2014 Australian Children's Book Council Award Nominations

The Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) shortlist has been decided. The awards will be announced in Children's Book Week on the 16-22 August. The theme this year is 'Connect to Reading - Reading to Connect'. As usual, there are many wonderful books. I will review the winners and honour books in Book Week, but below you will find all the books shortlisted and links to help you find them. Some of the books have already been reviewed in my other posts.

The shortlist is a valuable guide to book purchases but there many other wonderful books published each year. As a result the CBCA also publishes Notable Book Lists that have over 100 titles listed. Standards are high so these are always wonderful books as well. Please don't be put off by the fact that some sites list the books as unavailable.

Shortlist for 'Older Readers' category (Young Adult Readers)

The Incredible Here and Now (Felicity Castagna, Giramondo)

Life in Outer Space (Melissa Keil, HGE)

The First Third (Will Kostakis, Penguin)

Fairytales for Wilde Girls (Allyse Near, Random House)

Wildlife (Fiona Wood, Pan)

The Sky so Heavy (Claire Zorn, UQP)

Shortlist for 'Younger Readers' category (Independent Younger Readers)

Violet Mackerel’s Possible Friend (Anna Branford, illustrated by Sarah Davis, Walker Books)

Song for a Scarlet Runner (Julie Hunt, A&U)

A Very Unusual Pursuit (Catherine Jinks, A&U)

My Life as an Alphabet (Barry Jonsberg, A&U)

Light Horse Boy (Dianne Wolfer, illustrated  by Brian Simmonds, Fremantle Press)


Shortlist for 'Early Childhood' category (Preschool and beginning readers)

I’m a Dirty Dinosaur (Janeen Brian, illustrated by Ann James, Viking)

Baby Bedtime (Mem Fox, illustrated by Emma Quay, Viking)

Banjo and Ruby Red (Libby Gleeson, illustrated by Freya Blackwood, Little Hare)

Kissed by the Moon (Alison Lester, Viking)

The Swap (Jan Ormerod, illustrated by Andrew Joyner, Little Hare)

Granny Grommet and Me (Dianne Wolfer, illustrated by Karen Blair, Walker Books)

Shortlist for 'Picture Books' category (Varied ages, Birth to 18 years)

The Treasure Box (Margaret Wild, illustrated by Freya Blackwood, Viking)

King Pig (Nick Bland, Scholastic Press)

Silver Buttons (Bob Graham, Walker Books)

Parachute (Danny Parker, illustrated by Matt Ottley, Little Hare)

The Windy Farm (Doug MacLeod, illustrated by Craig Smith, Working Title Press)

Rules of Summer (Shaun Tan, Lothian)

Short list for 'Eve Pownall Award for Information Books' category (Varied ages, Birth to 18 years)

Big Red Kangaroo (Graham Byrne, text by Claire Saxby, Walker Books)

The Bloodhound Boys Book 1: The Great Blood Bank Robbery (Andrew Cranna, Walker Books)

I’ve An Uncle Ivan (Ben Sanders, Thames & Hudson)

The Nerdy Birdy (David Snowdon, text by Danielle Wheeldon, self-published).

Related links

Previous posts on children's book awards (HERE)