2024 Younger Readers
Title: Being Jimmy Baxter
Author: Fiona Lloyd
Publisher: Penguin Random House | Colouring Activity
Reviews: StoryLinks |
Title: Huda was Here
Author: H. Hayek
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Reviews: StoryLinks | Reading Time |
Title: Real Pigeons Flap Out
Author: Andrew McDonald
Illustrator: Ben Wood
Publisher: Hardie Grant
Resources: The Super Coo Club has a series of videos featuring Andrew and Ben. | Real Pigeons Activities | Teachers Resources | Costumes |
Title: Scar Town (Play a sample)
Author: Tristan Bancks
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Resources: Teachers Notes Penguin |
Reviews: StoryLinks |
Title: Scout and the Rescue Dogs
Author: Dianne Wolfer
Illustrator: Tony Flowers
Publisher: Walker Books
Title: The Sideways Orbit of Evie Hart
Author: Samera Kamaleddine
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
2023 Eve Pownall Award
Shortlisted Books – Eve Pownall Award
Cover links to CBCA WebsiteA Is for Australian Reefs
Author-Illustrator: Frané Lessac
Publisher: Walker Books Australia
Teaching Notes: Scholastic |
Reviews and Interviews: Reading Time | Paperbark Words |
Cover links to CBCA Website
Amazing Animal Journeys
Author-Illustrator: Jennifer Cossins
Publisher: Hachette Australia
Teaching Notes: Hachette Teaching Notes |
Reviews and Interviews: Reading Time |
Cover links to CBCA Website
Come Together: Things Every Aussie Kid Should Know about the First Peoples
Author: Isaiah Firebrace
Illustrator: Jaelyn Biumaiwai
Publisher: Hardie Grant Explore
Teaching Notes: Hardie Grant Teachers Notes |
Reviews and Interviews: ReadPlus |
Videos:
Cover links to CBCA Website
DEEP: Delve into Hidden Worlds
Author – Illustrator: Jess McGeachin
Publisher: Welbeck Publishing
Teaching Notes:
Reviews and Interviews:
Videos: Summer Reading Challenge 1:15mins |
Cover links to CBCA Website
Opal and Dart
Author: Vianne Brain
Illustrator: Clare Bradley
Publisher: Forty South Publishing
Teaching Notes:
Reviews and Interviews:
Videos:
Cover links to CBCA Website
Wild Australian Life
Author: Leonard Cronin
Illustrator: Chris Nixon
Publisher: Allen & Unwin (including author info)
Teaching Notes: Allen & Unwin Teaching Resource |
Reviews and Interviews: Kids Book Review | StoryLinks |
Videos:
2023 New Illustrator
Shortlisted Books – New Illustrator
Cover links to CBCA Website
Australia: From Dawn to Dusk
Illustrator: Brentos
Publisher: Affirm Press
Teaching Notes: Affirm Press Resource |
Reviews and Interviews:
Videos:
Cover links to CBCA Website
The Best Hiding Place
Illustrator: Sylvia Morris
Author: Jane Godwin
Publisher: Affirm Press
Teaching Notes: Lamont Books |
Reviews and Interviews:
Videos:
Cover links to CBCA Website
Naturopolis
Illustrator: Ingrid Bartkowiak
Author: Deborah Frenkel
Publisher: Storytorch Press
Teaching Notes:
Reviews and Interviews: Reading Time |
Videos:
Cover links to CBCA Website
There’s No Such Book
Illustrator: Jake A. Minton
Author: Jessica Dettmann
Publisher: Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing
Teaching Notes: There’s No Such Book – Teaching notes IDTLNetwork PDF
Reviews and Interviews:
Videos: Jessica reads There’s No Such Book 5 mins |
Cover links to CBCA Website
Tiny Wonders
Illustrator and Author: Sally Soweol Han
Publisher: University of Queensland Press
Teaching Notes: UQP Teachers Notes |
Reviews and Interviews: Reading Time | Sally Soweol Han interview UQP |
