released.
The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) announced both the 2023 CBCA Book of the Year Awards Shortlist and is brimming with stellar examples of Australian excellence in the literary craft.
CBCA National Chair Wendy Rapee said, “This year we celebrate stories for our young people created by a diverse range of new voices and artists, who all display confidence with fresh approaches to storytelling”.
The list launch featured the captivating artwork from Matt Ottley depicting his interpretation of the 2023 CBCA Children's Book Week® "Read, Grow, Inspire". You can watch the video celebrating the category shortlisted titles here or across on the National CBCA YouTube Channel.
Shadow Judging 2023
Can you hear that…? It’s the sound of young voices eager to join the discussion about the future of Australian children’s literature.
If you're a member of a CBCA Branch, were planning to register a group to particpate and haven't found time todo so yet?
Don't panic!
Bypass the Shadow Judging website and head straight to the Registration form in our online store.
2023 Nan Chauncy Award Nominations are open
Named after the noted Tasmanian author of children’s books, the Nan Chauncy Award has been created to honour individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the field of Australian children’s literature. The spirit of the Award is to recognize advocacy, mentoring and volunteer work beyond paid roles and professional responsibilities. The Award is presented biennially and is an opportunity to recognize an individual or partnership whose dedicated work in advocacy and promotion of literature and literacy might otherwise not be publicly celebrated.
It is time to think about nominating a recipient for the CBCA 2023 Nan Chauncy Award. This is a wonderful opportunity to honour and celebrate the work of a person who has made a significant contribution to the field of Australian Children’s Literature.
Nominations close Friday, 28 April 2023.
Visit the Nan Chauncy Award page to learn more about this CBCA biennial award.
2024 Book of the Year Awards entries are now open!
We're excited to launch our 2024 Book of the Year entries on all new software. Simply create a new account using any of the available easy access methods, step the through the itemised tabs, and place your entry!
Improved features include:
- the ability to SAVE an entry part way through, and return to complete later
- Quick duplication of an entry for simply and speedy entry into multiple categories
- Simple duplication and edit of an entry to speed up bulk entries in single or multpiple categories
- acccess to entry instructions, guidelines, and contest criteria
- customer portal to keep you updated on the status of your entry
Entries are open now. Take advanatge of our super early registration special of $99 deal, running from 1 April 2023 until 30 September 2023.
Entries from 1 October through 30 November $199 per book, per category.
No late submissions accepted.
2023 Children's Book Week® "Read, Grow, Inspire" Catalogue
There's something for everyone and every budget in our 2023 Children's Book Week® catalogue. Along with returning favourites you'll find our must-buy ‘Book Week in a Tube’ and exquisite new display products in our Artisan Range. We also bring you an exciting new partnership with SPENCIL with a limited range of gorgeous stationery guaranteed to be the envy of all colleagues!
Create your wish list and be ready for the eStore opening mid February 2023. Download the catalogue or simply SHOP NOW!
2023 CBCA Digital Yearly Planner
The hugely successful 2022 Yearly Planner is back in 2023 packed full with even more features than its predecessor. Featuring the whimsical artwork of Matt Ottley, the talent behind the 2023 Children's Book Week® theme "Read, Grow, Inspire", this planner can be adapted, printed, or used as an interactive file on your school, home, or portable device.
The planner includes:
- double–page spread weekly planner
- recording sheets for student information, professional records, websites and important dates
- printable CBCA Shortlist posters by Book of the Year category (available 24 hours after the official announcement Tuesday, 28 March 2023)
- supplementary poetry resources (available early in January 2023).
Your planner features:
- CBCA Book of the Year past winners by category
- recommeded First Nation Publications and resources
- resources to help encourage reluctant readers
- CBCA recommended great reads for older readers.
This planner has been made by CBCA book lovers and teachers, confident that no other yearly planner offers what this planner does!
Don't wish you had it, HAVE IT! Jump across to the eStore now and secure your copy.
2023 Shadow Judging Program information flyer
Registrations for the 2023 Sun Project: Shadow Judging program open on Wednesday, 1 March 2023.
Our national Shadow Judging project is back, and rolling out across Australia from 29 March, directly after the 2023 CBCA Book of the Year Shortlist announcement. If you would le to be a part of the program, or simply want to find out more, download the flier for all the information about this year's program. You can join the mail out list across at shadowjudging.cbca.org.au.
About the Children's Book Council of Australia
Established in 1945, the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) is a not-for-profit, volunteer run organisation which aims to engage the community with literature for young Australians.
Our purpose
To enrich young lives through Australian stories.
Our vision
A thriving creative world embracing the transformational power of stories across generations.
Our mission
To connect, communicate, celebrate and advocate for the value of stories.
Book of the Year
In 1946 the CBCA established annual book awards to promote children's books of high literary and artistic quality. These awards are now the most influential and highly respected in Australia.
Children's Book Week®
Each year, schools and public libraries across Australia spend a week celebrating books, and Australian authors and illustrators. Teachers and librarians conduct activities relating to a theme to highlight the importance of reading.
Merchandise
The CBCA produces a range of promotional items, including stickers for publishers to place on winning and honour books, and support materials for teachers, teacher librarians and public librarians. The range is always changing and developing.
CBCA Sun Project: Shadow Judging
Launching nationwide in 2022, this innovative program brings Australia's young readers directly into the CBCA Book of the Year Awards conversation. Rolled out through schools, libraries and book clubs, the professionally judged Shortlist is "shadowed" with the same criteria to find the Book of the Year voiced by the target readers themselves.
Donate to our Gift Fund
Throughout the year, we work in partnership with authors, illustrators, publishers and booksellers to bring literature into the hearts and minds of children. Your donation will help us continue this important work.
Reading Time
The CBCA has a strong commitment and a long history of reviewing Australian children's books. For many of the seventy years CBCA has been in existence reviews were presented in our print journal Reading Time.