INSIDE THE CBCA 2026 WINNERS

The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Winning and Honour Books for 2026 have been announced. Congratulations to everyone involved.

Follow the links to those books I have already reviewed, or interviewed the author or illustrator, at PaperbarkWords blog. 

Book of the Year: OLDER READERS

WINNER

Darkest Night, Brightest Star, Barry Jonsberg (Allen & Unwin) Author interview

Honour

Golden, Jade Timms (Text Publishing) 

Unhallowed Halls, Lili Wilkinson (Allen & Unwin) 

Shadow Judging

This Stays Between Us, Margot McGovern (Penguin Random House Australia) 

Book of the Year: YOUNGER READERS

WINNER

Inked, Karen Wasson, illustrated by Jake A Minton (Figment Books) Interview with author and illustrator

Honour

Little Bones, Sandy Bigna, illustrated by Tamlyn Teow (University of Queensland Press) Interview with Sandy Bigna

Run, Sarah Armstrong (Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing) 

Shadow Judging

Run, Sarah Armstrong (Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing) 

Book of the Year: Early Childhood

WINNER

The Emperor’s Egg, Rae Tan (Lothian Children’s Books) Review and how to use with children

Honour

Derek, Anne Donaldson, illustrated by Matt Shanks (Little Hare) Author & illustrator interview

The Thing About Christmas, Jo Dabrowski, illustrated by Briony Stewart (Little Book Press) Author interview

Shadow Judging

Derek, Anne Donaldson, illustrated by Matt Shanks (Little Hare) Author & illustrator interview

Picture Book of the Year

WINNER

Once I was a Giant, Zeno Sworder (Thames and Hudson Australia) Author/illustrator interview

Honour

Bob and Dob, Sean E Avery (Walker Books Australia) 

Tiwi in Paris, Glen Farmer Illortaminni (Thames and Hudson Australia) 

Shadow Judging

Dear Broccoli, Cate James, text by Jo Dabrowski (Affirm Press) Author interview

Eve Pownall Award

Winner

Peculiar Parents, Stephanie Owen Reeder, illustrated by Ingrid Bartkowiak (NLA Publishing) Guest author post

Honour

Caution! This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles, Corey Tutt, Ben Williams (Allen & Unwin) Author interview

A Loo of One’s Own, Eleri Harris, Eleri Harris (Allen & Unwin) Author/illustrator interview

New Illustrator

Winner

A Loo of One’s Own, Eleri Harris, Eleri Harris (Allen & Unwin) Author/illustrator interview

CBCA excelled throughout the ceremony and by promoting youth literature through their awards. Congratulations on 80 years.

https://cbca.org.au/2026-winners