Book News: The CBCA 2021 Book of the Year Awards Announced!

Celebrating their 75th anniversary this year, the CBCA Book of the Year Awards reflect the strength and diversity of children’s literature in Australia.

Established in 1945, the Children’s Book Council of Australia was founded at a time when Australian children’s books were few, and Australian authors and illustrators were virtually unknown.  In 1946 the CBCA established annual book awards to promote books of high literary and artistic quality. The awards fostered growth in publishing Australian stories, about Australian lives, told with Australian voices.

The CBCA awards are presented to books of literary merit, for outstanding contribution to Australian children’s literature. It is not a popularity contest and there is no public voting.

“You might say this 75th birthday is a diamond jubilee of sorts, and I am reminded of the brilliance and lustre of a diamond when I think how a carefully constructed story can light up the mind of a child.”  — CBCA Chair Wendy Rapee

In the CBCA Book of the Year awards, there are six categories covering different types of books. Here are the winners for 2021:

Book of the Year: Older Readers

The End of the World is Bigger than Love by Davina Bell (Text Publishing)

Book of the Year: Younger Readers

Aster’s Good, Right Things by Kate Gordon (Riveted Press)

Book of the Year: Early Childhood

No! Never! by Libby Hathorn and Lisa Hathorn-Jarman, illustrated by Mel Pearce (Hachette Australia)

Picture Book of the Year

How to Make a Bird by Matt Ottley and Meg McKinlay (Walker Books Australia)

Eve Pownall Award

Dry to Dry: The Seasons of Kakadu by Pamela Freeman (Walker Books Australia)

CBCA Award for New Illustrator

This Small Blue Dot by Zeno Sworder (Thames & Hudson Australia)

Congratulations to all the winners! As Bruce Pascoe said, these awards are the children’s equivalent of the Miles Franklin Award.

See the full printable list, including honours books here…

Book Week

Each year across Australia, the CBCA brings children and books together to celebrate CBCA Book Week. Running from 21-27 August 2021, this is the perfect opportunity for little readers to set their minds free and roam among the wild world of books while celebrating all the best things about books and reading.

The details:

Theme: Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds

Where: Australia-wide

When: 21-27 August

Find out more about book week here…