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The CBCA 2024 Book of the Year Awards, Shortlist
The Book of the Year Awards Shortlist 2024 is a cut down version of the 2024 Notable Australian Children's Books. Submitted by our expert judges, these critiques are a useful guide for collection-builders, and will assist young readers discover good stories to read, a reported reason they give for not reading. So share it, discuss it, and let’s continue to grow our reading culture!
The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) proudly announces the 2024 Book of the Year Shortlist. From 656 entries across six categories, 36 quality Australian children’s books are celebrated. This year's shortlist includes a number of dynamic debut authors (including Brisbane’s Megan Williams whose YA novel Let’s Never Speak of This Again won the 2022 Text Prize), alongside some of the most experienced names in Australian children’s literature such as Bob Graham, Jane Godwin, Margrete Lamond, Tristan Bancks, Terry Denton, Briony Stewart, the team behind the hit series Real Pigeons Andrew McDonald and Ben Woods, and the first picture book illustrated by accomplished creative Erica Wagner.
Congratulations to all CBCA Book of the Year Award Shortlist authors, illustrators and publishers for 2024. Please enjoy our short announcement video.
2024 Sun Project: Shadow Judging registration is now open
Young voices are welcome here
Our Sun Project: Shadow Judging is an exciting part of annual calendar. We invite young voices from groups across Australia to join the conversation about our annual Children's Book of the Year Shortlist and choose their own winner.
Creating a group of ‘shadowers' is a powerful way to connect young readers with the our Shortlisted books in a safe space where their opinions and responses can be heard.
Want to learn more about this growing program? Visit the Sun Project: Shadow Judging website at shadowjudging.cbca.org.au.
The 2024 program officially launches Wednesday, 20 March.
The Notable Australian Children's Books 2024 is the perfect guide to share with young people. Compiled from critques submitted by our expert judges, this document can aid their discovery of good stories to read, a reported reason they give for not reading. So share it, discuss it, and let’s continue to grow our reading culture!
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.