Videos:
Cover links to CBCA Website
We Are Australians
Illustrator: Jandamarra Cadd
Authors: Duncan Smith, Nicole Godwin
Publisher: Wild Dog Books
Teaching Notes: Wild Dog Teaching Notes PDF |
Reviews and Interviews: Reading Time |
Videos: Book Trailer 1:43 mins| NITV program 7 mins |
2023 Picture Books
Shortlisted Books – Picture Books
Cover links to CBCA Website
Dirt by Sea
Illustrator: Tom Jellett
Author: Michael Wagner
Publisher: Penguin Random House Australia
Teaching Notes:
Reviews and Interviews: Kids Book Review | StoryLinks |
Videos: Michael Wagner YouTube Channel |
Cover links to CBCA Website
Farmhouse
Author and Illustrator: Sophie Blackall
Publisher: Hachette Australia
Teaching Notes: Teachers’ Resources Hachette PDF|
Reviews and Interviews: Reading Time |
Videos: Making Farmhouse |
Cover links to CBCA Website
Frank’s Red Hat
Author and Illustrator: Sean E Avery
Publisher: Walker Books Australia
Teaching Notes: Lamont |
Reviews and Interviews: Reading Time | StoryLinks |
Videos/Podcasts: Words and Nerds podcast 33 mins| Reading with a Chance of Tacos podcast – How to create art and make a living (first 28 mins)
Cover links to CBCA Website
My Strange Shrinking Parents
Author and Illustrator: Zeno Sworder
Publisher: Thames & Hudson Australia
Teaching Notes: Teachers Notes (By Amanda Robinson) PDF|
Reviews and Interviews: Kirkus Reviews |
NOTE: We feel this best suits upper primary and secondary students.
Cover links to CBCA Website
Our Dreaming
Illustrator: Dub Leffler
Author: Kirli Saunders
Publisher: Scholastic Australia
Teaching Notes: Scholastic Teaching Notes |
Reviews and Interviews: Reading Time | Paperbark Words | Kids Book Review |
Videos:
Cover links to CBCA Website
Paradise Sands: A Story of Enchantment
Author and Illustrator: Levi Pinfold
Publisher: Walker Books Australia
Teaching Notes: Scholastic |
Reviews and Interviews: Reading Time | Kirkus Reviews |
NOTE: We feel this best suits upper primary and secondary students.
2023 Older Reader
Older Readers Shortlist 2023
Cover links to CBCA Website
Ask No Questions
Author: Eva Collins
Publisher: Puncher & Wattmann
Teaching Notes: Teaching notes Hachette |
Reviews and Interviews: Launch report | Compulsive Readers Review |
Videos:
Cover links to CBCA Website
Completely Normal (and Other Lies)
Author: Biffy James
Publisher: Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing
Teaching Notes: Scholastic |
Reviews and Interviews: Reading Time | Sydney Morning Herald article |
Videos: LoveOzYA interview 15 mins |
Cover links to CBCA Website
The Greatest Thing
Author: Sarah Winifred Searle
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Teaching Notes: Allen & Unwin download pdf |
Reviews and Interviews: Kirkus Reviews | Kids Book Reviews | Women Write about Comics website | Books and Publishing |
Videos: Teen Pride Books talk 7 mins |
Cover links to CBCA Website
Neverlanders
Author: Tom Taylor
Illustrator: Jon Sommariva
Publisher: Penguin Random House Australia
Teaching Notes: Penguin Teachers Notes |
Reviews and Interviews: Reading Time | Penguin Interview |
Videos: Penguin interview with the creators 15mins 16 secs |
NOTE: This book could be used from Year 6+
Cover links to CBCA Website
The Other Side of Tomorrow
Author: Hayley Lawrence
Publisher: Scholastic Australia
Teaching Notes:
Reviews and Interviews: Lamont Books Review |
Videos:
