The Children's Book Council Awards 2026 - And the Shortlist Books Are?

2026 Book of the Year Awards – Shortlist

The Australian Children's Literature awards shortlist has been released. The winners will be announced in Children's Book Week.

 

I will review the winners in detail in my next post, after the winners and honour books have been announced during Book Week (22.8.26).  

Early Childhood 

The Thing About Christmas, Jo Dabrowski, illustrated by Briony Stewart (Little Book Press)  
Derek, Anne Donaldson, illustrated by Matt Shanks (Little Hare) 
Frogs Are Our Friends, Toni D’Alia, Madeline White (Bright Light) 
My Nonno Loves, Adelle Frittitta, illustrated by Claudia Frittitta (Little Hare) 
The Colours of Home, Sally Soweol Han (Thames and Hudson Australia) 
The Emperor’s Egg, Rae Tan (Lothian Children’s Books) 

Picture Book of the Year 

Bob and Dob, Sean E Avery (Walker Books Australia) 
Tiwi in Paris, Glen Farmer Illortaminni (Thames and Hudson Australia) 
Dear Broccoli, Cate James, text by Jo Dabrowski (Affirm Press)  
Dawn, Marc Martin (Walker Books Australia)  
The Frog’s First Song, Jason Phu, text by Jazz Money (University of Queensland Press) 
Once I was a Giant, Zeno Sworder (Thames and Hudson Australia)

                         Younger Readers

Run, Sarah Armstrong (Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing) 
Something Terrible: Tim Tie-Your-Shoelaces, Sally Barton, illustrated by Christopher Nielsen (Walker Books Australia)  
Little Bones, Sandy Bigna (University of Queensland Press) 
Spirit of the Crocodile, Aaron Fa’aoso & Michelle Scott Tucker with Lyn White (Allen & Unwin)  
The Paperbark Tree Committee, Karys McEwen (Text Publishing) 
Inked, Karen Wasson, illustrated by Jake A Minton (Figment Books)  

                        Older Readers

Of Flame and Fury, Mikayla Bridge (Macmillan Australia)
Darkest Night, Brightest Star, Barry Jonsberg (Allen & Unwin) 
This Stays Between Us, Margot McGovern (Penguin Random House Australia) 
We Saw What You Started, Carla Salmon (Pan Australia) 
Golden, Jade Timms (Text Publishing) 
Unhallowed Halls, Lili Wilkinson (Allen & Unwin)

 

          Eve Pownall Award - New Illustrators

There’s a Prawn in Parliament House: The Kids’ Guide to Australia’s Amazing Democracy, Annabel Crabb, illustrated by First Dog on the Moon (Allen & Unwin) 
A Loo of One’s Own, Eleri Harris (Allen & Unwin) 
Peculiar Parents, Stephanie Owen Reeder, illustrated by Ingrid Bartkowiak (NLA Publishing) 
The Thylacine and the Time Machine, Renée Treml (Allen & Unwin) 
Caution! This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles, Corey Tutt, Ben Williams (Allen & Unwin) 
Ningaloo, Tim Winton, illustrated by Cindy Lane (Fremantle Press)

I'm extremely impressed by the quality of the books this year and look forward to having a closer look soon. Watch out for the results to declared on 28th August! 

Enjoy!