The Children’s Book Council of Australia has announced the 2024 Book of the Year Shortlist. From 656 entries across six categories, 36 quality Australian children’s books are celebrated.
Read our interviews with many of the authors and book reviews of the shortlisted titles. Read on to find out more.
For the full list of CBCA 2024 Book of the Year Shortlist are as follows:
Book of the Year: Older Readers
Age guide 13-18 years.
A Hunger of Thorns by Lili Wilkinson – Read a book review
Grace Notes by Karen Comer – Read an interview with the author and an extract from the book
Inkflower by Suzy Zail – Read a book review and an interview with the author
Let’s Never Speak of This Again by Megan Williams – Read an interview with the author
The Quiet and the Loud by Helena Fox – Read a book review
Two Can Play That Game by leanne Yong – Read a book review
Book of the Year: Younger Readers
Age guide 7-12 years
Being Jimmy Baxter by Fiona Lloyd – Read an interview with the author
Huda Was Here by H Hayek – Find out more
Real Pigeons Flap Out by Andrew McDonald & Ben Wood – Find out more
Scar Town by Tristan Banks – Read an interview with the author
Scout and the Rescue Dogs by Dianne Wolfer & Tony Flowers – Find out more
The Sideways Orbit of Evie Hart by Samera Kamaleddine – Find out more
Book of the Year: Early Childhood
Age guide 0-6
Bear and Duck are Friends by Sue deGennaro – Find out more
Can You Teach a Fish to Climb a Tree? by Jane Godwin & Terry Denton – Find out more
Grace and Mr Milligan by Caz Goodwin & Pip Kruger – Find out more
Gymnastica Fantastica! by Briony Stewart – Find out more
One Little Duck by Katrina Germein & Danny Snell – Read a book review
The Concrete Garden by Bob Graham – Read a book review
Picture Book of the Year
Age guide 0-18
Bowerbird Blues by Aura Parker – Read a book review
Every Night at Midnight by Peter Cheong – Find out more
If I Was a Horse by Sophie Blackall – Read a book review
Paper-flower Girl by Mateja Jager & Margrete Lamond – Find out more
That Bird Has Arms by Ronojoy Ghosh & Niharika Hukku
Timeless by Kelly Canby – Find out more
Eve Pownall Award
Entries in this category should be books which have the prime intention of documenting factual material with consideration given to imaginative presentation, interpretation and variation of style.
Age guide 0-18 years.
Australia: Country of Colour by Jess Racklyeft – Read a book review
Country Town by Isolde Martyn, Robyn Ridgeway & Louise Hogan – Find out more
Eww Gross: Foul Facts and Putrid Pictures by Dan Marshall – Find out more
Our Country: Where History Happened by Mark Greenwood & Frané Lessac – Find out more
Tamarra by Violet Wadrill, Topsy Dodd Ngarnjal, Leah Leaman, Cecelia Edwards, Cassandra Algy, Felicity Meakins, Briony Barr & Gregory Crocett – Find out more
This Book Thinks Ya Deadly! by Corey Tutt & Molly Hunt – Find out more
CBCA Award for New Illustrator
This Award aims to recognise and encourage new talent in the field of Australian children’s book illustration. Age guide 0-18 years.
Etta and the Shadow Taboo, illustrated by Jeremy Worrall (author Jared Field) – Find out more
Grace and Mr Milligan, Illustrated by Pip Kruger (author Caz Goodwin) – Find out more
Hope is the Thing, illustrated by Erica Wagner (author Johanna Bell) – Find out more
Phonobet, illustrated by Kim Drake (author Kathy Weeden) – Read an interview with the author
Raised by Moths, illustrated by Michelle Conn (author Charlie Archbold) – Find out more
When You’re a Boy written and illustrated by Blake Nuto – Read a book review