Cover links to CBCA Website
What We All Saw
Author: Mike Lucas
Publisher: Penguin Random House Australia
Teaching Notes: Book Club questions from Penguin |
Reviews and Interviews: Books + Publishing |
Videos:
2023 Younger Readers
Shortlisted Books – Younger Readers
Cover links to CBCA Website
August & Jones
Author: Pip Harry
Publisher: Hachette Australia
Teaching Notes: Teaching notes Hachette |
Reviews and Interviews: Paperbark Words Guest author post | Reading Time | ABC Interview about inspiration behind the book |
Videos: Queensland Poetry Festival Story/Verse 1 hour with Poets: Zana Fraillon, Rebecca Jessen, Kirli Saunders, Pip Harry
Cover links to CBCA Website
Evie and Rhino
Author: Neridah McMullin
Illustrator: Astred Hicks
Publisher: Walker Books Australia
Teaching Notes:
Reviews and Interviews: Reading Time | Paperbark Words Author interview
Videos:
Cover links to CBCA Website
The Raven’s Song
Authors: Zana Fraillon & Bren MacDibble
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Teaching Notes: Allen & Unwin Teachers Notes dowload PDF |
Reviews and Interviews: Reading Time | StoryLinks |
Videos: Zana Fraillon & Bren McDibble talk about the book 4 mins 12 secs |
Cover links to CBCA Website
Runt
Author: Craig Silvey
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Teaching Notes: Allen & Unwin Teaching Resource PDF |
Reviews and Interviews: StoryLinks | Paperbark Words Author interview
Videos: Craig Silvey talking about Runt 6 mins| Book Trailer 15 secs|
Cover links to CBCA Website
The Way of Dog
Author: Zana Fraillon
Illustrator: Sean Buckingham
Publisher: University of Queensland Press
Teaching Notes: UQP Teaching Notes PDF | StoryLinks | Scholastic Teaching Notes |
Reviews and Interviews: Books & Publishing |
Videos: Queensland Poetry Festival Story/Verse 1 hour with Poets: Zana Fraillon, Rebecca Jessen, Kirli Saunders, Pip Harry
Cover links to CBCA Website
Xavier in the Meantime
Author: Kate Gordon
Publisher: Riveted Press
Teaching Notes: Teaching Notes from Riveted Press |
Reviews and Interviews: Reading Time |
Videos: Little Bookish Teacher Review 6 mins |
2023 Early Childhood
Shortlisted Books – Early Childhood
Cover links to CBCA Website
Bev and Kev
Author: Katrina Germein
Illustrator: Mandy Foot
Publisher: Little Book Press
Teaching Notes:
Reviews and Interviews:
Videos: Sneak Peek with Mandy Foot (14 secs)
Activities: Bev and Kev Activity from Mandy Foot (PDF)
Cover links to CBCA Website
Jigsaw: A Puzzle in the Post
Author: Bob Graham
Publisher: Walker Books Australia
Teaching Notes: Scholastic Teaching Notes (PDF) | Walker Books Teaching Notes (PDF) | Walker Books Read to Us kit contains more activities (PDF) | Teaching Notes – Jigsaw a Puzzle in the Post IDTLNet (PDF)
Reviews and Interviews: Reading Time | Kirkus Reviews |
Cover links to CBCA Website
Lionel and Me
Author: Corinne Fenton
Illustrator: Tracie Grimwood
Publisher: New Frontier Publishing
Teaching Notes: New Frontier Teaching Notes |
Reviews and Interviews: Kids’ Book Review |
Videos: Book Trailer (47secs) |
Cover links to CBCA Website
Market Day
Atuhor: Carrie Gallasch
Illustrator: Hannah Sommerville
Publisher: Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing
Teaching Notes: Publisher notes – click here to download |
Reviews and Interviews:
Videos: Storybox Library promo (1:15mins) |
Worksheets: Spot and Find pdf (IDTLNet)
Cover links to CBCA Website
Snap!
