Inside the CBCA Shortlist
Traditionally held in August, the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book Week will be held in October 17-23 in 2020.
Congratulations to the winners – now announced – and to all the shortlisted authors and illustrators.
The CBCA awards are prestigious and influential and now is a great time to have a closer look at the Australian books for young people shortlisted in 2020. They are deemed to be of high quality and most also have strong appeal for children and teens.
I have been talking to professional groups of educators and writing detailed notes on the CBCA shortlisted books for twenty years and so have an ongoing in-depth knowledge of the awarded books.
I have also judged the four fiction categories of the CBCA Short List in 2009/10 (representing Queensland) and Book of the Year: Older Reader category in 2018 (representing NSW) and so know how rigorous and thoughtful the judging process is.
Inside the Shortlist, my book of teacher notes about the shortlist, was published by the wonderful Qld branch of the CBCA for a number of years.
Inside the Shortlist has since been published in different forms, including The Literature Base (Magpies) and last year on this blog, PaperbarkWords.
I have already interviewed a number of the 2020 shortlisted authors, or written about their books, on the blog and elsewhere and links to some of these conversations and reviews are below.
Between now and Book Week in October I will be interviewing more of the authors and illustrators or reviewing their books.
Enjoy these wonderful books and celebrate their creators.
My reviews and interviews on the 2020 shortlisted books
Book of the Year: Older Readers
Ghost Bird by Lisa Fuller (and reviewed for The Weekend Australian)
This is How We Change the Ending by Vikki Wakefield (and reviewed for The Weekend Australian)
The Boy Who Steals House by C.G. Drews
When the Ground is Hard by Malla Nunn
Book of the Year: Younger Readers
The Little Wave by Pip Harry
The Dog Runner by Bren MacDibble (reviewed for The Weekend Australian)
Catch a Falling Star by Meg McKinlay (reviewed for The Weekend Australian)
The Secrets of Magnolia Moon by Edwina Wyatt, illustrated by Katherine Quinn
The Thing About Oliver by Deborah Kelly
Picture Book of the Year
Three by Stephen Michael King
Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall
Nop by Caroline Magerl
Book of the Year: Early Childhood
When Billy Was a Dog by Kirsty Murray & Karen Blair
My Friend Fred by Frances Watts & A. Yi
Eve Pownall Award
Searching for Cicadas by Lesley Gibbes & Judy Watson
The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Ugly Animals by Sami Bayly
Wilam: A Birrarung Story by Aunty Joy Murphy & Andrew Kelly, illustrated by Lisa Kennedy (cover book review for Magpies magazine)
CBCA Award for New Illustrator
Paperboy illustrated by Bethany Macdonald (written by Danny Parker)
Little Bird’s Day illustrated by Johnny Warrkatja Malibirr (written by Sally Morgan) I wrote the resource notes for the National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature.
Baby Business by Jasmine Seymour (I wrote the resource notes for the National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature)
Cooee Mittigar illustrated by Leanne Mulgo Watson (written by Jasmine Seymour). I wrote the resource notes for the National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature.
Complete List of CBCA Shortlisted Titles
Other Australian bloggers with reviews of shortlisted books (scroll their blogs to find these)
Teacher Resources
Ipswich District Teacher-Librarian Network Book Week publication $35
paperbarkwords.blog 
I have reviews of several CBCA short listed titles (Catch a falling star; The dog Runner; The little wave and Magnolia Moon) along with posts about the Notables for 2020 and ideas for exploring the slogan on my blog http://momotimetoread.blogspot.com/
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Thank you Margot. I certainly recommend that people read and follow your blog. It is both beautiful and informative. Joy
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Reblogged this on and commented:
Congratulations to the winners and all creators
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