The CBCA Children’s Books of the Year 2015

The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) has announced the winning and honour books in the 2015 Book of the Year Awards.

The books were chosen from a pool of over 400 entries. Margot Hillel, CBCA National Chair, observed that “First-time authors and illustrators continue to be represented, and combined with the depth of experienced writers this list bodes well for the future of children’s literature in Australia.”

Click on the titles or cover images below to find out more about each book. To view information from the CBCA about the judging process, visit their Reading Time site here.

OLDER READERS CATEGORY

Winner (Book of the Year): The Protected by Claire Zorn

Honour Books: Nona & Me by Clare Atkins; The Minnow by Diana Sweeney

YOUNGER READERS CATEGORY

Winner (Book of the Year): The Cleo Stories: The Necklace and The Present by Libby Gleeson, illustrated by Freya Blackwood

Honour Books: Two Wolves by Tristan Bancks; Withering-by-Sea: a Stella Montgomery Intrigue by Judith Rossell

EARLY CHILDHOOD CATEGORY

Winner (Book of the Year): Go to Sleep, Jessie! by Libby Gleeson, illustrated by Freya Blackwood

Honour Books: Scary Night by Lesley Gibbes, illustrated by Stephen Michael King; Noni the Pony Goes to the Beach by Alison Lester

PICTURE BOOK CATEGORY

Winner (Book of the Year): My Two Blankets by Freya Blackwood, text by Irena Kobald

Honour Books: One Minute’s Silence by Michael Camilleri, text by David Metzenthen; The Stone Lion by Ritva Voutila, text by Margaret Wild

EVE POWNALL AWARD FOR INFORMATION BOOKS

Winner (Book of the Year): A-Z of Convicts in Van Diemen’s Land by Simon Barnard

Honour Books: Tea and Sugar Christmas by Jane Jolly, illustrated by Robert Ingpen; Audacity: Stories of Heroic Australians in Wartime by Carlie Walker

Which books on this list have you read with your kids? Which do you plan to buy or borrow? Please tell us in comments below. To keep in touch with stories from Better Reading Kids, subscribe to our emails here.