Author: Anna Walker
Publisher: Scribble Kids’ Books
Teaching Notes: Download Teaching Notes from Scribble Books |
Reviews and Interviews: Paperbark Words interview|
Videos: Storybox Library promo (1:21 mins)|
Cover links to CBCA Website
Where the Lyrebird Lives
Author: Vikki Conley
Illustrator: Max Hamilton
Publisher: Windy Hollow Books
Teaching Notes: Scholastic Teacher Notes PDF | Activities by Max Hamilton |
Reviews and Interviews: Reading Time |
Videos:
2022 Older Readers
Shortlisted Older Reader
Girls in Boy’s Cars (Honour Book)
Author: Felicity Castagna
Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Teaching Notes: Sample Pages |
Reviews and Interviews: Paperbark Words | Kids Book Review | LoveOzYA Interview |
Videos: Felcity Castagna reads from the book 3:35 mins| Sun Project video 4:03 mins
How to Repaint a Life (Honour Book)
Author: Steven Herrick
Publisher: University of Queensland Press
Teaching Notes: Teachers’ Notes UQP | Books & Publishing | LoveOzYA interview |
Reviews and Interviews: Reading Time |
Videos: Sun Project video 2:46 mins|
Tiger Daughter (Winner)
Author: Rebecca Lim
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Teaching Notes: Teachers’ Tips Allen & Unwin | Chapter Sampler
Reviews and Interviews: Reading Time | Kids Book Review | Maddison’s Library | Books and Publishing interview
Videos: Sun Project video 5:03 mins |
The Boy from the Mish
Author: Gary Lonesborough
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Teaching Notes: Excerpts | Great resources at NCACL including videos, reviews and interviews |
Reviews and Interviews: StoryLinks/IBBY | Reading Time |
Videos: Sun Project video 6:40 mins |
Terciel and Elinor
Author: Garth Nix
Publisher:
Teaching Notes: Teachers’ Tips Allen & Unwin | Chapter Sampler |
Reviews and Interviews: ReadPlus | HK Loves Books | LocusMag
Videos: Sun Project video 5:39 mins|
Sugar Town Queens
Author: Malla Nunn
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Teaching Notes: Teacher’s Tips Allen & Unwin |Sample Pages
Reviews and Interviews: Kirkus Reviews | LoveOzYA Q&A | Books & Publishing Review | Books & Publishing Interview | StoryLinks
Videos: Malla Nunn 1:40mins | Sun Project video 12:50 mins
2022 Eve Pownall Award
Shortlisted Books – Eve Pownall Award
Book of Curious Birds
Author: Jennifer Cossins
Publisher: Hachette Australia
Reviews and Interviews: Reading Time |StoryLinks | Kids Book Reviews | Paperbark Words
Teaching Notes: Learn From Play resources
Learn from Play Activities – some free
Answers to Word Search in our Book Week publication 2022
The First Scientists: Deadly Inventions and Innovations from Australia’s First Peoples
Author: Corey Tutt | Deadly Science
Illustrator: Blak Douglas
Publisher: Hardie Grant Publishing
Teaching Notes: Teacher’s Notes Hardie Grant Explore | Extract from the book
Reviews and Interviews: Reading Time | Paperbark Words | Indigenous news | Speaking Out ABC radio 20mins
Videos: Corey Tutt Studio 10 6:07 mins | The First Scientists Book Launch at Questacon 40:50 mins| Booktopia TV live 30:29 mins
Heroes, Rebels and Innovators (Honour Book)
Author: Karen Wyld
Illustrator: Jaelyn Biumaiwai
Publisher: Hachette Australia
Teaching Notes: Teachers Resources Hachette
Reviews and Interviews: Reading Time | ABC News | Paperbark Words
Videos: Australia Reads video 3:40
Learn from Play Acitivities – some free
The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature (Honour Book)
Author: Sami Bayly
Publisher: Hachette Australia
Teaching Notes: Teachers Resources Hachette
Reviews and Interviews: Reading Time | StoryLinks | Paperbark Words
Videos: ABC News 5:17 mins | Launch video with many well-known guests 15:08 mins | Sami Bayly – How to paint 1:14 mins
Additional activity page IDTLNet PDF Very Peculiar
Still Alive, Notes from Australia’s Immigration Detention System (Winner)
Author: Safdar Ahmed with notes on the bookincluding how he created the images.
