Inside the CBCA 2024 Winners

Inside the CBCA 2024 Winners

As I have done every year for almost thirty years now, this year I’m again actively, and in depth where possible, writing about and promoting the CBCA Shortlist and Winners.

Inside the 2024 CBCA Shortlist

2024 CBCA Winners & Honour Books

CBCA Winner, Honour & Shadow Judging announcement

The winners and honour books are announced on Friday 16^th August and also kick-off Book Week.

The CBCA awards and the gold (and other) stickers on the books are legendary. This award is the longest standing (running since 1946 when a camellia was presented to the winner) and is the most respected and influential children’s literature award in Australia.

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At Paperbark Words blog there’s a mixture of interviews with the creators – who add fascinating, behind-the-scenes insights into their books; guest author posts, book reviews and ideas on how to use some of the books with children for Book Week and beyond.

The authors and illustrators shortlisted in 2024 form a new guard, with many debut book creators and others who’ve published a number of books but may not have been shortlisted or won their category in the past.

The 2024 winners are:

BOOK OF THE YEAR: EARLY CHILDHOOD

Gymnastica Fantastica! by Briony Stewart (Lothian Children’s Books) Author/illustrator interview 

The Concrete Garden by Bob Graham (Walker Books Australia) Shadow judging winner

PICTURE BOOK OF THE YEAR

NOTE: SOME OF THESE BOOKS MAY BE FOR MATURE READERS.

Timeless by Kelly Canby (Fremantle Press) Author/illustrator interview

Every Night at Midnight by Peter Cheong (Affirm Press) Shadow judging winner

BOOK OF THE YEAR:YOUNGER READERS

Scar Town by Tristan Bancks (Puffin AU) Book review and teacher notes by Joy Lawn

Shadow judging winner also

BOOK OF THE YEAR: OLDER READERS

Grace Notes by Karen Comer (Lothian Children’s Books) Author Interview 

Inkflower by Suzy Zail (Walker Books Australia) Shadow judging winner

EVE POWNALL AWARD

NOTE: SOME BOOKS IN THIS CATEGORY ARE FOR MATURE READERS.

Country Town by Isolde Martyn & Robyn Ridgeway
ill. Louise Hogan (Ford Street Publishing) Book review and how to use with children.

Australia: Country of Colour by Jess Racklyeft (Affirm Press) Shadow judging winner

Book of the Year: New Illustrator Award

Hope is the Thing illustrated by Erica Wagner (written by Johanna Bell, A&U Children)

HONOUR BOOKS Link to Honour Books and full Shortlist

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Overview of the Winners, Honours and Shortlist

Verse Novels & Graphic Novels

The relatively newly popular forms of verse novels and graphic novels are now appearing regularly on literary awards lists. It’s great to see a verse novel winning the Older Reader award this year, with Karen Comer’s Grace Notes and a graphic novel, Real Pigeons Flap Out being a Younger Reader Honour Book.

Birds and Ducks

It’s been a big year for birds and, particularly ducks. Many feature across the shortlist.

Birds

• That Bird Has Arms by Ronojoy Ghosh & Niharika Hukku
  text. Kate Temple & Jol Temple
• Bowerbird Blues by Aura Parker
• Real Pigeons Flap Out by Andrew McDonald
  ill. Ben Wood

Ducks

• Bear and Duck are Friends by Sue DeGennaro
• One Little Duck by Katrina Germein, ill. Danny Snell

Australian History & Identity

Australian history and identity is told in innovative ways is the backbone of the Eve Pownall shortlist, including its winner and honour book.

• Country Town by Isolde Martyn & Robyn Ridgeway
  ill. Louise Hogan
• Our Country: Where History Happened by Mark Greenwood
  ill. Frané Lessac

Western Australia Winners

Two winners from WA travelled across Australia to attend the awards in Sydney: Briony Stewart with Gymnastica Fantastica and Kelly Canby with Timeless.

Enjoy celebrating the 2024 CBCA awarded books.

The winners and honour books are announced on Friday 16^th August and also kick-off Book Week.

Comprehensive interview with CBCA judge Alex Wharton at Living Arts Canberra