Publisher: Twelve Panels Press
Teaching Notes: Notes for Teachers Twelve Panels Press
Reviews and Interviews: Readings | WSUP News | ABC News
Videos: SAFDAR AHMED & Refugee Art Project 4:18 mins |
Please note: Suitable for high school readers only.
Walking in Gagudju Country: Exploring the Monsoon Forest
Author: Diane Lucas & Ben Tyler
Illustrator: Emma Long
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Teaching Notes: Teachers’ Notes Allen & Unwin | Learn From Play resources
Reviews and Interviews: StoryLinks | Paperbark Words interview with Emma Long | Blue Wolf Reviews
Videos: Diane Lucas and Ben Tyler discuss Walking in Gagudju Country 3:41 mins| Ben Tyler Story-Time 6:02 mins (including some animated images from the book)
Audio: Walking in Gagudju Country Free Audio Reading by the authors 12:49 mins
Learn from Play Activities – some free
Additional activity page from IDTLNet PDF Indigenous words and weather
2022 New Illustrator
Shortlisted Books – New Illustrator
A Trip to the Hospital
Author and Illustrator: Freda Chiu
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Teaching Notes: Teachers’ Tips Allen & Unwin
Reviews and Interviews: Reading Time | Books + Publishing | Videos: Freda Chiu working on the illustration 21 secs Mini receptionist 19 secs |
Learn from Play Activities – some free
Everyday Wonders
Author and Illustrator: Natala Graetz
Publisher: Everyday Wonders
Teaching Notes: The publisher has also produced memory cards to accompany the book as well as Teacher Notes
Additional resources to accompany a page in our Book Week publication.
Great White Shark
Author: Claire Saxby
Illustrator: Cindy Lane (This Facebook page has a number of demonstrations.)
Publisher: Walker Books Australia
Teaching Notes: Classroom Ideas Walker Books
Reviews and Interviews: Reading Time | Kids Book Review Cindy Lane | Kids Book Review Claire Saxby
Videos: Book Illustration 1:44 mins
Learn from Play Activities – some free
Walking in Gagudju Country: Exploring the Monsoon Forest
Author: Diane Lucas & Ben Tyler
Illustrator: Emma Long
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Teaching Notes: Teachers’ Notes Allen & Unwin |
Reviews and Interviews: StoryLinks | Paperbark Words interview with Emma Long | Blue Wolf Reviews
Videos: Diane Lucas and Ben Tyler discuss Walking in Gagudju Country 3:41 mins| Ben Tyler Story-Time 6:02 mins (including some animated images from the book)
Audio: Walking in Gagudju Country Free Audio Reading by the authors 12:49 mins
Learn from Play Activities – some free
For Love
Author and Illustrator: Cristina Neri
Publisher: Lake Press
Teaching Notes: Notes created by Cristina Neri and published with permission
Reviews and Interviews:
Videos: Book trailer 1:57 mins | A reading of the book by Cristina Neri
Learn from Play Activities – some free
The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name (Winner)
Author: Sandhya Parappukkaran
Illustrator: Michelle Pereira
Publisher: Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing
Teaching Notes: Teacher’s Notes Hardie Grant |
Reviews and Interviews: StoryLinks | Kids Book Review
Learn from Play Activities – some free
Additional Information
Notes from new illustrators on how they created their illustrations. (PDF)